In Focus | Tori Hanson of Elevation Outdoor Experiential Programs

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at KelownaNow.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.

What is your name?
Tori Hanson

What do you always find yourself saying?
“Be here. Now.”

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select and why?
Jimmy Fallon – laughing is the best medicine of all

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
Nobel Peace Prize (dreaming big!)

If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose and why?
Mahatma Ghandi - because he did something about what he believed in, in a non violent way to achieve great things. His famous quote “Be the change that you want to see in the world” is written on my office wall to help inspire me to make differences in people’s lives through positive actions.

Who inspires you?
Teachers, educators, coaches, youth workers who give their time to show young people that they really do care about them as an individual and how they will grow in their life.

What are three things on your bucket list?
Climb Kilimanjaro, take my kids hiking in Nepal, complete the Rattlesnake Island 7 kilometre swim

If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
My husband Mat and I have a small boat named “Curve of Time” after a book we both love and admire written by M Wylie Blanchet, this is more than enough, and better than an enormous yacht!

If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
The day I will meet my first grandchild.

What are you passionate about?
Inspiring the lives of youth through outdoor sports and experiences, seeing young people get excited about snowboarding, mountain biking, sailing, and other activities that could inspire them for the rest of their lives.

What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
My wedding day on beautiful Hornby Island BC

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Being mother to my two amazing daughters Mackenzie, aged five, and Joni, aged three.

Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna? What do you like about it?
The Minstrel Café – in summer you can sit under the most amazing tree and eat, the kids can play while waiting for their meals, and we can bike there from home!

What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna? Why?
Parks Alive live music nights – listening to great community live music, dancing in the warm summer air, and sharing this with others in the community all for no cost is an amazing experience and makes me feel very lucky to call Kelowna home.

What is the name of your business/organization?
Elevation Outdoor Experiential Programs

What does your business/organization do?
We teach youth (aged 12-17) about themselves and help them develop life skills through specially designed outdoor sports.

Where can people find you or your business online?
www.elevationoutdoors.ca

How do people connect with you on Linkedin?
Tori-Hanson

Where can people find your business on Facebook?
Elevation Outdoors Canada

What is your mission?
Elevation's mission is to enhance the lives of underprivileged youth via participation in specially designed outdoor sports programs; and to help youth develop lasting passion for these sports while drawing parallels to life through the experience and learning life skills along the way.

If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be?
PHD in Experiential Learning and Development

Where do you want your business/organization to be in five years?
I would like to see Elevation Outdoors grow and expand into more chapters in the Okanagan Valley so we can help more young people throughout the region. I would like have full time staff members working on our mission, and more programs that are offered year round to young people in need of support and mentorship and discovery of outdoor sports and experiences here in the Okanagan.

Who do you consider to be a forerunner within your field?
Tim Cormode: “Power To Be”

What three qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
Caring members of community, Commitment to making a change, Compassion for other’s situations

What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?
This organization would be nothing without you!

How does your business/organization impact the community?
We help youth learn about themselves and grow through their outdoor experience. This often impacts the young people’s families and friends as well in the process because they have a healthy outlet and positive mentors surrounding them.

If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?
Experts in renewable energy and alternative power. I would ask why more resources and time have not been spent on researching these options and putting them into play, and how we as a society can go about changing our mindsets on what is possible. How can we invest in our children’s futures and the way energy will be used and get more momentum behind the way we use renewable energy now?

If I could change one thing about Kelowna, it would be:
More respect for our beautiful and natural surroundings (lakes, mountains, creeks), especially from people visiting from other places on vacation.

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
Kelowna is the perfect size community to live in. It has a small town feel, but big city thinkers and doers living here. I have met many people here who really care about the community and making it great, that’s what makes it so! Kelowna has four amazing seasons to enjoy in the outdoors, many accessible trails and places to explore the outdoors surrounding the city. It is close to major cities and has an international airport so traveling to and from Kelowna is easy.

My choice for the Kelowna In Focus spotlight is:
Monique Ducharme- Pullen (Purity Yoga)

We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below, and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna!