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In Focus | Anna Turner-Collinge

Meet Anna Turner-Collinge. She grew up in Calgary, Alberta and has been in Victoria for the past four years!

Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
My sister. She has a way of always seeing the bright side, and is very bubbly and inclusive and fun to be around. She brings out the best in people!

What is your favourite local store in Victoria and why?
Oh, that's tough. I really love a little boutique shop called Open House, located in Johnson and Government. It's filled with gorgeous hand-picked vintage, handmade crochets and knits and natural home and beauty products. The store owner is also lovely!

Describe yourself in one word.
Passionate.

If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
I would travel to Hawaii. I still haven't been and I am incredibly drawn to the ocean and the sun. My friends have nothing but good things to say about it.

What is your favourite activity in Victoria?
Hot yoga and beach walking. The fact that I live in a place where I can walk to the beach and watch the sunset still baffles me.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
Probably mistaking a stranger for my ex-boyfriend and grabbing his butt. It was mortifying but hilarious.

What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
My overall experience in Victoria over the past four years has been inspiring and life changing in itself. Perhaps the most inspiring thing I've been apart of is the official ban on single-use plastic bags in Victoria, which happened in November of 2016. The initiative was spearheaded by an organization I am involved with called the Surfrider Foundation which aims to protect and raise awareness about delicate coastal and ocean ecosystems. I attended the final city council meeting, which decided if the bill was passed or not. It was incredibly inspiring, rewarding and motivating to see such a huge turn out of concerned community members and businesses who were all gathered for such an important, monumental cause. Being a part of environmental progress and positive change was very inspiring.

Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
Running around the beaches on Prince Edward Island at the age of three or four. I still have a clear image in my head of myself, my siblings and my mother tearing up and down the long, sandy beach as the sun was going down, collecting crabs and shells as my dad took photos of us. Maybe that is what sparked my interest in the ocean!

Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
I volunteer lots of my time at the University of Victoria as the President of the UVic Parks Club, which is a club focussed on environmental education, recreation and exploration. I also volunteer my time with the Vancouver Island Surfrider Foundation by participating in monthly beach clean-ups around the southern island and raising money for conservation organizations. I regularly volunteer at ecological restoration events, which aim to return our environment to its natural state.

If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
I would change the way people can access education. I believe that education is the minimum foundation for success and progress. The outrageous cost of going to school in many third world countries makes this asset nearly impossible to obtain for many people. If education becomes more accessible, financially and geographically, to all people from all walks of life, I think we can accomplish so much more.

Where would you sneak away to in Victoria to spend some time alone?
My favourite beach, Willow's Beach. There is a little nook tucked around a corner that I love to visit by myself to read a book, catch some z's or simply reflect. Can't tell you exactly where though!

Where would you like to see positive change in Victoria and why?
I think that the homeless population of Victoria could use some positive change. Homelessness is a terrible state of living that exists in all cities, and helping to reincorporate these people back into society would increase their quality of life.

What do you think makes Victoria great?
Its diversity and liberal-mindedness. Moving here from Calgary, I found a huge shift in peoples' attitudes from closed off and self-serving to welcoming and accepting.

What are 3 things on your bucket list?
1. Visit Antarctica
2. Scuba dive along the Great Barrier Reef
3. Witness a volcanic eruption and lava flow. I'm so fascinated by it for some reason!

Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
I shaved my head for cancer in grade six, and referees for my soccer games wouldn't let me play because they thought I was a boy.

How do people connect with you, personally, through social media? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
Primarily Instagram and otherwise, Facebook.

What is the name of your business/organization?
The UVic Parks Club.

Why did you get into/start this business?
I've always loved being outside and staying active, so I started in the club as an active member and participated in all the club events and outings. I became good friends with the former president and took her position over after she graduated.

What is the goal of your business?
The UVic Parks Club is a dedicated collective of nature lovers that want to make an impact by getting out and exploring our backyard. We participate in conservation projects around the island and go on a ton of adventures recreationally and educationally.

What has been your biggest struggle either at work or in life?
My biggest struggle has been to overcome a bad couple years of depression and low self-esteem. It was hard, and I couldn't do it by myself but I was surrounded by supportive people and reminded myself that there are better things to come.

If you could start all over again would you do things the same or would things be different?
There are always small things in life we regret or wish we did differently, but in hindsight, I think that all these experiences and decisions are valuable. I wouldn't do anything differently.

What do you always find yourself saying?
'Raw deal'. It refers to life or someone handing you an unfortunate situation.

Tell us your best piece of life advice.
Have more faith in yourself than you think and you should overcompensate.

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
Donald Trump. I just want to understand how his head works, because it doesn't make any sense to anyone and it would be incredibly entertaining.

Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
To support people who are trying to make an honest living by selling quality over quantity.

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
So far, probably earning a scholarship to play soccer at the University of Victoria.

Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
Shout out to my great friend Andreas Lohstraeter with whom I just had coffee. He is a one of a kind, gentle, pure and genuine person who has nothing but success coming for him.

My choice for the VictoriaNow In Focus spotlight is:
Gillian Montgomery. She's the Chapter Manager of the Vancouver Island Surfrider Foundation.

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.

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition of the people, businesses, and organization that help make our city great. Thank you, Victoria!



Send your comments, news tips, typos, letter to the editor, photos and videos to [email protected].



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