Meet Chris! Chris is originally from England and has been living here in the beautiful Okanagan for five years now. He enjoys running along the Penticton River Channel, traveling and exploring different cultures, and spending some quality time with his favourite companion, Lauren.
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Penticton?
Ashby De La Zouch in England, and I have lived in Penticton for 5 years now.
Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
My lovely ladyfriend Lauren, as she’s just about as crazy as I am!
What is your favourite local store in Penticton and why?
Not really a store, but I love Lachi, the Indian restaurant. As in, I miss it when I’m not in Penticton. I’ve been to India, and this is very much the real thing!
Describe yourself in one word.
Driven.
If you could go anywhere in the world right at this moment where would you go and why?
I’d fast forward to the start of the 2019-20 Premier League season and get myself down to the King Power Stadium to watch my beloved Leicester City Football Club on opening day. The King Power is a fortress on matchday, and I try and go every year.
What is your favourite activity in Penticton?
Running up and down the channel. I’ve spent a lot of time running up and down there training for my marathons, and I’ve come to know that path very well.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
When I worked at the BC Children’s Hospital, I squatted down next to a patients bed and the seam of my pants tore, right down the middle of my bum! To this day I have no idea if my patient or her parents noticed, but it was a long walk back to my office!
What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
I have to say that working at BC Children’s Hospital for 4.5 years, every day was inspirational. It was amazing working with these kids who faced all manner of challenges, from fighting cancer, having open heart surgery and facing any number of medical issues. I remember one instance where I was working with one teenage girl who was incredibly unwell in the pediatric intensive care unit, ventilated and in a coma. She was there for many weeks, and gradually recovered, but was so weak she couldn’t even sit on the side of the bed by herself. About 6 months later, I was leaving work and I saw her being pushed in a wheelchair by her mum. She stood up, walked over to me by herself and gave me a hug. Truly will be a moment I will never forget.
Tell us your favourite childhood memory.
It has to be going on summer holidays camping with my family in the caravan, to the south coast of England. We’d spend all day on the beach, go surfing, eat fish and chips and get alternately sun-burnt and then soaked in the rain. Great memories!!
Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
I started a free running club at my clinic. All running abilities are welcome, as are dogs, children, and strollers!
If you could change one thing in the world what would it be?
I think we really have to look at what is happening with the environment and make some solid changes about how we all live our lives. The world is changing and soon it will be too late to curb what is happening.
Where would you sneak away to in Penticton to spend some time alone?
I love walking along the park at Skaha Lake, its very tranquil and a relaxing place to unwind following a busy day at work. There’s a bench next to a small pond near where East Side Road starts that is particularly peaceful.
Where would you like to see positive change in Penticton and why?
I think we need to see forwards thinking and progression of healthcare provision in Penticton. Active therapy and positive lifestyle choices are so important when a person is trying to improve themselves and get out of pain, but not everyone is being given the advice or access to services they need. We need to make access to this advice and service easily available and free to all.
What do you think makes Penticton great?
We have everything you could need in Penticton – beautiful surroundings and outdoor adventures, a bustling restaurant and brewery/winery scene and an eclectic population who keep you on your toes. We live where others go on holiday!
What are 3 things on your bucket list?
1) Hike to the Lost Kingdom in Columbia.
2) Immerse myself in Japan and get lost in its culture.
3) Travel further in Africa.
Tell us something that not everyone may know about you.
When I was 21, myself and two friends hitchhiked to Morocco from Manchester (England). It was for charity, took us 5 and a half days and 30 different lifts. We then had 2 weeks backpacking around Morocco. We have some stories from that trip!!
How do people connect with you, personally, through social media? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
By visiting our webpage at www.pentictonphysiotherapy.com, our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pentictonphysio/, check out our Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/penticton_physio/ or email me at [email protected]!!
What is the name of your business/organization?
Penticton Physiotherapy & IMS Clinic.
Why did you get into/start this business?
When I moved to Penticton from Vancouver, I saw the need for a truly patient-focused, multi-disciplinary healthcare clinic in Penticton. I think over the years we have created this, and provide a truly unique environment and culture for recovery & rehab.
What is the goal of your business?
To provide a multidisciplinary physiotherapy clinic that provides the people of Penticton with access to high-quality healthcare to allow them to recover from whatever ailment they are struggling with.
What has been your biggest struggle either at work or in life?
Living outside of your country of birth, especially when your immediate family is still there, is a challenge. Luckily, I try and visit home every year, and my parents visit Penticton 1-2 times per year as well.
If you could start all over again would you do things the same or would things be different?
Same. Obviously, there are certain things I may do differently, but I wouldn’t change the major events.
What do you always find yourself saying?
Awesome!
Tell us your best piece of life advice.
"If you have a dream or a goal, reach for it. When you’re 90 years old and looking back at your life, you won’t say ‘Boy, I’m glad I didn’t take that 3 week trip to Peru and see Machu Pichu and that I worked instead’. Life is there to be lived!"
If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
I’m going to cheat – I’m going to say, my parents, my brother, and my Lauren 😊
Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
Because we need a strong local economy. When a local business does well, Penticton does well.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Probably the thing I’m most proud of is backpacking solo for more than 6 months throughout South America, India, and Southeast Asia, which really has exposed me to movements and experiences in my life that I will never forget.
Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
I want to give a shoutout to our clinic manager, Callen Thrasher. She is an amazing, kind and witty person, without whom our clinic would not exist. She’s the glue that holds it all together and we couldn’t do what we do without her.
My choice for the PentictonNow In Focus spotlight is:
Lauren Walker
Some general comments I would like to share are:
Chris graduated from the Manchester Metropolitan University (in England) in 2007 with his degree in physiotherapy, and spent the first two years of his career working in the hospital setting, working in outpatient, inpatient, intensive care, pediatrics, stroke and medicine, and cardiac surgery units. Upon moving to Canada in 2010, Chris began work at the BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver, where he worked for 4.5 years before moving Penticton in 2014.
Since moving to Penticton, Chris has founded the Penticton Physiotherapy & IMS Clinic, and focused his practice on the use of manual therapy, IMS/ dry needling and exercise prescription for his patients. He has grown the clinic to now include additional physiotherapists, registered massage therapists, kinesiologists, athletic therapy, personal training and registered holistic nutrition services. When not in the clinic, Chris can be found running around Penticton and completed the Okanagan Marathon in Kelowna in October 2018 and the Vancouver Marathon in May 2019.
We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below and submit your own nomination by emailing [email protected]. 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 organizations that help make our city great. Thank you, Penticton!
