Tag Archives: Get to Know Your Community

Kelly Anne White

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Who are you?

I am Kelly Anne Elizabeth White and I’m full of surprises. Allow me to explain. One could assume, given my exceptionally British name, that I am in fact English. Although I love tea, Coronation Street and custard I am in fact a proper Canadian mosaic of ancestries. Indeed my grandparents immigrated to Canada from none other than Holland, and the Caribbean and decided to settle in the beautiful city of Montreal where I was born thirty years ago. Surprise number two, I’m actually almost 30! I know, I know…my youthful features are deceiving.

As for my career, I’m a health educator who promotes student wellness at a university. I did my M.Ed. in health education because I believe good education leads to good health, and both lead to a happier life. I’m one of a handful of people with a Canadian degree in this area and my specialty is health literacy which I tweet about here: http://twitter.com/healthliterate

2. What do you do for fun?

I enjoy trying out new recreational activities. Recently I’ve discovered a hidden talent for sailing. Yes, these scrawny limbs can tack like you wouldn’t believe. You may have seen me last summer, cruising Jericho while singing “Ais the boys that builds the boat, Ais the boys that sails er!”. If it weren’t for my crippling sea sickness I’d probably be racing yachts in the Mediterranean full time. I also enjoy commenting on CBC news stories and then counting how many readers give me a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down. I won’t tell you my on-screen alias though, it’ll mess with my stats. I also enjoy cooking meals, listening to music and keepin it real.

3. What is your favourite community and why?

If you’ve seen my first Gumboot video about the North Shore, you’ll understand why North Vancouver is my favorite community. Walking by the ocean, or hiking in the mountains or doing both on the same day is pretty remarkable. So is the annual Caribbean Days festival that I attend every summer at Waterfront park. I get to connect with my Caribbean roots while indulging in the food, music, bevvies and people that are at the festival each year. It may not be the classiest event on the North Shore (bring your camera for the after 6 pm crowd in the beer garden…) but everyone is welcome and good times are guaranteed.

4. What is your superpower?

My superpower is name-that-tune. I can identify a song within milli-seconds or a few beats on low volume. I store so much musical information in my brain that people call me k-pod.

5. How do you use it to build community?

I use this superpower to help me start conversations with people I don’t know. Like if I’m at an event or function and I hear a song come on I can say to my neighbor, “hey, i love this song, don’t you? whatever happened to Chumbawamba anyway?” and just like that, you’ve got yourself a conversation. I’m not sure if this necessarily builds community…but as one of music’s greatest living icons once said, “music…. makes the people….come together. yaaaa”. (Madonna), and I definitely agree with that!

My Three Favourite Things About Kelly Anne White are…

1. Her sparkling smile. If eyes are the window to the soul, then Kelly’s smile is the door to her enchanting personality. You can’t have a bad conversation with her because she is just so quirky, positive and delightful.

2. Hand-talking. Kelly could’ve been the best flight attendant in the history of the profession, but she embraced the world of health promotion and now uses her directive gestures to influence the health and wellness of tens of thousands of university students.

3. Storytelling. Sparkling smile + Hand-talking + Quirkiness = amazing storyteller and on-air personality; the Daily Gumboot staff can only hope to harness her style and skills again in the not too distant future.

As told by John Horn…

Tomiko Marton-Collins

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Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to an ongoing segment here at The Daily Gumboot. It’s called “Get to Know Your Community” and, basically, it goes like this: each and every Sunday we will profile someone from a community somewhere. Each person is asked the same five questions. At the end of the profile, the Gumbooteer (member of this blog’s Editorial Board) who found the person will list their three favourite things about the highlighted community member. Savvy?

Here are some ideas from everywhere. Here is one way that we try to build community. Have fun with it!


Who are you?

I am Tomiko Marton-Collins. I am a wife, daughter, sister, friend, student, teacher, runner, entrepreneur, philosopher, champion of justice, horrible driver and much much more.

What do you do for fun?

I love biking, running, hiking and cooking meals for my family and friends. Curling up with a good novel or movie is also a fantastic way of spending an evening. I find my work fun as well, I love everything that is creative and organization based!

What is your favorite community?

Courtenay, BC, Canada, my mom and dad’s street. I have lived, worked, and traveled all over the world. I have been lucky enough to spend extensive time in Asia and Europe, from mega cities like Tokyo to backwater country sides, from countries of amazing material wealth to places that left me feeling ashamed of my privilege and power. And this last year I returned home a little wiser, a little harder and with my husband, Michael in tow back to the town (and house) that I grew up in.

What is your superpower?

If I had to put a label on it, I would say my superpower is the power augmentation; I have the ability to strength other people’s powers. I surround myself with smart, thoughtful, positive people and say “yes” to them more often than “no”. This superpower has been known to get me in trouble at times as well.

 

How does your power help you build community?

The verdict is definitely still out on that one. I hope that I connect people and ideas and in some small way empower my people to believe in our potential. Practically, I love sharing my experiences and tools.

My three favourite things about Tomiko are…

1. Courtenay is her favourite community. I first met Tomiko in high school – we’re both products of GP Vanier Secondary School – and she exemplified creativity and leadership then and she does now. Tomiko also articulates some of the coolest thing about the coolest community on Vancouver Island.

2. She’s famous! For community-building alternative currency! I’d like to say the the Daily Gumboot got the jump on sharing with the world how cool Tomiko, Community Way Dollars and combining bicycles with coffee really is; unfortunately, some up-and-coming, indy magazine called Macleans beat us to the punch. Yeah, The Tyee really liked the idea, too. And, hey, it’s just a better idea to visit Tomiko’s bike shop instead of Wal-Mart’s – not sure if the latter does the whole local-currency and/or community-building thing.

3. It’s that smile. I mean look at it. One can quickly tell that Tomiko is kind, genuine, thoughtful, and passionate about what she does and how The Broken Spoke builds community in a myriad of ways. And why wouldn’t she be? When you combine two of the most amazing things in the world – bicycles and coffee – you should be smiling such a perfect smile.

Tomiko Marton-Collins is profiled in Macleans, one of those "print" political magazines.

Tomiko Marton-Collins is profiled in Macleans, one of those "print" political magazines.

…as told by John Horn

Erica Landrock

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Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to an ongoing segment here at The Daily Gumboot. It’s called “Get to Know Your Community” and, basically, it goes like this: each and every Sunday we will profile someone from a community somewhere. Each person is asked the same five questions (see below as well as in the “Ideas from Everywhere” page). At the end of the profile, the Gumbooteer (member of this blog’s Editorial Board) who found the person will list their three favourite things about the highlighted community member. Savvy?

Here are some ideas from everywhere. Here is one way that we try to build community. Have fun with it!

Erica Landrock is all smiles during a well-deserved break in Costa Rica

Erica Landrock is all smiles during a well-deserved break in Costa Rica

1. Who are you?

My name is Erica Landrock. Thinker. Dreamer. Musician. Sound Designer. Producer. Adventurer. Entrepreneur. I grew up in West Vancouver, left to get out into the real world and moved to Toronto to attendRyerson University where I got my BA in Radio & Television Arts. Unable to stay away from the west coast, I moved back to start the journey of figuring out how I was going to earn a living! Not being one to take the conventional path, I began my own audio post-production business as a sound designer, music editor and audio engineer where I have worked on a variety of documentaries and lifestyle shows. Feeling like I needed a new challenge and that I had more to offer, I went back to university where I got a certificate in Entertainment Administration from UBC. This journey has led me down a new path to explore the world of being a content producer. Where it will lead me is still unknown, but I’m excited about the adventure ahead!

2. What do you do for fun?

My life goal has always been to love what I do or else there is no point in doing it! Be this in my career or in my personal life. If both worlds can combine together into the proper work/life balance then I’m a happy person! I mean heck, I get paid to play with audio equipment and work in the entertainment industry! That said, when I need to get away from it all I love to get outside and explore new places either in our own backyard of BC or abroad with my husband. We love to integrate rock climbing, adventure seeking or skiing/snowboarding into our trips whenever possible. And of course, each adventure must be accompanied by the rightroadtrip music mix … that is key! I’m a bit of a music snob and love keeping up with the latest Canadian indie bands or sitting down at the piano to pour my heart out on the old ivories.

3. What is your favourite community and why?

There is something very special about the West End. The beach, the fantastic food on Denman street, friends within walking distance and the barstaff know your name! (not to mention the great people watching that can occur around there). That said, I have recently become a resident of Lower Lonsdale and am really enjoying the growth and sense of community that is being developed in the area. From the little shops & market atLonsdale Quay to the great collection of ethnic restaurants and boutiquey shops …. and of course its close proximity to the local mountains doesn’t hurt either!

4. What is your superpower?

Interesting question. Some would say it is my crazy abnormal sense of hearing or my various ninja abilities, but in thinking further, one of the superpowers that I’ve become known for is my ability to know where the weekly drink specials are at local Vancouver pubs and bringing people together to sample the new brews.

5. How do you use it to build community?

A special sense of community is developed when friends come together for a pint. Comfort and community is created when you pull up a chair with friends at a local bar. No matter what is going on in everyone’s life it is important to make time to relax, share a laugh, philosophize about life and – simply put – have some good old-fashioned fun! It is to easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind of life, so making time to gather everyone together has become a weekly tradition and a way to keep a strong sense of community amongst friends.

Erica Landrock: Snowbride 2009

Erica Landrock: Snowbride 2009

My three favourite things about Erica Landrock are…

1. Coolest. Wedding Photo. Ever. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. The one above might be worth ten thousand. And it certainly reveals much of Ms. Landrock’s adventurousness and creativity. Speaking of creativity, you can watch the entire movie here.

2. She is fiercely independent. I’ve known Erica for most of my life, and long ago she defined herself as someone who could go it alone to accomplish anything while meeting the highest of standards. Lucky for all you collaborators out there that she’s also a most amazing teammate, too!

3. Music becomes her. Whether it’s making her own or turning people on to the newest, hippest and coolest of indy rockers, Erica is the go-to-gal for all things musical. And her pallet ranges from classical to jazz to, like I said, the most unknown hipster emo-punk alternative bands that Toronto has to offer.

…as told by John Horn

Callum Ng

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Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to an ongoing segment here at The Daily Gumboot. It’s called “Get to Know Your Community” and, basically, it goes like this: each and every Sunday we will profile someone from a community somewhere. Each person is asked the same five questions (see below as well as in the “Ideas from Everywhere” page). At the end of the profile, the Gumbooteer (member of this blog’s Editorial Board) who found the person will list their three favourite things about the highlighted community member. Savvy?

Here are some ideas from everywhere. Here is one way that we try to build community. Have fun with it!

Callum Ng - we love him even though he's a Flames fan!

Callum Ng - we love him even though he's a Flames fan!

Who are you?

My name is Callum Ng, I’m a proud Canadian, an athlete and an eternal entrepreneur. I might be a bit of a self-starter, I own and run two local Vancouver companies including www.ngfarrell.com. I have this idea, and I know I’m not the only one, that a life in business should encompass some greater meaning or purpose. That’s why we work for the benefit of athletes and artists, those people that really enrich our society, those who we cheer for, and applaud.

What do you do for fun?

What don’t I do for fun? I love to play hockey with my brother. In fact, we’ve both become quite obsessive, we’re like kids, counting the days until the next game. I write a lot, and hope to inspire people with my blog (link to: www.callumng.com). Finding new topics to write about isn’t difficult the challenge is making them exceptional. What else…well my work is actually fun! I spend time with passionate and excited people. I like to laugh. Friends and television are good for that. Constant laughter is important.

What is your favourite community and why?

Don’t hate me but I love Kits. There’s a variety of people here, some you can get to know and get along with, others you can learn from, some that are just like me.  I can walk to the beach. I can walk to the park. I can walk to the forest. I can see the mountains, and the ocean. There’s okay food, it’s easy to be active and healthy, and totally relaxing to be lazy and unhealthy. The point is: you can be whoever you want here, it’s easy.

What is your superpower?

My super power is my relentless pursuit of an idea. If it gets in my head, and I believe it can be great, it will happen.

How do you use it to build community?
I believe that almost anything can be willed into existence. The combination of passionate people and a goal that is for the betterment of a community will ultimately succeed in the long run. I use my “superpower” to bring people together, foster a work ethic, and execute a well-developed plan. To be honest, if we’re not all working for this type of goal, we should re-evaluate what we’re working for at all.
My three favourite things about Callum are…
  1. He is an entrepreneur. Whether it was Total Home Services or NG Farrell, Callum is driven by an amazing entrepreneurial spirit. Such passion and style makes him ill-suited for work in a cubicle in a giant corporation and, in my opinion, his success as a varsity athlete and academic all-star also stems from the self-motivation, goal-setting and balls-out hard work that defines not just entrepreneurship, but people who are great entrepreneurs.
  2. He knows trends (and makes trends, too). One of the more recent trends that I’ll claim Callum started is wearing donning business-casual attire (jacket, dress shirt, jeans, boots) sans-belt (that means “without a belt” for all our non-Quebec readers). Lucky for us, we’re two fellahs that can openly discuss fashion and each others’ handsomeness, so I’ll add to the list that Callum is also a stylish and confident young man, too. Now, I see people wearing suits with no belt all the freakin’ time. And I’m pretty sure Callum started it. But I digress… Callum’s company, Total Home Services, was carbon neutral before it was cool to be so environmentally friendly, too. His blog has a Guy Kawasaki-esque feel to it, as Callum provides insight and opinions about the things the mainstream, regular and Foxy media are going to talk about in, like, three weeks. He gets to an idea first and flat-out does a better job of spinning it.
  3. Giving becomes him. “As always, let me know if you need anything!” This is how Callum signed off an email to me. As busy and client-focused as the guy is, he always makes time to help out and continue building his community. Yours truly and The Daily Gumboot are lucky to be a part of it. Thanks, Callum.
As told by John Horn…

Sarah Blyth

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The Blyth.

The Blyth.

Who are you?

Sarah Blyth aka Commissioner Blyth.

What do you do for fun?

Organize events and go to events, go to meetings, play with my son, read blogs, snoop Facebook profiles, ride a bike or a skateboard, play street soccer, and hit the beach.

What is your favourite community and why?

I really don’t know. As a commissioner you get to know many different communities. I like the Drive because it is very eclectic. It reminds me a little of Haight St in San Fransisco. There is always something good going on in every nook and cranny. I always see folks when I walk down Main Street and I feel like the Queen of Kensington. The DTES is really community driven so I also love it. Marpole has a good family vibe. Kits has a  beach – town feel to it. There are always good times to be had at Davie Village and good food like at Stepho’s. Point Grey is studentish and flowery with nice parks. I could go on…

What is your superpower?

Well, I don’t like to toot my own horn, but I am great event organizer and an idea person. I love to come up with ideas and then try to pull people together to make them happen.

How do you use it to build community?

I love working together with people volunteering, brainstorming, coming up with ideas, figuring out how to make them work or happen. It could be anything from building a float for a parade, to a neighborhood community garden, or an art project. Most projects require money, a lot of hard work , and lots of  time and patience. I am still involved in a project that is 15 years old. Thankfully most projects take less time, but it is all worth it when its done and you cut the red tape, there is really nothing like it. It builds community like nothing else.

My three favourite things about Sarah Blyth are…

1. Commitment. As you probably figured, Sarah is all about community outreach. She works on the Downtown Eastside and spend the rest of her free time meeting and talking to every community in the city. She does all this while coordinating a soccer team for shelter residents and raising a groovy little boy.

2. She has a good head on her shoulders. As a politician, Sarah’s willingness to walk a pragmatic and thoughtful line, while always being supportive of her colleagues, friends, and constituents is always amazing to see. Her decision to find the silver lining in even the darkest clouds  is encouraging to meager mortals like me and points to the core of what kind of community she stands for.

3. Her Priorities. Sarah had an interview request from the Gumboot and from CBC Vancouver. Guess which one she picked.

…as told by Kurt Heinrich

Margaret Hanson

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Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to an ongoing segment here at The Daily Gumboot. It’s called “Get to Know Your Community” and, basically, it goes like this: each and every Sunday we will profile someone from a community somewhere. Each person is asked the same five questions (see below as well as in the “Ideas from Everywhere” page). At the end of the profile, the Gumbooteer (member of this blog’s Editorial Board) who found the person will list their three favourite things about the highlighted community member. Savvy?

Here are some ideas from everywhere. Here is one way that we try to build community. Have fun with it!

Margaret Hanson is a Designer with a cause

Margaret Hanson is a Designer with a cause

Who are you?

Margaret Hanson – Graphic Design Victoria:  http://margarethansondesign.ca/

What do you do for fun?

Print stuff, finish projects and get paid.

What is your favourite community and why?

My community of happy clients, because they do the marketing work for me.

What is your superpower?

Matching ideas with images.

How do you use it to build community?

Symbolic and design ‘superpowers’ make me a preferred supplier of design. This spreads through various means, and the appreciators-of-good-design community builds.

My three favourite things about Margaret Hanson are…

1. Creativity. If you or your community have a concept, idea or sentence that you want turned into a meaningful design, look no further than Margaret.

2. Wordmaking. It’s hard to describe, but Margaret can use nouns as verbs (and vice-versa) in ways that make your head spin, but work nonetheless; I encourage you to call her and find out for yourself.

3. She made “the boot” on The Daily Gumboot logo. ‘Nuff said. It’s just great.

- John Horn