2015 Speakers

Gina Cherkowski
I am a social justice math education professor and a professor of STEM Education and Creativity at the University of Calgary. I work to ensure ALL students have opportunities to excel and learn so they are afforded with every advantage.

Mark Jenning-Bates
Mark is an Officer (PRes) in the Canadian Army, a leading adventurer and accomplished entrepreneur. His background of thinking big, adept team mentorship and history of bold adventures position him perfectly to inspire your team or organization. Mark knows it takes innovative thinking to accomplish any goal and an ability to overcome fear to take on risk. He has achieved many outstanding results for being a big thinker including: Youngest Fellow of the Sales and Marketing Management Institute A two time Western Canada Open Class Car Rally champion Coldwell Banker Ambassador of the Year award Completion of the half ironman competition and an Ultramarathon athlete Led a successful Guinness World Record team for the worlds longest paramotor expedition Climbed the tallest free standing mountain in the world in an attempt to be the first paraglider pilot to fly from the summit First person to SUP around the 270km circumference of Okanagan Lake. Precision Driver for Sidirov Advanced Driving Dynamics Driver with the prestigious Bowler Dakar Rally team. Founder of the charity Rally 4 Life Foundation http://www.rally4life.org/ On the heels of a successful aviation Guinness World Record in 2012, Mark is now preparing to be the first person to circumnavigate the world in a Flying Car! Mark's keynote's inspire audiences as he takes them on his adventures using stunning photos and videos. Using real life analogies and lessons learned, Mark shares how innovative thinking, teamwork and discipline allow anybody to reach seemingly impossible goals.

Sonya Looney
It’s energy and attitude that have propelled Sonya Looney on a mountain bike across the rugged Himalayas, through sweltering sand dunes of the Sahara Desert, and through the clammy jungles of Sri Lanka. Her accomplishments include U.S. national titles, record-setting wins at multiple 100 mile mountain bike races, and international victories at the hardest races in the world. Her Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering taught her about the structure and discipline to be successful in any field. Sonya is an accomplished writer across multiple platforms, sharing her stories and photography with enthusiasts world-wide. Sonya’s ON Dirt Clinic series hatched her speaking career where she started teaching beginners about the sport of mountain biking and sharing her stories of personal challenges and life lessons. It has expanded to speaking at conferences and film festivals internationally. Sonya recalls, “Ultra Endurance Mountain Biking has provided me with a lifetime's worth of lessons, applicable to athletes and non-athletes alike. Through my career, I've discovered how confidence, facing fear, a sense of humor, and the power of a positive attitude were the main ingredients required to get me through the toughest races in the world. I’ve been able to apply it to all aspects of life .”

Lisa Kilgour
Lisa Kilgour, R.H.N. is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, owner of EatMoreRealFood.com, a wellness speaker, nutrition expert, and writer based in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, BC. Specializing in digestive health and the gut/brain connection, Lisa helps clients across Canada learn how to use their diet to feel their best

Ken Surritte
Water is Life KEN SURRITTE, Founder/CEO of WATERisLIFE Ken and his wife Nita have been devoted to serving children since college, as educators, and also as partners in mission. After traveling to the Philippines and China, Ken found himself walking away from the security of a weekly paycheck and retirement benefits when he and his wife Nita began “Hearts and Hands International,” an organization committed to helping at risk children internationally. Ken and Nita have been traveling, inspiring, and encouraging others to serve, working at orphanages in Asia, South America, and Africa. While working in an orphanage in Northern Kenya-Southern Sudan, Ken realized another purpose, and WATERisLIFE was born. WATERisLIFE began drilling wells at orphanages and schools. Always attentive, Founder Ken Surritte realized the children were drinking water that came from contaminated wells and retention ponds and other unhealthy sources. Inspired by his backpacking days , Ken began working with a water purification factory and the WATERisLIFE portable, straw filters became the cusp of WATERisLIFE to bring clean water to children, their schools and villages in 38 countries worldwide. Nita and Ken have two grown daughters--and recently, a son in law.

Linda Edgecombe
Linda Edgecombe CSP, Hall of Fame Speaker My mission is to get people fired up and ready and I promise to create powerful shifts, increase accountability, while building momentum for my participants. Not to mention having the best laugh they have had in a long time. I believe a laugh is worth more than a thousand words and it has the power to change the way people feel, think and take action! “A Day without laughing is a day wasted!” As an award winning Celebrity Humorist Speaker, Trainer and Consultant, Linda’s footprint is seen and experienced around the world. Her mission is to get people Fired up and Ready to Shift or Get off the Pot! The Top 60 Motivational Speakers in the World includes Linda Edgecombe. Her non-BS approach is refreshing, engaging and relevant. Linda’s latest book “Breaking Busy – Finding Peace in the Chaos” is a game changer for those who want to step off the treadmill. Change has never been this painless! She energizes every room as she leads people to loosen up, lighten the load and laugh. Linda has been featured in the Wall Street Journal as an expert in "Shifting Perspectives". Her messages are as welcome as a deep belly laugh and as profound as an honest look in the mirror.

Will Cromack
An active entrepreneur, sports enthusiast and veteran of creating social good program, this Dad of three is into supporting people make a difference on the planet. From owning businesses, to developing programs to creating events, Will's eclectic mix of experiences have helped him create unique and fun ways to teach philanthropy to our future generations.