Browsing “50 Coffees Series”

I recently read a theory that going for 50 coffees with people you’ve never met is the entrepreneur’s equivalent to the theory that doing anything for 10,000 hours will make you an expert on it. While I get the idea, 50 coffees is far easier than practicing something for ten years, and while I’m far from lazy I’ve decided to set out on a fairly simple mission: over the next 50 weeks I’m going to invite 50 interesting Vancouverites, most of whom I have never met before, to go for coffee. I’m going to use this as an exercise in networking for myself and for V.I.A. while also using it as a platform to introduce you to some people who are doing really cool stuff in the city you live in. COFFEE #31 Name: Lindsay Coulter Occupation: Queen of Green Beverage: Cappuccino

Meet Lindsay Coulter. The David Suzuki Foundation’s ambassador for anyone interested in lightening their footprint and adopting an easy-on-the-Earth lifestyle. Lindsay does a weekly column in the Metro as well as writing a blog and is active on Twitter and Facebook as well. Essentially she works as a sustainability-focused communications specialist/writer who releases how-to videos, recipes and all sorts of advice, and her work is truly awesome.

We met at 49th Parallel on 4th Avenue, walking distance from the Suzuki Foundation’s headquarters and the most interesting part of our conversation was when she told me the drive that brought her to where she is. She shared that when she was nine years old she announced to her family that one day her and David Suzuki were going to be good friends. Fast forward a decade or two and BAM! she’s Doctor Suzuki’s Queen of Green! Of course things don’t happen overnight and her position is the result of a ton of hard work and dedication, and I always find it inspirational to see people saying they want to do something and then really following through. The near-lifelong commitment that Lindsay has made could, perhaps, only be trumped by that of her mentor and now-good-friend, David Suzuki himself!

Follow Lindsay on the outlets below for easy ways to reduce your footprint, every day:
- Metro column
- Queen of Green Blog
- Twitter
- Facebook

And stay tuned for more 50 Coffees!

Welcome to the latest series of Super, Neighbours blog posts where we highlight incredible travel destinations in British Columbia! In this current series we’re taking a trip to Tofino to stay at the Wickaninnish Inn and go fishing! The first post was about GETTING THERE via BC Ferries and a wonderful drive, the second concerned STAYING AT THE WICK and storm watching, and this third is all about dinner at The Pointe Restaurant at the Wikcaninnish Inn. I’m going to tie this post into my 50 Coffees series where I sit down with interesting people and write about them because while of course I want to tell you about how great the food is what I really want to do is introduce you to my friend, Charles McDiarmid. COFFEE #30 Name: Charles McDiarmid Occupation: Managing Director Beverage: House made ginger beer

On his business card it says that my 50 Coffees subject #30, Charles, is the Managing Director of the Wickaninnish Inn. That tells you that he’s in charge but what it doesn’t tell you is that he founded this place with his father, Howie, and while he may not be solely responsible for all of its successes he makes the Wick what it is. I’m not sure if he does this with all travel media who pass through but every time I visit he takes the time to share a meal with me at The Pointe and to let me know about all of the stuff happening at Chesterman Beach and beyond. If you checked out my PREVIOUS post about the renovations what I didn’t write is that on top of all of Charles’ responsibilities he essentially worked as the general contractor of their renovation project and made sure that the finest of details were handled. It’s that type of rolling up of sleeves that I feel puts Charles, and The Wick, one step beyond awesome.

But of course you want to know about the menu at The Pointe, right? It’s Pacific Northwest themed, masterminded by Chef Nicholas Nutting. And while the restaurant has a 240 degree view of the ocean (perfect for storm watching!) you’re actually going to want to keep your eyes on the table. Pictured top left in this photo below you’ll see one of my favourite fine details in the custom, locally sourced, sparkling water coaster. Little things like this add to the atmosphere while the food made with farm-fresh, organic Vancouver Island ingredients make it worth the price tag.

…READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

I recently read a theory that going for 50 coffees with people you’ve never met is the entrepreneurs equivalent to the theory that doing anything for 10,000 hours will make you an expert on it. While I get the idea, 50 coffees is far easier than practicing something for ten years, and while I’m far from lazy I’ve decided to set out on a fairly simple mission: over the next 50 weeks I’m going to invite 50 interesting Vancouverites, most of whom I have never met before, to go for coffee. I’m going to use this as an exercise in networking for myself and for V.I.A. while also using it as a platform to introduce you to some people who are doing really cool stuff in the city you live in. COFFEE #29 Name: Gary Pooni Occupation: City Planner For Hire Beverage: Skim milk cappucino w/little foam & honey PLUS a banana strawberry smoothie

Usually I would start this off with “Meet Gary Pooni”, but you’ve already met him: Jen featured he and his son, Tage, in her In The Closet feature a couple of weeks back. So it’s been established that Gary has a unique sense of style, and it’s been established that he was born and raised in New Westminster to hard-working, Indian immigrant parents, that he is a family man who heads up a land development consulting firm called Brook Pooni Associates.

We went for coffee and smoothies at Showcase on West Hastings and talked about his work as a “city planner for hire” and what that involves. Essentially he helps developers navigate complicated rezoning applications, like the current Rize one I’m personally SPEAKING in favour of. In fact I met Gary for the first time somewhat randomly at a public hearing at City Hall a few weeks back where I shook his hand and asked if he wanted to go for one of these coffees.

Beyond being the president of Brook Pooni Associates, being named one of Business in Vancouver’s “Top Forty under 40″ recipients in 2009, he also does a ton of other work. His nickname to many is “Superman” and I imagine it’s because he offers support to so many that they wonder where he finds the time and energy. He does work for and with the Urban Development Institute and also finds time to serve as the director of a charity called the Indo-Canadian Friendship Society of British Columbia. The ICFSBC raises money in order to build infrastructure for villages in India where one in ten deaths are caused by disease related to poor sanitation and drinking water. In the end their goal is to provide clean drinking water, sewage facilities, waste water plants, street paving, street lights, and a chance at a better life for people living in these villages. Like Gary’s, it’s a truly awesome story, and you can learn more about it in the video below.

Follow Gary on Twitter at @Gary_Pooni and stay tuned for more 50 Coffees.

I recently read a theory that going for 50 coffees with people you’ve never met is the entrepreneurs equivalent to the theory that doing anything for 10,000 hours will make you an expert on it. While I get the idea, 50 coffees is far easier than practicing something for ten years, and while I’m far from lazy I’ve decided to set out on a fairly simple mission: over the next 50 weeks I’m going to invite 50 interesting Vancouverites, most of whom I have never met before, to go for coffee. I’m going to use this as an exercise in networking for myself and for V.I.A. while also using it as a platform to introduce you to some people who are doing really cool stuff in the city you live in. COFFEE #28 Name: Kurtis Kolt Occupation: Independent Wine Consultant Beverage: Americano

Meet Kurtis Kolt. Award winning sommelier, head of the Waldorf’s monthly East Van Wine Academy, wine writer, wine judge, wine blogger, wine host… to boil it down (ferment it?) he’s an independent wine consultant. An award-winning and much-respected independent wine consultant that doesn’t have the air that you might expect from someone with such accolades: Kurtis is far from a snob and in fact I would argue that he’s the opposite of one.

We sat down for coffee at Nelson the Seagull and for a brief moment I marvelled that our paths had not crossed in real life previous to our coffee, then it set in that the reason is that I’m a former alcoholic, 5 years sober, and I am automatically not attending most of the events I might run into him at including the amazing/aforementioned East Van Wine Academy that he puts on where the slant is “a wine event that doesn’t suck”.

I often have a hard time translating people’s titles into what it is that they actually do on a day-to-day so we talked about that (learn all about his work HERE) and the conversation drifted to the subject of the Rio Theatre and of the city’s antiquated liquor laws that I’m pretty sure everyone can agree need to be changed. Kurtis is a proponent for liquor license reform, and you can read his most recent piece about it HERE in WE Vancouver.

At the end of our coffee I had a light bulb moment where I invited him to do a monthly blog post on V.I.A. branded as his East Van Wine Academy, and he agreed that would be the perfect fit. Have a look at the first one HERE, then follow Kurtis on TWITTER and look forward to seeing a lot more of him here on our site!

I recently read a theory that going for 50 coffees with people you’ve never met is the entrepreneurs equivalent to the theory that doing anything for 10,000 hours will make you an expert on it. While I get the idea, 50 coffees is far easier than practicing something for ten years, and while I’m far from lazy I’ve decided to set out on a fairly simple mission: over the next 50 weeks I’m going to invite 50 interesting Vancouverites, most of whom I have never met before, to go for coffee. I’m going to use this as an exercise in networking for myself and for V.I.A. while also using it as a platform to introduce you to some people who are doing really cool stuff in the city you live in. COFFEE #27 Name: Maurice Li Occupation: Photographer Beverage: Water

Meet Maurice Li. Venture capital guy and professional photographer, Maurice has successfully made the jump from working all day behind a desk to a more balanced lifestyle that lets him retain his role as a consultant while exploring his creative passions. His successful transition should serve as an inspiration to others thinking of doing the same. One of the higher profile gigs he’s taken on recently was joining the Canadian Tourism Commission as the official lensman for William and Kate’s cross Canada adventure (!!!), but he can be found all around town, and the world, shooting this and that.

We went for lunch (and of course I drank coffee) at Brixton near the V.I.A. office in Chinatown and you’ll have to forgive me for the poor quality of the photo but I figure it illustrates how much better of an iPhone photographer, and an overall photographer, Maurice is. Of course as a pro he shoots on a fancy SLR but he is doing some amazing things lately with technology and the camera many of us have in our pocket all day every day. His iPhone photos are about 10,000 times better than this one I shot of him, and his photos he shoots on an SLR go beyond infinitely better than the ones I shoot. Take a peek at his PORTFOLIO for proof and be sure to follow him on TWITTER and find him on Instagram to see where his profession takes him next!

I recently read a theory that going for 50 coffees with people you’ve never met is the entrepreneurs equivalent to the theory that doing anything for 10,000 hours will make you an expert on it. While I get the idea, 50 coffees is far easier than practicing something for ten years, and while I’m far from lazy I’ve decided to set out on a fairly simple mission: over the next 50 weeks I’m going to invite 50 interesting Vancouverites, most of whom I have never met before, to go for coffee. I’m going to use this as an exercise in networking for myself and for V.I.A. while also using it as a platform to introduce you to some people who are doing really cool stuff in the city you live in. COFFEE #26 Name: Michael Eckford Occupation: TV and radio host Beverage: Maker’s Mark Old Fashioned

Meet Michael Eckford. Co-host of Urban Rush with Fiona Forbes on Shaw and also the co-host of the Bro Jake Show on Rock 101. Unlike the behind-the-scenes folks whom I’ve mostly been introducing you to in this series I imagine you’re already familiar with this guy and his current hairstyle.

We went for an afternoon “coffee” at the Fairmont Pacific Rim after I reached out on Twitter letting him know I was enjoying hearing him during my morning commute. As I mentioned, he’s now co-hosting Bro Jake and he’s doing a fantastic job at it. I feel like Michael is the bridge between The Bro and people who are around my age and like to listen to classic rock in the morning. I will not say a bad word about The Bro (in fact I will capitalize the “T” in “The” for him) but I will say that Michael adds a certain zing to the show that could have been missing up until a couple of months ago.

So we talked about his new radio gig, about his long-running TV gig (15 years this week!), and then about how he manages both of those as well as being a father and a husband. I left knowing that the guy you see on TV and hear on the radio is the same guy in real life, and that’s awesome.

Oh! And as you likely noticed, that is not a caffeinated beverage in Michael’s hand. No sir, that’s a good old fashioned Old Fashioned. When you get up at 4AM to do a live radio show and after that you do a daytime TV talk show, by the time the rest of us are having our second cup of coffee it’s essentially mid-evening for you. “You” being Michael Eckford, and “you” are not only allowed to have a cocktail at this hour but in fact I would encourage “you” to.

Follow Michael on Twitter, watch him on Shaw (15 years deep!) and listen to him on Rock 101.