Phillip Lopresti has an epic adventure planned for Sunday, the first day of Youth Week 2016.
The city of Port Moody youth leader supervisor will embark on a solo fundraising and awareness campaign dedicated to the city’s Youth Employment Training Program.
His challenge is this: Start the day with a sunrise ski run atop Whistler Blackcomb and end it with a sunset surf in Tofino on west coast of Vancouver Island.
The goal is to raise public awareness about the employment barriers faced by youth.
Donations are being collected through Port Moody Parks and Recreation and 100% of the proceeds will be directed to the training program, which is focused on enabling youth to discover their passions and develop career or education plans to achieve their goals.
“We have such a huge interest in this program,” said Lopresti, who started the program by securing a $17,000 grant from the Rotary Club.
Lopresti said education is the key for young people as they start to pursue their dreams and goals. The youth employment training programs gives successful high school candidates a chance to receive education and training needed to get jobs in the aquatics or children services departments. The cities of PoMo and Port Coquitlam both provide training through their parks and rec departments. Program participants are selected for training based on their needs and existing barriers.
“I truly believe in the power of education and its ability to serve as a vehicle of change, moving youth from a place of great adversity to one of great achievement and pride,” he said in an email.
A volunteer firefighter, second lieutenant with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada and occasional triathlete, he said planning the fundraiser was a bit of logistical challenge but says with the sunrise at 5:50 a.m. and sunset at 8:50 p.m., there will be enough time for a ski, drive, ferry ride, quick stop at Cathedral Park and surf at Tofino.
Also participating in the adventure are researcher Liam Peel from UBC, Julian Deschutter from Chasing Sunrise, and Michelle Hill a graduate of the youth employment training program.
Lopresti plans to document his entire journey on social media, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (follow Sea to Sky Youth Coaching). Donations can be made online at www.portmoody.ca/seatoskychallenge.
