About Us

Jess has been with Elevation since August 2018 and came into the organization from a psychology and youth outreach background and desire to help improve youth mental health through outdoor activities. In her first year with the organization, Jess found a new hobby in snowboarding and enjoyed building connections with youth in a new way. She learned to snowboard alongside the youth, and just like the program participants, Jess was able to experience the joy of gaining confidence in a new sport. Jess started out as a part-time Program Lead and Coordinator and, over time, has since also taken on volunteer and staff coordination/training, Everyone Rides Grades 4/5 coordination, and other operational tasks in a full-time position. She also still enjoys getting out on program to build relationships with awesome youth!

During her time with Elevation, Jess has worked to improve organizational systems, streamline the registration process, facilitate and refine programs, and coordinating and managing staff and volunteers. Jess has enjoyed being a part of connecting with and building the wonderful Elevation community of youth, parents, referral partners, sponsors, donors, staff, and volunteers! Her favourite part of working for Elevation Outdoors is being part of a small, yet continually growing, organization, which has allowed her to be a valuable contributor to refining and improving the organization over the years. She feels a sense of great pride and connection to the organization and has build some priceless relationships within it. Jess continues to engage with youth in meaningful ways, improve programs and administrative processes that help Elevation increase its sustainability and ability to support those most in need, and connect with community partners to spread the word of all that Elevation has to offer!

Tori spent the first 23 years of her life in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island. She attended University of Victoria, finishing up with a BA in Leisure Service Administration. Tori had a keen interest in sport and outdoor recreation throughout her high school and undergraduate life. She enjoyed all the outdoor experiences that Victoria and surrounding area has to offer: mountain biking, hiking, trail running, paddling, and trips to the mountains to ski and snowboard in her free time. She was also a trail blazer for women’s rugby in the late 1990’s; playing on the first varsity ‘Vikes’ team at UVic, and the first women’s U23 Canadian national team.

Tori went on to work at various mountain snow resorts for the following 3 years, helping to organize outdoor events and ski and snowboard races.

Tori returned to university in Victoria, Australia where she earned a Masters in Experiential Learning and Development at Victoria University in Melbourne. She lived in Torquay, Australia and worked within the school system for outdoor education while studying.

Tori and two friends also started a program for homeless youth in Geelong Australia named by the youth involved “XTG town”, through the Barwon Youth accommodation services group. The program focussed on working with a small group of youth towards a goal of travelling internationally and taking part in outdoor pursuits while there. The project lasted 6 months, youth were empowered by raising their own funds to travel to an international location of their choice, which was New Zealand. The youth were mentored by volunteers and experienced new outdoor pursuits and living healthier lives while reaching their travel goal.

Tori and her Australian husband, Mat, returned to live in Canada in early 2007. After seeing the difference one can make in youth’s lives that really need it, such as the XTG town group, Tori set her sites on making a difference in Kelowna. She founded Elevation Outdoors in November of 2007 after seeing the need for outdoor experiences and healthy opportunity offered to Kelowna’s less fortunate. The first Elevation Outdoors program “Learn to Shred” took place in January of 2008 at Big White Ski Resort with 6 youth referred to the organization, and some very passionate committed volunteers!

Currently, Tori is the Chair of the Elevation Outdoors board of directors. She also works within the organization on fund development and fundraising, strategic planning, community relations, and linking Elevation Outdoors to post secondary opportunities for students in the Okanagan. Tori also volunteers within the Elevation programs wherever possible.

Laura joined Elevation Outdoors in April 2024. As a seasoned conference services manager turned non-profit fundraiser, she brings a wealth of experience in executing events and building relationships. After 10 years of working in hotels Laura decided to follow her dream and make the switch to non-profit, where she could find meaning and fulfillment in her work. After two years of working in business development for a non-profit treatment center, Laura discovered she loved fundraising and community outreach thus providing more opportunities to those served by the organization. She has learned her strength lies in “helping the people who help the people”.

Laura was born and raised in North Vancouver, BC. She has always loved traveling, camping, water, and being in nature. She has traveled to 25 different countries and enjoys experiencing different cultures and environments. Over her hospitality career she lived and worked in Vancouver BC, Jasper AB, and Whistler BC. It was in Jasper that she really developed a passion for hiking, summiting mountain peaks, and immersing herself in the remote backcountry wilderness.

She recently moved to West Kelowna in part due to the Okanagan’s beautiful landscape and myriad of outdoor activities. Summers you can find her hiking with friends and her dog Rio, stocking up on fresh food from the local farm stands, relaxing at the beach, or exploring the lakes on her paddle board. Winter’s are spent snow hiking, skiing, or warming up with some hot yoga.

Working for Elevation Outdoors has brought together her passion for the outdoors and her desire to use her skills to make a difference in the lives of people experiencing life struggles. She is proud to be a part of helping youth lead happier, more fulfilling lives by providing them opportunities to be active outside, gain skills, and develop passions that could last a lifetime. From personal experience she knows the rewards and benefits of being active outdoors and the positive impact it can have on your life.