Our Past Speakers
Peter Legge
2010, 2017
Peter Legge lives his life dream as an internationally acclaimed professional speaker, a bestselling author and as Chairman & CEO of the largest, independently owned media publishing company in Western Canada – Canada Wide Media Limited.
Controlling a network of over 25 magazines, in addition to providing a diverse range of media services and products with over $15 million in annual sales, Peter is a living legacy of one of Canada’s true entrepreneurial success stories. Peter travels worldwide speaking to organizations of varying industries. His presentations are based on his everyday experiences as a community leader, husband, father and CEO. Toastmasters International voted Peter "Golden Gavel Award Winner" and "Top Speaker in North America" and both the National Speakers Association and the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers have inducted him into the Speakers Hall of Fame.
Peter has published 20 bestselling books; including The Runway of Life, The Power of Tact, Lunch with Joe and his most recent, The Power of Tenacity, The Courage of Leadership and the Strength of Character. His books have motivated thousands of people towards positive change.
He was notably honoured with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, and the province’s highest award, the Order of British Columbia in 2008.
Ryan Walter
2012
Ryan Walter played and coached more than 1,100 games over 17 seasons in the National Hockey League. Drafted second overall by the Washington Capitals in 1978, Ryan was named the youngest NHL captain in his second of 4 seasons, played 9 seasons and won a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens, and returned to his hometown to play his last 2 seasons for the Vancouver Canucks.
He was named Team Canada Captain in the World Junior Tournament, was selected to play in the NHL All-Star game and for team Canada in 4 World Championships, became a Vice-President of the National Hockey League Players Association, and was honoured as NHL Man of the Year in 1992. Ryan has been inducted into the BC Hockey Hall of Game, the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame, named to the 30 all-time Washington Capitals’ Dream team, the top 50 all-time BCHL players and the top 100 Montreal Canadiens in 100 years.
Ryan has a Master of Arts Degree in Leadership/Business. He is the author of 5 books, the creator of the board game Trade Deadline hockey, and a regular contributor to both online and print magazines and newspapers. Ryan serves on the Hockey Canada Foundation’s Board of Directors and is a member of the Seton Hall Stillman school of Business Leadership Advisory Council.
Ryan’s enthusiasm from the page, the screen, the bench, the boardroom and the podium is contagious as he fulfills his mission to “inspire the hungry spirit”.
Wally Buono
2013
Wally Buono recently retired as the winningest coach in Canadian Football League history, retiring as head coach of the BC Lions at the end of the 2018 season. In a coaching career that spanned well over two decades in Calgary and BC, Buono led his teams to 13 regular season division titles and five Grey Cup championships. In 2009, Buono surpassed Don Matthews’ 232 victories to become the all-time leader in coaching wins and finished his amazing career with a regular season record of 254 wins, 154 losses and three ties. His consistency and success were previously recognized with the CFL’s Coach of the Year Award in 2006, 1993 and 1992.
Wally moved to Canada from Italy in 1953 with his family, later playing minor football in Montreal. He attended Idaho State University and was a linebacker for the Bengals. Wally returned to Canada and played 10 seasons with the Montreal Alouettes as a linebacker and punter, appearing in 152 games.
Wally is a noted contributor to the community and was recognized for his work with the Paul Harris Award in 2001. Wally continues to donate a significant amount of time to a number of worthy causes. Wally and his wife Sande have four children.
Bob Rich
2014
Bob Rich is a renowned former Police Chief of Abbotsford, serving for a decade. He previously was with the Vancouver Police Department for 28 years.
Since Bob joined the APD in 2008, the Department has had its mission to make Abbotsford the Safest City in BC, and the crime rate went down by 40%. When Bob joined the APD, gang violence in the Fraser Valley had made Abbotsford the murder capital of Canada. In 2011, the murder rate had dropped to zero. That reduction in violence and crime was the result of the hard work and dedication of the 300 men and women, both civilian and sworn, who make up the APD.
Bob is married to Ruth and they have two adult sons.
Bob has a law degree and has been invested as an Officer of the Order of Merit for Policing in Canada
Stockwell Day
2015
Stockwell Day was successfully elected 9 times over 25 years at two levels of government and in 2 separate provinces. From 1986 to 2000, Stockwell represented Red Deer North in the Alberta Legislature, where he served in the Progressive Conservative Government in a variety of senior roles. From 1997 to 2000 he was Provincial Treasurer (Minister of Finance) and Acting Premier.
In 2000 Stockwell won the leadership of the Canadian Alliance and became Leader of Canada’s Official Opposition. In 2002, Stockwell was appointed Foreign Affairs critic, Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights. In 2003 the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada merged to become the Conservative Party of Canada. In 2006 Stockwell was appointed Minister of Public Safety. Upon his re-election in 2008, he was appointed Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Regional Minister for British Columbia. In 2010 he was appointed President of the Treasury Board. He did not seek reelection in the 2011 general election.
Stockwell is also a well known conference and event speaker.
He and his wife, Valorie, have three married sons, and 14 grandchildren.
David Bentall
2018
David Bentall is a graduate of UBC and the Harvard Business School. As a real estate professional, he worked with The Bentall Group in Calgary, Toronto and Los Angeles. Later, he served for seven years as President and CEO of Dominion Construction. Under his leadership, the firm constructed Rogers Arena and annual sales grew from $150 million to just under $300 million. Now with Next Step Advisors, David works as a family enterprise advisor and executive/life coach. As an Adjunct Professor at the Sauder School of Business, he regularly teaches family business workshops.
In 2005 his best selling book, The Company You Keep, was awarded ‘book of the year’ at the Canadian Word Guild Awards. His second book, Leaving a Legacy was published in 2012. David is a four time Canadian National water ski champion and in January 2012, in his age division, he was ranked the Number One male slalom skier in the world.
David and his wife Alison have been married for 40 years, and together they have 4 married children and 6 grandchildren.
Deb Grey
2016
Deborah Grey’s history-making political career took a turn when, in 1989, she won a by-election becoming the Reform Party's first Member of Parliament. She served in that position for 151/2 years, watching the growth of Reform, which transitioned into the Canadian Alliance. She was instrumental in building bridges with the Progressive Conservative Party, which eventually amalgamated into the Conservative Party of Canada. She was Canada's first-ever female Leader of the Official Opposition, serving in that position from March to September, 2000. Deborah retired from elected office in June, 2004, after winning four straight elections.
Deb and her husband Lewis are happily semi-retired in Qualicum Beach. Deb has become a professional speaker with the National Speakers' Bureau. In 2007 she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada for Public Service. She has also received the Queen Elizabeth II 50th and 60th Jubilee Medals.
