"There is no passion to be found in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” – Nelson Mandela

Every one of us has the potential to achieve something amazing. But what does it take to unlock that potential? And what might be possible if we did?

On November 22, four world-class thought leaders and doers will come together to explore those questions in depth. Join theologian Rabbi Dr. Laura Duhan Kaplan, author and entrepreneur Claire Booth, UBC psychology professor Dr. Elizabeth Dunn, and mountaineer and meditation advocate Sam Wyatt for an engaging and entertaining discussion about what it truly means to live our best lives — and how we can get there.

Weaving together theory and practice, these experts will share powerful lessons learned through their personal journeys, as well as professional insights, to help you unearth and unleash your true potential — and make meaningful contributions to the world around you.

In addition, Dr. Elizabeth Dunn will give a special presentation on Getting the Most out of Giving. Learn how giving back can produce profound benefits, for you and your community, and set you on a path to leading a truly fulfilling life.

After the discussion, join the panelists, members of Project Change Foundation, past and present PCF grant recipients, and other guests in the Wong-Trainor Welcome Centre for a reception, with hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, live music featuring the jazz ensemble Van Django Trio, and a silent auction with amazing items!

PANELIST BIOGRAPHIES

Claire Booth is an author, entrepreneur, market researcher, and professor. Claire is the founder and CEO of Lux Insights, a research agency in Vancouver and Seattle. She’s an adjunct professor at UBC Sauder School of Business, has been recognized as a top-three finalist for business person of the year in North Vancouver, is a board director at The Cultch, and is a Big Sister. Her book The Achiever Fever Cure: How I Learned to Stop Striving Myself Crazy, will be published in January 2019.

Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan is an award winning educator, philosopher and spiritual teacher. As Director of Inter-Religious Studies at the Vancouver School of Theology, she brings diverse people together to share their ideas about human fulfillment. For her work using philosophy, psychology, and spirituality to encourage student achievement, she was named U.S. Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation. Through writing and speaking, she helps her audiences translate exciting ideas into concrete personal actions.

Dr. Elizabeth Dunn is a psychology professor at UBC and conducts research examining how time, money, and technology shape happiness. She is the co-author of Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending and has given talks at PopTech! and TEDx. Her work has appeared in top journals, with three papers published in Science, and she received a 2010 CIHR New Investigator Award as well as UBC’s Robert E. Knox Master Teacher Award.

Sam Wyatt is a Vancouver realtor, meditation advocate, and avid mountaineer. He has scaled big peaks around the world, including Denali (6,194m) in Alaska, Huascuran (6,768m) in Peru, Cho-Oyu (8,201m) in Tibet/Nepal, and Everest (8,850m) via its North Ridge. He’s also run the West Coast Trail in a single day on four occasions. As a part of his spiritual life, Sam leads a free weekly meditation group and has been teaching meditation for more than 20 years.

PANEL DISCUSSION MODERATOR

Cam Sylvester is the North American regional director for Lattitude Global Volunteering, the original Gap Year program, which has been taking young people on meaningful international volunteer experiences since 1972. Previously, he taught and developed programs at Capilano University for 30 years, where he was recognized with the Alumni Award for Excellence in Empowered Learning. He has also worked as a freelance writer and a commentator on CBC Television.

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This event is hosted by Project Change Foundation and Alumni UBC. All money raised from this event will go to the Project Change Foundation to help support emerging change-makers who are working to make our community a better place. This year’s PCF grant recipient is Chilliwack Restorative Justice and Youth Advocacy Association. Previous recipients: The Lipstick Project, Community First Foundation, and Binners’ Project.