- Words by Angela Cowan Photographs by Lia Crowe
Now an owner and CEO, Kate Harris has certainly worked her way to the top of DriveWise BC the old-fashioned way.
乌鸦传媒淚 started when I was about six or seven cleaning the offices,乌鸦传媒� she says with a laugh. 乌鸦传媒淚 grew up with it.乌鸦传媒�
Kate乌鸦传媒檚 parents, Arthur and Pat Harris, began the driver乌鸦传媒檚 education school nearly 50 years ago, and it乌鸦传媒檚 grown with the family ever since. Now with offices in Kelowna, Kamloops, Nanaimo, Victoria and recently in Vancouver, the company offers progressive and interactive programs to beginning drivers all through the province.
乌鸦传媒淥ur driving world changes every day, and it乌鸦传媒檚 our job as driving educators to change along with it,乌鸦传媒� Kate says.
While she乌鸦传媒檚 had a long history with the company, Kate stepped away for a short time, moving to Whistler just after graduating high school to become a ski instructor.
乌鸦传媒淚 wanted to try something completely new, and I worked my way up into the adult program and was getting private requests,乌鸦传媒� she says. 乌鸦传媒淎nd I had my kids in Whistler, but then we decided we wanted to be closer to our families.乌鸦传媒�
Kate eventually rejoined the DriveWise BC family full time, and it was about a year ago she made the decision to buy out her parents and take on the top role, a move somewhat prompted by the COVID-19 situation.
乌鸦传媒淚 was a part owner 10 years ago,乌鸦传媒� she explains, 乌鸦传媒渁nd the push [to take over] was to say, 乌鸦传媒極kay Mom and Dad, it乌鸦传媒檚 okay for you to retire.乌鸦传媒� They deserve it. We were spending so much time as a family at our cabin, and it made them realize there乌鸦传媒檚 life after work.乌鸦传媒�
Kate was also able to steer the company in a new direction to respond to the limitations put in place by the pandemic, and helped create and evolve an entirely remote Zoom-based driving education program.
乌鸦传媒淲e took the most difficult situation we could have been faced with乌鸦传媒攚hich was the COVID-19 pandemic乌鸦传媒攁nd turned it around to create an entirely new business model,乌鸦传媒� says Kate. 乌鸦传媒淲e were the first program in BC to be licensed to do the complete e-program, and now we have people from all over the province taking our program.乌鸦传媒�
The 7 sins
Envy:
Whose shoes would you like to walk in?
For those who know me well, this is easy: Julie Andrews! I have loved her and loved her movies since the very first day I saw The Sound of Music. When I was little, I wanted to be her one day, and would line up all the kids on the street as the Von Trapp family and sing songs! I乌鸦传媒檓 sure all those kids still remember, and I know my friends still know most of the songs as well.
Gluttony:
What is the food you could eat over and over again?
Pickles, chocolate and peanut butter, ice cream, steak and watermelon! Love them all, and in no particular order. They can all be a favourite 乌鸦传媒渕eal乌鸦传媒� of mine.
Greed:
You乌鸦传媒檙e given $1 million that you have to spend
selfishly. What would you spend it on?
I love shoes, so shoes for sure. And I love to travel. I think I乌鸦传媒檇 buy a bunch of shoes, and then take my family on many vacations. Maybe even buy a thatched roof house in Bora Bora. Okay, now that sounds amazing!
Wrath:
Pet peeves?
Poor drivers. I guess I乌鸦传媒檓 supposed to say that, but it乌鸦传媒檚 true. We live in a country where our driving skills are tested at 17 years of age and then not again乌鸦传媒攊n most cases乌鸦传媒攗ntil 80 years old. This system contradicts our rapidly changing roadways, laws and environment. I乌鸦传媒檇 like to change it.
Sloth:
Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?
Easy. Maui. I乌鸦传媒檝e been travelling there for years and love it so much. Going back very soon! Second would be our cabin on the ocean in Sooke (on Vancouver Island). It乌鸦传媒檚 rustic and simple, and some of my best memories have been from this little spot of ours. Relaxation at its best!
Pride:
What is the one thing you乌鸦传媒檙e secretly proud of?
Not much of a secret, but definitely my three boys. They are now 25, 23 and 17 years old. Wow! Time goes very fast. They乌鸦传媒檙e hard workers, extremely community oriented and have volunteered since they were 16. But most of all, they乌鸦传媒檙e happy. The happy part is what makes me most proud!
Lust:
What makes your heart beat faster?
Love and finding the one to share that deepest and most intimate connection with. To be best friends and in love at the same time is a feeling I get to experience every day. I feel so incredibly grateful and blessed. When you still get the butterflies, you know it乌鸦传媒檚 meant to be! Thanks J!
Check out Kate乌鸦传媒檚 company DriveWise BC .
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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