LAURIE SKRESLET

On October 5th, 1982, Laurie Skreslet became the first Canadian to summit Mount Everest. Laurie has been a professional mountaineer for over 3 decades with extensive experience in the North American Rockies, South American Andes and Asian Himalayas. His expertise spans technical ice climbing, rock climbing, alpine and high altitude mountaineering. But Laurie hasn't retired from climbing.

Over the years he has participated in more than 30 world-class expeditions into the Canadian Rockies, Nepal, South America and India. Laurie has led over 21 guided trips to climb Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere and one of the Seven Summits.

Laurie is a Certified ACMG Guide (Association of Canadian Mountain Guides), with over 32 high altitude expeditions to his credit. He has also been an instructor at the Colorado and Canadian Outward Bound Mountain Schools, teaching over 45 courses.

Since 1982, Laurie has recognized the parallel between climbing the mountain and the challenges people face daily in the business community. By sharing these similarities with 2000 organizations, Laurie has become an expert motivational speaker and touched the lives of more than 500,000 people. Laurie has written a bestselling book To the Top of Everest. It was nominated for both the Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award and the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award in 2004. It has also been added to the Children's Literature Choice List.