Leanne Shafir
(She/They)

Leanne grew up in the territories of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinabewaki and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations (Toronto, Ontario) and always loved running around, climbing things she probably shouldn't, and just being outside in general. Growing up in a large city made it harder to access nature, but Leanne was lucky to have a father who was dedicated to showing her waterways, mountains, and forests. Through him, her love for the outdoors continued to develop as she learned to canoe, kayak, and camp. Leanne also formed a deep interest in people, leading her to pursue a Bachelors of Science in Psychology at the University of Toronto. After working in Paris, France at a research lab, she soon discovered that she liked working with people more than computers and came back to Canada to explore Social Work. Leanne specialized in working with youth and families who had experienced violence and created two different violence prevention programs for youth in school-based settings. 

In 2020, Leanne decided to move her explorations out west and ended up in Kelowna, British Columbia, to pursue a Master of Social Work. She discovered Power To Be through working at a similar agency in Kelowna (Elevation Outdoors), and began to explore the connection between mental health and nature. She also discovered her passion for rock-climbing, and co-created a queer rock-climbing club with her Kelowna community. Now, in Victoria, you can find her climbing rocks, playing music with her friends, and biking around with her partner. Leanne is passionate about access to nature for everyone and connecting the natural world with our mental worlds. She is stoked to have found Power To Be and to be a part of this community!