Laurie Skreslet

First Canadian to Summit Mount Everest, Leadership and Teamwork Expert, Inspirational Keynote Speaker

In the summer of 1982, 21 Canadian mountaineers set off for the Nepal Himalayas to attempt the highest mountain in the world. The expedition had taken 5 years to plan, $3 million to fund, and 27 tons of equipment to outfit. On October 5, 1982, Laurie Skreslet overcame deadly odds, to become the first Canadian to climb to the summit of Mount Everest.

As Everest expert Geoff Powter put it in Saturday Nightmagazine, “Climbing Everest is an accomplishment. But there is climbing Everest – and climbing Everest.” About half of the 23 Canadians who have summited Everest since Skreslet were essentially dragged up the mountain by guides. Laurie was a pioneer in his field.

Skreslet appeared in CBC Television’s The Climb, a documentary revisiting the triumphs and sorrows of the historic 1982 Canadian Mount Everest Expedition 25 years later. In 2008, Jason Priestley and William Shatner starred in the CBC’s two-part mini-series Everestbased on the expedition.

Laurie’s inspiring, captivating presentations, complete with spectacular multimedia visuals, convey clearly how personal commitment, teamwork, preparation, planning and dedication to excellence were the keys to success on Mount Everest, and are keys to success in business. Everyone has their own “mountains of endeavor” to climb, and Laurie Skreslet inspires his audiences to reach their personal and team best, overcome fear of the unknown and go beyond their self-imposed limits.