DAVID LABISTOUR is a Board Member for Aritzia and former Chief Executive Officer of Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC), Canada’s leading outdoor retailer.

With a professional experience spanning over 30 years working with companies such as Adidas, Woolworths, one of South Africa’s most successful retailers, and Aritzia – David’s diversified international experience has covered Design and Product Development in apparel, gear and food, retail product management, Brand management and complex Strategic planning and execution. His Management and Leadership experience has developed in Private, Public, Co-op and military environments.

David is MEC’s first CEO to have been appointed from within the 46-year-old organization. In his former capacity as the Senior Manager of Buying and Design, David was part of the Executive team that transformed the MEC Brand and shaped MEC’s award-winning recognition as Canada’s Best and Most Trusted Brand whilst equally encompassing sustainability initiatives operation wide.

David lives in Deep Cove with his wife Lianne, sons Liam and Felix, and indulges in a “jack of all trades, master of none” approach to a range of activities including such things as skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, kite surfing.

3 words to describe Nature?

We. Are. Nature

3 things Nature taught you?

Consider the bigger system of things.

Nothing is simple or linear

Nature is a part of us and we are a part of nature

3 most treasured Nature spots?

Too many to pick one. The world is full of wonder. From your front door to the wildest and remotest of places

When you look at the ocean, it makes you feel…?

Like riding a wave

When you see a forest, it makes you feel…?

Like climbing a tree

When you see a volcano, it makes you feel…?

I have never seen a live volcano up close

When you see a sunrise or sunset, it makes you feel…?

Sunrise = new possibilities. A beautiful sunset on a warm evening = tranquility/ relaxation

When you hear thunder, it makes you feel…?

Depends on what my situation is. In the wild = batten the hatches. At home = energy

When you hear the wind howling, it makes you feel…?

Depends on my situation. On the beach = time to kite.

Are you an Ocean, Mountain, Forest, or Desert person?

Ocean first, then mountain.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is Nature to your well-being?

See question 1

Share with us a childhood nature memory?

I grew up on a farm in the foothills of the mountains, went to school on a nature reserve and holidayed on the ocean. That was my childhood.