Eric Hannah is the Founder and CEO of Ambassadors of Compassion, an evidence-based program that removes emotional obstacles preventing middle and high school students from reaching their full potential. Nearly 100,000 students have completed the program, which has been independently measured and proven to reduce anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideation while fostering self-awareness, connection, and hope—equipping students to succeed academically and in life.

Eric grew up in Orange County, California, with a passion for filmmaking. After an injury ended his college football career at the University of Colorado, he pursued film and television, directing and producing award-winning projects including Extreme Days, Meet Me in Miami, and the Moment of Truth series. His creative ventures, such as Truth Soul Armor, were recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as among the “Top 50 Trends of the 90s.” His productions have reached global audiences and generated millions in aid, scholarships, and resources for underserved children and families.

The overwhelming needs he witnessed during international film premieres inspired Eric to found Ambassadors of Compassion, integrating his entertainment background with education to equip youth with emotional resiliency. Alongside his wife and producing partner, Jodi, he has continued to merge media, advocacy, and education—producing projects like the Ambassadors of Compassion TV show with Golden Globe winner Tyler James Williams and co-host Wilmer Valderrama.

Eric first met Candace Newton Chaput at the inaugural Lift Up Vancouver event in 2007, when she was producing a daily talk show. They formed an instant connection that led to a close friendship and ongoing collaboration. Eric and Jodi have remained steadfast supporters of Candace and her vision to launch Ambassadors of Compassion Canada Society, standing alongside her efforts to bring resiliency and hope to Canadian youth.

Eric Hannah is recognized not only as a filmmaker and innovator but as a leader devoted to caring for youth and their families—building emotional and mental resiliency in North America and around the world.

Candace Newton Chaput is a dynamic leader and compassionate advocate with over 30 years of experience in health care, adult education, and media production. Born in Victoria, BC, and having overcome a challenging childhood as a street youth in downtown Vancouver—including teenage motherhood—her journey is a testament to resilience and unwavering dedication to helping others. Her focus has always been on uplifting women and youth, navigating challenges with hope and strength.

For the past three years, Candace has worked alongside outstanding Canadians to relaunch Ambassadors of Compassion Canada Society, bringing the program back to its roots where it was first conceptualized in 2007 and piloted in schools across Surrey and Langley from 2009–2015. After reaching over 100,000 youth in the U.S., the program is now ready to launch nationally in Canada with a strong team in place. Candace is honoured to serve, committed to strengthening the emotional and mental well-being of youth and families, and believes we must model the very values we ask of young people.

Since 2004, as founder of Unlocking Secrets for Women Resources Inc.™ (unlockingsecrets.com), she has inspired countless lives. Her pioneering Vancouver radio show attracted major sponsors such as Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble, and her work revitalized adult education programs for women re-entering the workforce.

Her media career includes co-developing a celebrity biography TV show filmed in Vancouver and Beverly Hills, and producing over 500 hours of television, including the Unscripted series and two national specials. Trusted collaborations with local and international celebrities, and her support for childhood cancer research through the Michael Cuccione Foundation, reflect her commitment to making a lasting impact.

Now as the Executive and National Director of Ambassadors of Compassion Canada Society, Candace leads with humility and purpose, expanding the program’s reach across the nation and fostering resilience among Canadian youth. She believes in collaboration and is committed to freely introducing and supporting organizations that can work together to benefit youth across the country.

Her latest initiative, the LUV YA MOM Journal Gift Box™ (luvyamom.ca), extends her dedication to families across North America, with proceeds supporting a 12-week volunteer-led program through Ambassadors of Compassion. Guided by her simple philosophy—“Do the Right Thing, at the Right Time, for the Right Reasons”—she continues to inspire with integrity, generosity, and courage.

Beyond her professional work, Candace treasures her family. She is the proud mother of four grown children, their spouses, and grandmother to nine, and deeply values the steadfast support of her husband of 13 years.

Candace’s life and career embody resilience, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to making a difference. Through her leadership, educational initiatives, and media productions, she continues to empower others to unlock their potential and live with purpose.

Tom Brooks is a relationship-driven leader and counsellor who brings decades of experience, empathy, and practical wisdom to helping people grow and empowering the next generation. Born in Peterborough, Ontario, Tom moved across the country to British Columbia with his family at the age of six. As the youngest of five, he learned early what it meant to take direction from everyone around him — a childhood that shaped his natural listening skills, empathy, and ability to connect with people of all personalities.

At 23, Tom became the youngest hire for a national manufacturing company, launching what would become a highly successful 20-year career in sales and marketing. He eventually rose to the role of North American National Heavy Duty Sales Manager, leading a team of 15 and overseeing more than $30 million in annual sales.

While he excelled in leadership, growth, and team development, what Tom enjoyed most was not selling parts — it was building relationships. He wasn’t just a salesperson or a marketing manager; he became someone his customers trusted.

But even with his success, something was missing. At 41, Tom made a major life change: he left the industry and returned to school to finish his counselling degree. A heart for people had always been at the core of who he was. Even as a child and teenager, people often told him, “I feel like I can tell you anything with no judgment,” or “It feels like I’ve known you my whole life.”

Tom carried that same presence into his new career. He launched Solutions to Life Counselling, which grew into a practice of six counsellors working under one banner. Over the past two decades, Tom has supported tens of thousands of individuals and couples, helped hundreds of student counsellors, and facilitated hundreds of workshops for couples, organizations, and community groups. He is an author, lecturer, and deeply compassionate person who leads with empathy and understanding for the world people are trying to navigate.

Most recently, Tom streamlined his organization and co-founded Brooks & Birch Ventures Inc., focusing his work on teens and young adults. After watching his own children and their peers move through high school and into adulthood without the relational and life skills they needed; he felt a strong pull to support the next generation in a more intentional way.

When Tom was introduced to Ambassadors of Compassion Canada, it resonated immediately. The mission aligned with everything he had witnessed firsthand — the growing emotional pressures youth face, the gaps in life-skills education, and the need for supportive mentorship. Today, he brings his leadership, experience, and heart for people to AOCCS, helping youth across Canada build resilience, confidence, and healthier relationships.

Dean Duperron, Chevalier, RSA Fellow is a Canadian businessman and the President & CEO of The Duperron Group, a real estate investment firm that also mentors young entrepreneurs and supports educational development. Since the early 1990s, he has been a real estate investor, beginning with single-family dwellings and later expanding into multi-family holdings across Canada and the United States.

The Duperron Group has invested in post-secondary education and real estate for decades, including a 28-unit apartment building in British Columbia and a large apartment portfolio in Houston, Texas. Past investments include co-op housing converted to strata, an apartment complex in Langley, and 39 buildings in Houston purchased and sold with strong returns. These successes are part of a diversified portfolio that spans real estate, trades, retail, wholesale, event planning, market investing, and business mentorship.

Dean’s leadership has extended into education and training, with programs covering trades, electrical, heavy equipment operation, construction, hospitality, health careers, and business. His group has partnered with provincial and federal governments, offering credentialing from certificates through Master’s degrees. Today, The Duperron Group of Schools includes an online university, hospitality institutes, ESL and business schools, and training in horticulture and trades.

He has also invested in healthcare, partnering with an Indigenous doctor through UBC’s Aboriginal Admissions Program to reopen and grow the Gwaii Medical Clinic in Mission, B.C., which continues to thrive today.

Dean previously served as President & CEO of Sprott-Shaw Community College, where he led growth from one classroom with 26 students to 24 campuses across B.C. and abroad. Under his leadership, Sprott-Shaw became the first private college in the province to confer degree programs, while he also spearheaded the innovative Class Act Canada scholarship, attracting millions of votes worldwide and supporting students from Canada and abroad.

He continues to contribute his expertise through board leadership, including the Residential Construction Industry Training of BC (RCITO) and as Treasurer of the Professional Builders Institute of BC (PBIBC), where he has helped shape industry standards, training programs, and accreditation.

Dean Duperron brings four decades of entrepreneurial leadership, educational innovation, and real estate expertise, making him a treasured member of the Ambassadors of Compassion Canada Society Vancouver Advisory.

Beata Jirava is an innovation strategist, wellness architect, and global connector with over 15 years of leadership experience across MedTech, BioTech, integrative wellness, and mental-health innovation. A former national and international gold-medalist athlete, she brings a disciplined, human-centered approach to strengthening wellbeing, resilience, and community impact. Her work bridges science, technology, and compassion — aligning beautifully with the mission of Ambassadors of Compassion Canada.

Beata Jirava brings a rare combination of strategic intelligence, global wellness leadership, and deep compassion for people and communities. Her professional journey spans innovation advisory, public-health collaboration, and human-performance leadership across Canada, the United States, and Europe.

For those who would like to explore Beata’s background, experience, and contributions in greater depth, her full professional biography is available below.