Debbie van’t Kruis
Name and/or nickname: Debbie van’t Kruis
Age: 52
Profession: Head Lifeguard / Instructor / Programmer at Terrace Aquatic Centre
Fave winter activity: Until recently haven’t really had a connection with winter activities – now am learning how to cross-country ski and snow shoe. I love skating and ice fishing at Lakelse Lake, and tobogganing
Fave summer activity: For obvious reasons – swimming but my most favourite is biking and walking/hiking and I also enjoy fishing, mostly on the ocean but have been known to plunk on the river bank.
- Tell us about your most memorable moment / day / multi-day of outdoor adventure in the Terrace region.
- What are the elements that make a great summer and/or winter adventure for you?
- Share a funny moment / incident that you had with friends / family experiencing the great outdoors of the Terrace region.
- What advice would you give someone who has never visited Terrace about our winter activities / summer activities.
- What has living in Terrace done for you and/or what are you willing to do for Terrace?
- Has living in the Terrace area changed your life in any way?
- What are your main reasons for choosing to live in the Terrace area?
- What makes Terrace a unique spot of NW BC?
Tell us about your most memorable moment / day / multi-day of outdoor adventure in the Terrace region.
I was riding my bike towards Prince Rupert one day and an eagle swooped down in front of me – close enough that I could hear the flap of the wings and I could see how great the wing span of these amazing birds was. Not too many people experience that.
What are the elements that make a great summer and/or winter adventure for you?
Bluebird days.
Share a funny moment / incident that you had with friends / family experiencing the great outdoors of the Terrace region.
A number of years ago my family went tobogganing with my best friend’s family and there was a hill at the end of the run. I was at the back of the toboggan (a wooden one) and when we hit the bump I landed hard on the wooden cross slat and my tailbone was throbbing. I crawled back up the hill and sat in the snow but then had to do it again – and the exact same thing happened. This time it was more painful – I sat in the snow for a long time and couldn’t sit on my butt for weeks!
What advice would you give someone who has never visited Terrace about our winter activities / summer activities.
We have the BEST selection of activities for anyone – x-country and downhill skiing as well as awesome backcountry skiing and heli-skiing. Ice fishing and outdoor skating, tobogganing and snow shoeing. There are awesome snow mobile places and places to just walk in the snow and enjoy the stillness.
What has living in Terrace done for you and/or what are you willing to do for Terrace?
I have lived in Terrace for almost 30 years. When I first came here in March of 1982, pregnant with my first child I swore I wasn’t going to stay. There was still probably 3 feet or more of snow on the ground and it was March and I was from Vancouver Island – this was so not right. Now, I wouldn’t have traded that for anything – all 3 of my children were born here and they had opportunities that may not have been so readily available anywhere else – horseback riding, karate, ballet, figure skating, skiing and sports. Now that my children are older I have been involved in Search & Rescue, working with the Legion and my very personal passion of educating people in the lifesaving skill of CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Has living in the Terrace area changed your life in any way?
It has truly made me appreciate what we have all around us – mountains, rivers, wild life – great friends.
What are your main reasons for choosing to live in the Terrace area?
Work was what brought us here – now it’s friends, what we can do (mushroom pick, fish, bike) in wide open space – still the job too though.
What makes Terrace a unique spot of NW BC?
We have it all – not bad weather (other than this year), beauty, amenities and opportunities.
