Delta Leadership Networking: Get to Know Richard Hortness

For attendees of Delta Leadership Networking to get to better know speakers in advance of events, I created my own "Colbert-style" questionnaire.

Richard competed in swimming for Canada in the 2008 Beijing & London 2012 Olympics. He co-founded November Project Vancouver (part of the largest free-fitness community in the world). His swim career was gratefully supported by KidSport.

Richard, a father of 3, teaches at South Delta Secondary School. He continues to play many meaningful roles throughout the community.

Richard's leadership conversation at Delta Leadership Networking will focus on:

• elite individual performances as part of a team,
• criticality of building meaningful community,
• leadership practices for Generations Z & Alpha

Delta Leadership Networking Questionnaire:

Q1: What attracted you to live / work in Delta?

RH - Getting a job at South Delta Secondary gave me an opportunity that rarely comes up in my field. To walk into a forever job from my first year.  And only because I speak French. 

Q2: Where in Delta do you most love being in nature?

RH - Anywhere ocean side. The beaches on either side of the peninsula are amazing and they allow for beautiful sunrises and sunsets. A glass of scotch in hand just makes it better.

Q3: Favourite animal that lives in Delta?

RH - Hummingbirds.

Q4: What is the most under appreciated thing about Delta?

RH - The tree cover and the mature trees that we have. Especially here in Tsawwassen. Also the watershed. 

Q5: Why do you do what you do?

RH - If I can make a positive impact on the life of one student in my career, or make one kid feel safe in my space then I win. I may teach science. But that is truly the secondary part of my job. 

Q6: What do you know for sure?

RH - That communication is the key to every working relationship.

Q7: What's worth doing even if you fail?

RH - Pursuing a goal. Working towards a goal and achieving it is always worthwhile even if you don’t win or meet the goal. The lessons that you learn as you go through the process change who you are.

Q8: Book or Podcast, which one would you have? Title?

RH - I started a podcast the year that we went back to school from Covid. It was called "The Leader Ship: we’re all in the same boat". Doing the podcast made me learn so much more from others and gave me a connection with someone that I wouldn’t have otherwise.

Q9: Where do you see the greatest opportunity over the next year?

RH - Over the next 16 months I’ll be finishing a diploma in special education where I get to look at how to help students in a variety of situations.

Q10: What do you do to continually grow and develop as a leader?

RH - I’m super fortunate that I get to teach a class on leadership and personal development. Part of my job is teaching the next of leaders practical skills that they will need not only in their life but when they get into the real world, but afford to constantly be working on myself, which is one of the things that I think is most valuable as a leader. 

Q11: In the movie of your life, what song plays during the closing credits?

RH - This is the weirdest and hardest one for me. I like so many different kinds of music and my taste are always expanding. Maybe I haven’t heard it yet.

Q12: Why did you say "yes" to speaking at Delta Leadership Networking?

RH - Because you asked me to. I’m also a big fan of community so any chance we get to start something fun that involves community I’m down.

Register to participate in Richard's leadership conversation on Wednesday, June 5th @ 5:00pm in Tsawwassen click here.

To be updated on future Delta Leadership Networking events click here.