Grad Profile: RICHARD OSTLER

Constant companion? My wife and best friend Collette.

Occupation? Sales and marketing guy for TELUS.

Children? My three sons - Mitchell (6), Nicholas (4) and Owen (2).

When and where are you the happiest? Savary Island, travelling to exciting new places, and outdoor events with my family.

What was your favourite journey? An African Safari in the Umfolozi Game Reserve and Kruger National Park with Collette.

What are your interests? I like to play my guitar. I have finally learned the intro to Stairway to Heaven. I can't really play anything else. I also enjoy the water - boating, sailing and kayaking. I also play golf and joined a curling league (watch for me at 2010).

What is your fondest memory of Hillside? Friends, playing basketball and golf, grad homecoming (jello wars) and grad night.

What is your favourite music, past/present? Past was Led Zeppelin. Now it's great Canadian bands like Blue Rodeo, Tragically Hip and Spirit of the West. I let my kids listen to Gordon Lightfoot. I also like listening to www.pandora.com.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Getting my kids' names right the first time. I've only done it a couple of times. I'm also proud to have written for daily newspapers in Lethbridge and Vernon for two years with only a Commerce (Marketing) degree for training. Thank God for my english class with Mr. Horne! I'm pretty pleased about that Stairway to Heaven thing above too! It's taken 20 frickin' years.

What is your greatest regret? Not buying a house in West Vancouver in the early 1950s (with today's dollars of course). I could probably have bought a few more TELUS stock at $6 too.What are you waiting to do? Explore the world with my family ... ideally starting with a Caribbean sailing trip on a tall ship.

Your last 20 years in 20 words or less: UBC for Commerce, Lethbridge and Vernon to work for Thomson Newspapers, UWO for Journalism, and then on to TELUS. I'm married with three very tall kids and living on the North Shore. Life is tres grand.

1987 Yearbook Quote: "Richie's" pet peeves include short people and 24-hour convenience stores that close at 10:00. Rich was the star centre and captain of the senior boys' basketball team. Best memories were B-ball trips to Penticton and Victoria and the BC Championships in '86. His future plans are to laugh his way into a commerce degree at UBC.