Erik Graf is a founding member of Vancouver Frontrunners and served as the first president.
Erik has a long history of volunteer work and was honoured by Tourism Industry Association of BC with the 2011 World Host Customer Service Award.
Here is the text that was read out to introduce Erik on the evening when he received the award.
Erik is a Dane who had been planning on immigrating to Australia, but after seeing one photo of Vancouver's mountain and ocean beauty, taken from an airplane, changed his life plans and ended up in Vancouver.
He volunteers at Hostelling International, providing tours of Vancouver and area 7 months of the year. Erik’s tour is a 9 hour Vancouver and area tour, led twice a week. Due to the popularity of this tour, Erik has received recognition in high profile guide books, such as "Lonely Planet".
Erik has been doing his twice weekly tours for the past 17 years, promoting Vancouver, British Columbia, and the rest of Canada to his guests from around the world. He has become well known in the backpackers industry, and has never missed giving his twice weekly tours in seventeen years.
Erik has at least 1,100 guests per year on his tours, and since starting them in 1995 has had over 16,000 guests attend. Erik is not only a longstanding volunteer for Hostelling International, but also for the "Pride Parade", "The BMO Vancouver Marathon", and other organizations in Vancouver as well as being a previous Volunteer Fitness Instructor, for 16 years at the Downtown Vancouver Y.M.C.A.
Erik truly characterizes the spirit of hospitality in our industry. I am pleased to welcome Erik to the stage.
Featured member: Erik Graf