Silverado Socrates is IIPT British Columbia Chapter president.
Silverado attended the 2011 World Conference of the international institute for peace through tourism (IIPT) with the goal of forming a chapter. Her family has had a few generations of people serving in the Canadian Armed forces, including her older brother.
She was raised an Canadian air force BRAT (born raised and transferred) and had taken peace at home for granted for much of her life. It wasn’t until having had her horse trailriding business for several years that she realized her older brother might not come home alive after a stint away. She contemplated joining the forces too, but then realized she and her four legged friends showcased peace while sharing their travels through the Okanagan Valley with all its beautiful plants and animals. She heard about the organization IIPT through a university student that was interviewing her on the future of agritourism. She looked into IIPT and immediately wanted to join.
The idea of sharing the goal inspired the song “Discover Magic” from thinking ‘Discover Magic in the Okanagan Valley of Supernatural BC’. Some people she met while in Zambia would later make a video of both “Discover Magic” and another song “Peace in the Valley” using the words of her songs and local musicians. Zambia was a beautiful place with wonderful people. Her experience there had inspired the third verse of Peace in the Valley as she remembered how sincere people seemed when they greeted eachother with “and how are you today?”
Before doing the trailrides as a business, Silverado was able to travel the world as an athlete, having competed in three world cross country championships and several other international running competitions. She has a national university indoor 3000m record that has stood over 30 years. Sharing stories may or may not be as rewarding as riding or running but a lot easier when the weather conditions aren’t ideal!