About Joe Roberts
Joe’s deep resonating “WHY” is to facilitate the experience that empowers people to redefine what’s truly possible for their lives, their business, their family, and their community.
Joe’s Story
“My super-power is the ability to inspire people by simply sharing the storms I have faced and overcame.”
Joe’s Timeline
Joe’s message is relatable, humorous, honest, raw and unforgettable. He tackles the stigma associated with mental health and addiction in a straight forward, authentic way and shares the tools needed to build resiliency in any situation. When Joe was homeless in Vancouver he made a promise if his life was spared he would pay it forward. He did just that in the form of triumphantly pushing a shopping cart a staggering 9,064 kilometres across Canada in the name of youth homelessness prevention. This feat created a national awareness campaign called The Push for Change, inspiring fellow Canadians to create ripple effects of transformation in the lives of at-risk youth throughout the country.
Joe has been recognized by MacLean’s Magazine as one of “10 Canadians who make a difference,” won the BC Courage to Come Back Award, received The Ontario Premier’s Award for Business, was given an Honorary Doctorate from Laurentian University and was recognized by the Senate of Canada with their Canada 150 Medal.
Recently Joe was also awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) from The Governor General of Canada.
Joe is also the Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Push for Change Foundation, a charity advocating for youth homelessness prevention.
The Foundation says “Our goal with The Promise Project is to educate, inspire and empower young people to see their potential, and impact the world by doing so. By embracing 21st century skills through service-based learning projects, students grow and learn while positively impacting their communities.
We want The Promise Project to be much more than youth empowerment learning. We want it to be a call to action, to get involved now, and for the long term. We believe that changing the world is possible one project, one promise, one young person at a time.”
Joe’s Book
The Push for Change,
Stepping into Possibility
Joe’s story is about awakening your inner strength to achieve the unthinkable. It will inspire readers to unlock their own unlimited possibilities.
On a cold rainy night in 1989, Joe Roberts was homeless and destitute on a park bench on Vancouver’s East Side. He made a promise if he was granted a second chance in life, he would pay it forward. In the book, you can walk with Joe through his personal transformation, his success in business and the epic pay-it-forward campaign that saw Joe walk across Canada.
