Author and motivational speaker Randy Kolibaba will be the guest speaker at a fundraiser for the Schubert Centre in Vernon Saturday, Nov. 4. at 6 p.m. (submitted image)

By Pete McIntyre

Schubert Centre

Author and former Mountie inspires people ‘not to take life for granted,’ will speak at Vernon fundraiser

Oct 31, 2023 | 2:00 PM

A fundraiser will be held this Saturday (Nov. 4) for the Schubert Centre in Vernon featuring author and motivational speaker Randy Kolibaba who has an amazing story to tell.

The former commanding officer of the Vernon RCMP told Vernon Matters he was asked to help the centre raise money for their programming and he was pleased to offer his time.

His focus on Saturday night will be the same topic as his second book, “Is this the life you imagined; What if you were wrong?”

“It is designed to be inspirational and interactive with the audience,” Kolibaba said. “This is a very worthwhile event as sadly, our seniors are often a forgotten sector of our society. People seem to forget that getting old is a privilege and a right.”

Image credit: Schubert Centre

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The byline of Kolibaba’s presentation will be “The hardest and often saddest reality that many people come to in their lives is that the life they’re living is not the one they envisioned.”

“The entire evening will focus around mindful living and I’m hoping to take the audience on a little bit of a journey, a journey of self-exploration. Obviously, inspiring people not to take this magical thing called life for granted,” he explained.

Randy Kolibaba (submitted image)

Kolibaba, who spent 34 years with the RCMP, hopes to inspire the audience to understand that there are no “do-overs” or “ rewind” buttons in life and no matter how old, or whatever station in life we are at, a change in our lives is only a thought away.

“I know this all too well as in February 2015, I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease called vasculitis. I was admitted to the ICU at the Kelowna General Hospital, listed in critical condition and given only three days to live. My lungs were filling with blood, the sack around my heart was filling with fluid, my liver and spleen were enlarged and my kidney function was just eight per cent. My immune system was literally attacking my organs,” Kolibaba told Vernon Matters.

The former RCMP officer had what people traditionally have called a “Near Death Experience” (NDE) while in the ICU the night he was admitted.

“Next day, after my NDE, literally all my vital signs started to improve to a point. I remained in hospital another nine days before being released. I went from literally given only days to live, to now being in full remission for over six years. My experience with being near death was the impetus behind writing my second book.”

Kolibaba, who was born in Grande Prairie, Alberta, said Is this the life you imagined: What if you were wrong? was featured on Amazon’s best sellers list in the category of self help – motivational.

“I’ve also become a professional public speaker with the Speakers Bureau of Canada and have spoken to audiences both in Canada and the United States,” he stated.

The tickets are $20 and can be either picked up at the Schubert Centre reception desk (3505 30th Avenue) or at the door. One-hundred per cent of the proceeds go directly to the Schubert Centre which provides programs for seniors.

Kolibaba’s first book, The Lies Behind the Truth, received critical acclaim for helping those struggling with symptoms of PTSD or simply finding peace and harmony in their lives.

For more on Randy Kolibaba, visit his website.

by Pete McIntyre

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