people

What Fictional Character Are You Most Like?

Tamara Vrooman, CEO, Vancity “Remy the rat from the movie Ratatouille really speaks to me. His story is about ?passion and perseverance: he wants to be ?a chef, despite the discrimination he ?faces as a rat in a kitchen. I‘ve come from a different educational background, I’m a woman in a business that has been historically dominated by men and I can relate to the fact that you need to follow your passion and prove to yourself that you can be successful.” Michael Shepard, ?president, Thunderbird Films Inc.?

By BCBusiness /

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Tamara Vrooman, Michael Shepard and Rick Antonson relate their passion for beloved fictional characters.

Tamara Vrooman, CEO, Vancity

“Remy the rat from the movie Ratatouille really speaks to me. His story is about 
passion and perseverance: he wants to be 
a chef, despite the discrimination he 
faces as a rat in a kitchen. I‘ve come from a different educational background, I’m a woman in a business that has been historically dominated by men and I can relate to the fact that you need to follow your passion and prove to yourself that you can be successful.”

Michael Shepard, 
president, Thunderbird Films Inc.


“Scooby-Doo! He is a bon vivant who enjoys the good things in life, and I definitely feel that I’m the same. I have always been a Scooby-Doo fan; I think of him and smile. I admire his enthusiastic and unpretentious manner, and that he is also a loyal friend. I like a person of that nature; it means your ego is not driving you. Also, just like Scooby-Doo, I too am easily frightened!”

Rick Antonson, president and CEO, Tourism Vancouver

“In the book Shoeless Joe, Ray Kinsella 
is a farmer who has a vision that if he 
mows down his cornfield and builds 
a baseball field, then famed baseball 
player Joe Jackson would come back to life and play there. Everyone thought he was crazy until his dream came true. It reminds me of what I’ve seen with the convention centre expansion and Olympic bid. With big ideas, people say they’re crazy, until they happen.”