Meet Wyatt Purcha. He's originally from Langley, where he lived on a farm but moved to Kamloops in 1996 and has lived here since.
What is your preferred method of social media? (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc)
Facebook and Instagram.
Who is your favourite person to spend time with and why?
My partner Melissa. She is a supernova of strength, creativity, willpower, and all the things that are easy to fall in love with.
What is your favourite local store in Kamloops and why?
The Stock Pot. The staff there is friendly, the food is always delicious, homemade, affordable, and GENEROUSLY portioned. I eat there way more often than my wallet would be comfortable approving of.
What is your favourite activity?
Performing. As an actor and voice actor, I love creating characters and charging their batteries with intentions and emotions.
If you had to choose, would it be: pizza, tacos, or burgers?
Pizza. Unequivocally.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you?
I was at a party where I was performing a previously choreographed dance routine. At the crescendo of the song, which, for those who are curious was ET by Katy Perry, a friend attempted to jump into my arms unexpectedly as a jest. They immediately fell to the ground and on the way down as they clawed for stability both my pants and underwear fell to the ground with them. I was completely surrounded by other party goers. Luckily, I made a rallying call to all my friends in the room and in mere seconds another 7 comrades had leapt up beside me and all done the very same. It was both the most embarrassing and the most awesome moment at the same time. Maybe not so much for the people around that had to see 8 half naked male university students. But who knows, maybe they thought it was awesome as well.
What is the most inspiring thing that has happened to you?
Around eight months ago I was working in retail, and although the people I worked with were great, it wasn't a career path I even remotely found interesting, just a way to pay the bills. I had incurred actually going through post-secondary training to try and find a dream job. I was offered an opportunity and up until that point in my life, I was ready to pass it off as too much risk because of the bills I had to keep up with. My partner Melissa heard me talk about the opportunity and immediately told me there was no way I was passing it up. Despite all the stress and work and financial issues we already had, she took it upon herself to cover us financially until my pursuit of this chance started to pay off. It is rare that another person in your life other than your parents would so selflessly want to put themselves on the line to help you achieve something for you, and really make yourself happy. So rare in fact that when it happened to me, the way I perceived life and its challenges changed in an instant. Inspired is selling short the feelings I had then but if I had to use a word to describe that turn of events in my life, inspiring seems just right.
Where do you volunteer or give back to in the community?
Where I work at Mastermind Studios, we support the community in any way we can. The way we do it best is by offering our skills in video production at little or no cost to those who are the most in need with the least to offer in return.
If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
I wish people would notice each other more, not in fear or suspicion, but the genuine curiosity of who everyone else is.
What is your favourite activity in Kamloops?
Performing and attending theatre and other arts. The world keeps you hustling, the arts help you slow down and pay attention to what you're hustling for.
Where would you sneak away to in Kamloops to spend some time alone?
Kamloops keeps growing, sneaky places are getting harder and harder to find and they're also best kept as secrets.
Where would you like to see positive change in Kamloops and why?
Probably in the way the people in our city view drugs and addiction. It boggles my mind how such a large number of people just don't care about those who are clearly in need of a better support system than we currently have. What is worse is the people who don't care, also don't seem to understand that all the problems they have with these addicts and at-risk people will be solved with helping them. All the things people hate and fear about the vulnerable population disappear along with the people suffering as we support them. Leaving them alone and getting all upset about programs trying to aid these people is like admitting you just want all the reasons you're mad to continue. Start a dialogue for once instead of complaining and let's get both sides of the conversation working on a solution so that everyone gets what they need out of it. You don't have to have an interest about addicts if you want to see a world without them, just help facilitate the people actually trying to solve it rather than not help at all.
What do you think makes Kamloops great?
People here pay attention to things. There is a lot of detail in the world that gets overlooked, but it seems like here that happens a lot less.
What is the name of your business/organization?
Mastermind Studios.
Why did you get into/start this business?
It enables me to flex my creative muscles in an industry that complements my skills and furthers my career goals every day.
What is the goal of your business?
To break the mould and disrupt the status quo when it comes to video production and storytelling. Whether it be passion projects, advertising or even big budget production, we want to help everyone be different in the most successful way.
What has been your biggest struggle either at work or life?
Balance.
If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
Melissa Thomas. Alternatively, in the new year, Melissa Purcha.
Why do you think it is important to shop locally?
Kamloops, much like the rest of the country, is sustained by small and medium business. Spending our money and resources locally has a much more direct and positive impact. The more we shop local, the more we have access to the things we need to find online right here at home.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
The day I realized it was okay to fail, be wrong, be told no, and lose your way. All of them will teach you something, none of them is the end.
Give someone you think that deserves it a shout out and explain why!
Melissa Thomas, because she makes my list of achievements seem like a seven-eleven shopping list scrawled on the back of a bar napkin. She worked relentlessly for them all and deserves every bit of praise that is given.
My choice for the KamloopsBCNow In Focus spotlight is:
Of course, Melissa Thomas. Soon to be, Melissa Purcha.
We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kamloops.
In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition of the people, businesses, and organizations that help make our city great.
