About Lia Grimanis: Swimming with Sharks, and Forging New Avenues of Possibility in Business, Advocacy and Philanthropy

Lia Grimanis has spent over 15 years in the business world. From successful entrepreneur to technology account executive, Lia has chased her business goals and achieved them. Today she manages relationships with some of Canada’s largest financial institutions.

Her success in business has allowed her to pursue all her other dreams, including playing the harp, flying helicopters, feeding and swimming with sharks, hang gliding over the mountains of Kauai, Hawaii, and being an active philanthropist and advocate in the community.

Lia Feeding sharks Feb 2006

Growing up below the poverty line in Toronto, Lia learned early that if she wanted to experience anything beyond her own meagre circumstances, she would have to work hard. At the time, though, she had no idea how challenging the years to come would be.

In her late teens, she found herself in an abusive situation at home. When the violence escalated, the police would do nothing. She felt trapped and unprotected. Unaware that shelters existed, Lia believed that, if she wanted to live in Toronto, she had to either endure her current situation or live on the street. Finally, not knowing where to turn, Lia dialled the Woman Abuse Hotline—and was immediately given placement into Stop 86, a shelter for young women in crisis run by the YWCA. That night, she left home with nothing but the clothes she had on. She never looked back.

When she left the shelter, Lia made a promise to herself: that when she became successful, she would come back and speak to women in shelters. She would be a role model and a vocal advocate for success despite unfortunate circumstances.

To date Lia has spoken on the radio and in public gatherings, raising awareness about violence against women and the positive changes that can come about from shelters, crisis intervention, social support and advocacy. Recently, having witnessed the impact of negative stereotyping in her Beach neighbourhood, where local residents retaliated against the opening of a one-night-a-week homeless shelter run by the Out of the Cold program, Lia launched a nationwide search for women living extraordinary lives—women who were also once homeless. Together these women will share their stories on the web and in the media and, it is Lia’s hope, help transform the lives of others and shatter the stereotypes to show that homelessness is not a dead end and that success belongs to everybody.

As well as her successful technology career and social justice advocacy, Lia is also committed to devoting time to supporting a variety of women’s and children’s organizations, including the YWCA, the Canadian Women’s Foundation, Equalvoice, the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto and Future Possibilities for Kids.

The little time she has to herself, Lia dedicates to fulfilling other dreams. She is fluent in French, and has a developing knowledge of Spanish and German. She has a life-long love of playing the classical harp, for which she received a partial scholarship from the Royal Conservatory of Music only a year after leaving the shelter. Lia also plays the Guzheng (the Chinese harp).She sings, loves to travel, and enjoys riding and racing motorcycles.

Radio Interview CHFI May 2006:

Slighty longer radio interview CHFI 2007

Lia's First Helicopter Flight, and her 2nd Year at Motorcycle Racing School:

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