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15 Questions: With Paul Nursey, CEO and president of Tourism Victoria

15 Questions with local personalities will be featured in the Victoria News every week

1. It’s Sunday morning, what are you having for breakfast?

A fruit smoothie before an invigorating hike with my dogs.

2. If you didn’t do what you did for a living, what would you be?

Real estate developer.

3. What’s playing in your music player right now? Foo Fighters.

4. What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Poor pitches or people who have ulterior motives or say things with hidden meanings, but that ultimately comes back to a poor pitch. I get pitched on ideas every day, and once you cut through extraneous stuff, it often comes down to people wanting money out of Tourism Victoria.

5. What’s the best thing about living in Victoria?

For me, I really enjoy walking and hiking opportunities in the beautiful setting of Greater Victoria.

6. Where were you born?

I was born eight weeks pre-mature. My mother was hiking on Salt Spring Island when she went into labour. After a float plane to Richmond, I was born in Richmond General Hospital.

7. Which person, alive or dead, would you have dinner with?

Jane Jacobs. I read all her work when studying urban geography and planning and found her work not only inspiring but very thought provoking.

8. What’s your favourite vacation destination?

Other than Greater Victoria I have a tie for first place: Hawaii and London.

9. If you could have one super power, what would it be?

Definitely mind reading.

10. What’s the one thing you haven’t done that you’d love to do?

Ride the Copper Canyon Railway in Mexico. I am a train buff and diesel runs through my veins.

11. If you could see one concert, what would it be?

Foo Fighters unplugged.

12. What is your favourite TV show?

Tie: Income Property & Great Railway Journeys

13. What’s your dream car?

I prefer to invest in real estate which appreciates as opposed to cars which depreciate. Unrealistically a Tesla of some description. Nissan Leaf is likely my next car after my current ride, a 10-year-old Toyota Yaris, expires.

14. What is your favourite place to dine?

I enjoy what I call “fashionable holes in the walls.” Great food, great atmosphere, and no pretention.

15. What are your words to live by?

“Money flits from man to man (sic), but honour abides forever.”  Solon - a Greek Philosopher circa 590 B.C.