The ‘yes’ guy
Freya Wasteneys // Contributor
In 1999, at the age of 16, Calvin Ramsson took a leap of faith and moved from Abu Dhabi to Vancouver. Now 34, Ramsson says he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I was actually just supposed to be here on a little vacation, and then I ended up living here for the rest of my life.” For Ramsson, there is always something to be gained from taking a risk. “I’m a yes guy,” he said. “I’ll try anything once.”
Anyone looking at Ramsson’s resume will see his try- all attitude reflected. He has no shortage of experiences, and has been involved in everything from sales, to lm and to nutrition.
Not one to be stuffed in a box, Ramsson has built his life around the things that he finds interesting. “School has been sort of on and off for me,” he said, “So I just kind of messed around for a little while.”
By this, Ramsson means that he took on the lm industry for six years. After a uke gig in a beer commercial, he began to land TV roles, movie roles, and even did some feature background. “It’s a very, very fascinating industry, and it’s very strong in BC,” said Ramsson, who was involved until a few years ago. “I’ve had a really long background in odd jobs, but now that I’ve sort of figured out the direction I want to go, I’ve tried to focus everything around it.”
In 2009, also by accident, Ramsson discovered one of his main passions – nutrition. After suffering from a compound fracture in his arm, he was hospitalized, bedridden, and began to feel unhealthy. “I tried a few things and nothing really worked for me, until a friend pointed me towards nutrition,” he said. “The more I learned and healed my body, the more I was fascinated by it.” What started with a mere curiosity resulted in a two-year certification in holistic nutrition at The Institute of Holistic Nutrition (IHN) Vancouver.
His lifelong passion, however, is people. Always one to make a connection, Ramsson loves to talk, listen, and make new friends. “If I can have a career where I’m involved with people and nutrition at the same time, then I think I’m doing alright,” he said.
Now in his second year of Communications at Capilano University, Ramsson believes he is in the right place. While he was originally drawn to the program because of his interest in public speaking, he feels that he has found a degree that will allow him to build skills, further his interests and push his comfort zone.
In the next year, Ramsson hopes to combine his passions and open his own holistic nutrition market café. The goal is to provide a space of community, where people can enjoy food and learn about nutrition. “A lot of people have said it’s a big risk, but I think I like that,” he said. “You never know until you try, and if you fail, so what? Move on, or take another stab at it.”