About Thomas:

Thomas Kineshanko was an entrepreneur, innovator, and independent thinker whose life was shaped by curiosity, courage, and a desire to explore new possibilities. Born in 1985 in Nanaimo, British Columbia, and raised in the Okanagan Valley, Tom developed a deep connection to nature, physical challenge, and self-directed learning from an early age. 

Growing up on a small hobby farm near Vernon, he cultivated resilience, creativity, and an appreciation for hands-on problem solving that would later define his entrepreneurial path.

Tom attended Pleasant Valley Secondary School in Armstrong, where he was actively involved in a wide range of sports and outdoor pursuits. He went on to study at Simon Fraser University, where he was an integral member of the SFU track and field team, competing in high-level international meets across Canada and the United States. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration, combining discipline and performance with intellectual curiosity and an openness to new ways of thinking.

Following graduation, Tom pursued entrepreneurship as a means of making a meaningful impact in the world. Over more than 15 years, he founded and co-founded multiple green technology ventures, working independently and in collaboration with partners around the world. His work was consistently guided by a belief that innovation should challenge convention and contribute to positive social and environmental change. He was drawn to unexplored opportunities created by evolving technologies and was never deterred by uncertainty or risk. 

At his core, Tom was a philosopher and a challenger of assumptions. He was known for asking difficult questions, encouraging bold thinking, and inspiring others to see beyond established frameworks. His creativity, unconventional perspective, and distinctive sense of humor left a lasting impression on those who knew him. He believed deeply that progress required new thinking, often expressed through his conviction that today’s problems cannot be solved with yesterday’s ideas. Tom passed away in 2023 in Squamish, British Columbia.