Lori Breen

For Lori Breen, the most important thing in life is to constantly learn new things. “It really disappoints me when people say, oh, I’m too old to do that,” she says. “I think, no, you’re never too old. Whether it’s learning Spanish or painting a picture or whatever catches your interest, it’s important to always explore who you are.”

Now retired, Lori expands her horizons by volunteering for organizations like ElderDog Canada and the Friends of the West Vancouver Memorial Library, which have given her new experiences as well as the opportunity to help others. Watching Knowledge Network is another way for Lori to feed her yearning for learning.

“A lot of programs have actually connected me to parts of my history. There’s a documentary series called British Columbia: An Untold History that tells stories of the different cultural groups here, which relates to my own background. My mother is Japanese and my father is Chinese, and both were born in Vancouver. Knowing more about these stories of people who have been so important in the making of BC, I find that quite fascinating. I really appreciate the fact that Knowledge is local and that I’ve learned more about my province than I did when I was in high school.”

Making the decision to become a Knowledge Partner was an easy one, given how much Lori enjoys the documentaries as well as international dramas like Vera, Redfern Now and Reyka. She also thinks it’s important to donate because Knowledge supports local documentary filmmakers and provides a wider audience for their work.

“I feel that Knowledge shows programs that have a lot more heart and soul,” she says. “There’s a thoughtfulness to it, where programs are chosen for the quality that they bring to viewers. If I was on a desert island, I would pick Knowledge as my one and only channel because I feel so connected to it and the stories it tells.”