| To know Peter Sammarco is to know a man whose goal is to touch in a positive way as many lives as he can. To help those he meets understand who they are, to help empower them to reach their full potential. Having experienced a deep loss early in his life has given him an insight into how to get a positive message out of what could be seen as a negative experience. |
Peter was born in Montreal in a proud Italian family and spent time in Italy as a child. His family moved to West Vancouver and then, in 1975, to Richmond to make life easier for his younger sister, Isabella Maria, who was making regular visits to the Vancouver General Hospital and later at the Vancouver Children’s Hospital.
His father, Pat, owner of Richmond Vinyl Siding, Ltd., decided since his niche market was largely in Richmond, this was the city to move to. A half-acre on Garden City Road was ideal for Peter’s interest in soccer and hockey as well as Isabella’s interest in gymnastics.
While at General Currie Elementary school Peter would go up to his teacher, and give her a hug without hesitation, showing the rest of the class that we can exchange love rather than germs.
In 1987, Peter graduated from Steveston Senior Secondary. He is also a graduate of the University of Victoria in Pacific and Asian studies. While there, he helped organize a worldwide symposium on China. Its main focus was how western institutions of law, medicine and business have been absorbed and reinterpreted by the Chinese. At this time he was the Co-President of the Canadian Association of International Students.
” It’s the cultural diversity that restores the power to the people, that brings prosperity,” says Sammarco, who speaks Italian and Japanese. “My expertise in international trade, cross cultural communication business management, Pacific and Asian studies and International relations will enhance Richmond’s profile to be a city that thinks globally and acts locally.”
Peter started the Pacific Euro trading company and Ekko–Avanti trade company and doing business in South East Asia, Hong Kong, China and Japan for several years. Bringing new Italian fashion to Asia and North America.
Since he returned to Richmond, Peter has been teaching language proficiency and cross cultural business communications in Asian communities as well as the corporate culture. He has worked with the Asian communities and majority business communities to help them understand each other.
| Peter has lived and worked in Hong Kong and Japan, where he attended a prestigious university. This has enhanced Peter’s vision a city that thinks globally and acts locally and thus making Richmond the Golden gateway of the Pacific Rim.
From an early age, Peter had an entrepreneurial spirit and a deep interest in a wide range of international issues from economic geography to political history. That spirit was a part of Peter’s personality from the start. Before he was 13, Peter started his own business by purchasing colorful cassette tapes and selling them to friends and the local market. |
After Peter’s sister, Isabella, died in 1986 of Thallasemia major, one of the world’s most common blood disorders, his mother, Sara, founded the Vancouver Thallasemia Society of British Columbia.
Living with a sister who was terminally ill – in fact, Isabella knew she would die — Peter and his family learned to live in the moment, to appreciate life as a precious gift. And it heightened his lifelong passion for helping others deal with their problems, to try to get past their differences and learn to live together.
His first exposure to Japanese culture was from his new neighborhood in Broadmoor where he babysat two young boys, Akira (Charles) and Hitoshi (Andrew) Ono. Their parents, Mr. & Mrs. Ono, became an integral part of Peter’s life. They helped spark his deep interest in Japan and its people.
Thus with the proximity to Asia and the Pacific Rim, it made sense to Peter early on to consider studying Pacific Rim issues.
Therefore in 1982, Peter embarked with other students from London Junior High School to Joto Junior High School in Wakayama City, Richmond’s sister city. Peter started studying Japanese in grade nine and continued through university. He still studies Japanese at least once a week.
Peter has worked as a Core leader for teenagers at Church, helping them get closer to themselves and their concerns. He has also volunteered his time in marriage counseling, personal mentoring, and self help seminars. Peter has been a great mediator and coach for the intricacies of interpersonal relations.
Having written many articles from international relations, philosophical issues, international business and commerce, as well as cross cultural, business management and corporate concerns. Peter has completed a book, “What Did you Learn Today That you Didn’t Know Yesterday”, and a second book called, “Love”, which will be completed by Christmas of this year.
Peter has been very active in many sports activities from a very early age. He has been an athlete all of his life, involved in a range of sports from swimming to football, track and field, baseball, basketball, kung fu, karate, tennis, golf, volleyball and badminton. He has played soccer in Italy and Japan as well as in North America. Currently he is still active in community sports and recreational activities. Exercise is an essential ingredient in Peter’s life.
| Peter has learned from his experiences that we all have many things in common. We all want to be healthy, happy, prosperous and wise.
” Let us do it together! ” says Peter. |
