John Westhaver

I was born in St. Stephen, a small town in New Brunswick. Being the second youngest of eight kids, I had a great childhood. Growing up in a small town I had lots of friends and a great family life. I was the type of kid that would help out anyone, no matter what was asked of me. I was a well rounded student.  A month and a half shy of my high school graduation, my world was turned upside down. In 1994, at the age of 18, myself and some friends were involved in a catastrophic car crash that ended the lives of three young men and left myself with life-threatening burns to 75 per cent of my body. Waking from a coma several weeks later to learn about the tragic loss of my friends and facing an incredibly challenging recovery, I miraculously found the inner strength to move forward. My amazing journey of healing and self-discovery has inspired myself to devote my life to helping others. I am currently providing support and assistance to other burn survivors. I have also quickly becoming an accomplished public speaker and tour high schools to promote safe driving and safer choices among youth. Through my powerful presentation, I hope to inspire my audiences to think about the seemingly simple choices they make behind the wheel and in their everyday lives and to weigh the possible consequences of those choices. Told with humor, hope and significance, my story is compelling and uplifting.

        "Seeing and listening to John Westhaver will not only change the way you drive, it  will change the way you think," says this 12th grader Emily.

I am a natural born speaker with an original and gripping story to tell. Discussions can be customized to cover any or all of my specialties...goal setting, overcoming fear, surviving the worst to find your inner peace, moving on in life after a traumatic event, and taking personal responsibility in a vehicle.

I now volunteer with the FireFighter Burn Fund of Victoria, as well as being involved in the FFBFV Peer Support Group for Burn Survivors. I have worked with ICBC, CARS BC, PARTY Program, and the Department of National Defense giving presentations on driving choices and what I have gone through. I am a firm believer of giving back to the community. My business “JMM Speaking” is named after my best friend Jason Murray McKeeman who died in the car crash. I am  on the fast track to success and encourage you to book me for a presentation if you are committed to making a difference in our youths lives. This very presentation could save them from going through what I have gone through. To book a presentation contact me through my website at www.jmmspeaking.com  or e-mail me at john@jmmspeaking.com.