Renate Weiler was born on April 23rd, 1951 in the town of Hamm in Germany.

Renate's parents, Marianne and Albert Neubauer owned a restaurant in Hamm earning a modest living. Renate was the middle child of 3. Jochen the older brother, Werner the younger brother and Renate all worked in their family's restaurant for many years.

Even when Renate was a young woman, she knew that she wanted to do something special with her life. After graduating from college Renate travelled to Canada in search of an adventure. Little did she know that she was in for the ride of her life.

Renate landed in Toronto, speaking zero english. To support this new adventure, her only option was to work as a Nanny. Although she enjoyed the house and the family she stayed with, it wasn't until Renate arrived in British Columbia that she knew she was home. She fell in love with the mountains and the ocean and a part of her never left British Columbia.

Renate attended the BC Institute of Technology, where she earned her degree in hotel management. This was a major achievement for Renate as she spoke practically no English at the time. She was learning the school material, while still trying to learn English. This is a testiment to Renate's commitment and determination.

Renate managed several restaurants in the Vancouver area. She always believed that if employees were treated fairly and rewarded for doing a good job, they would be enthusiastic and dedicated in their work. The vast majority of Renate's employees really appreciated her approach to management and were dedicated to making those restaurants well known for their service and cuisine.

Having conquered the service industry, Renate found strength in working at a local prison. She created a new program to help troubled young men get their lives back on track. Many of these men had made several mistakes in their lives and most people, including themselves, had given-up on them. Renate never gave up. She encouraged these young men and assured them that if they worked hard, they could change their lives.

After only a few months, the warden asked to meet with Renate. He informed her that since her program began, many of the men had enrolled in courses and were pursuing further education. Renate had a profound impact wherever her journey took her.

After a few years of living in Canada, Renate received news that her father was very ill. Renate immediately returned home to Germany to visit with him, for what turned-out to be the last time.

During their final visit, Renate's father expressed how proud he was of her. She was shocked to learn that it had always been his dream to move to Canada. He was proud that she pursued the dream that he never could. A short while after Renate returned to British Columbia, she received word that her father had passed-away.