What is Footcircles?
Footcircles is a travel enthusiast’s blogging website designed in a magazine-style to best reflect the rich story-telling adventures of our writers. By writers, we mean you!
Long or short, simple or complex, it doesn't matter. Your experiences are worth sharing with others. We just want to provide you with a great place to do it!
Footcircles is founded on the idea that travelling should be fun, meaningful and something all of us do for as long as we are alive. Our motto, “Travel for life!” means two things:
- Footcircles goal is to inspire all of us to get out and experience the world for ourselves.
- “Travel for life!”, is our commitment to inspire our contributors, readers and corporate partners to have fun and travel as much as possible, but do it with a desire to give something back with each trip taken.
Sharing stories (what we call footcircles) can have a profound impact on not only your personal circle of friends, but on the broader community as a whole. As people see the world through your eyes and hear firsthand about your experiences, it opens them up to the possibility of experiencing what’s beyond the front door of their home for themselves. Travel for the fun of it, travel for the adventure and always travel for life!
The Feet Behind Footcircles
Jeffrey Voth, Founder/Editor-in-chief
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Jeff’s editorial debut began in the 1998 when as the Editor of a Top 5 automotive website he contributed weekly vehicle reviews and car buying advice. Currently, Jeff is also the CEO/Producer of Exhausted Media and the President/Editor of CarNews Media, both companies he founded along with Footcircles. Jeff’s passion for autos and travel led him to develop the concept of destination stories; storylines that encompass the experience of the car, drive and the destination. Published nationally on a daily basis by Sun Media, Canada's #1 newspaper publisher, he also contributes as a freelance writer for various international lifestyle publications including Prestige Singapore, South African magazine Live Out Load, ROAD & TRAVEL Magazine, Cigar Aficionado and more. Jeff holds a degree in Gemological studies, is an active member in the community and serves on the advisory council of his local church.
Zach Redpath, Chief Financial Officer
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Zach Redpath graduated from Brock University in December of 2008 with an Honours Degree in Business Administration. In June 2008 he was inducted into the international honours society, Beta Gamma Sigma. Zach possesses strong skills in financial management, business development, and market research. Since graduation he has been involved with helping different businesses design, implement, and measure cost control programs. Currently, he is working as a commercial banker learning about various industries and helping businesses with their financing needs. Zach is passionate about helping the less privileged and enjoys volunteering with the junior youth program at his church.
Allison Voth, Public Relations/Marketing
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Allison Voth is currently enrolled in the Business Administration Co-op program at Brock University concentrating in marketing and international business. She has consistently been at the top of her class and has recently been inducted to Beta Gamma Sigma – Best in Business. Allison completed part of her studies at the Rouen Business School in France and has had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Europe. Most recently, Allison has been working in communications with McGraw Hill Ryerson and the Ministry of Transportation.
Melissa Wells, Chief Information Officer
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melissawells@footcircles.com
Melissa Wells graduated at the top of her class in the field of Library and Information Technology, and was awarded the Sheridan Scholar designation. She has ten years of corporate and small business experience, including running her own website design firm, Ex Nihilo Website Designs. She has managerial experience in directing a team of designers and programmers and has worked with many different business owners in a wide range of business sectors. Melissa is the co-founder of the community website, myPelham.com and enjoys both the design and journalistic writing roles that are required for the site. Melissa is a Director on her local business association board, has assisted in planning community events and provided marketing and website design support to various successful political campaigns.
Why Footcircles?
Footcircles: Travel for life!
The idea for Footcircles comes from a tradition we started years ago while on vacation as a family. Instead of just taking the obligatory photos of people standing in front of a popular landmark, I wanted to be able to prove we were actually there and the image was not something created in the confines of a photo editing software program. So I waited until we came across a marking on the sidewalk that could only be located in the place we were visiting, called everyone to action, asked them to stand in a circle with our feet facing inward and snapped a picture. I can assure you, everyone thought I was crazy. But it was in that one unique moment Footcircles was born.
Over the next few years the practice of circling an iconic reference point grew and I soon noticed other travellers watching us and creating footcircles of their very own. Some would laugh at the idea, others would take it very seriously and get everyone together, but one thing was clear. The idea of proof-positive storytelling was catching on. Taking it to the web was the next logical step.
Footcircles is founded on the idea that travelling should be fun, meaningful and something all of us do for as long as we are alive. The world is a uniquely designed place, filled with incredible people, outrageous creatures and mind-blowing scenery. Embryonic, unpredictable, harsh at times and friendly at others, there is so much to see and do here on planet Earth, it is irresponsible to stay seated and watch it all pass by without getting involved.
Our motto, “Travel for life!” means two things.
First, Footcircles goal is to inspire all of us to get out and experience the world for ourselves. Travel can be something as simple as spending the afternoon at a nearby park by yourself, with family, friends or maybe even complete strangers. At the other end of the spectrum, travel might be packing your bags for a three week tour of Tibet riding on the back of a Yak while staring at the crystal blue waters of Lake Namtso. Whether it costs a small fortune or nothing at all, the desire to get out and see the world is something we all have in common.
Second, Travel for life! is Footcircles way of stating our commitment to changing the world one adventure story at a time. We do this in several ways.
Sharing stories (what we call footcircles) can have a profound impact on not only your personal circle of friends, but on the broader community as a whole. As people see the world through your eyes and hear firsthand about your experiences, it opens them up to the possibility of experiencing what’s beyond the front door of their home for themselves.
Additionally, "social media" has for the most part taken the approach of creating a “watch me” attitude rather than a “how can I help?” approach. Travel for life! is our commitment to inspire our contributors, readers and corporate partners to have fun and travel as much as possible, but do it with a desire to give something back with each trip taken.
To that end, Footcircles encourages you to think about travel in a new way. Instead of exploring the vastness of the Indian interior from inside the comfortable confines of a train, stop the train, get out, rent a taxi and visit the small towns in person to see how people really live. Real life is happening all around so get out and get involved!
“Travel for life!” is also incorporated into the very DNA of what Footcircles stands for. As a communally responsible company, we are commited to donating 50% of all revenue generated through advertising and clothing sales on the website to helping those who can't help themselves.
Working with various charitable organizations around the world, (see our list of related charities) the Footcircles Foundation puts new meaning into the “social” aspect of social media. The more revenue we generate, the more we can give away. It’s a simple philosophy geared to changing our world one story, one contributor and one reader at time.
It may seem foolishly simple to say, but life is meant to be lived. So, pack up the gang for an afternoon of fun at your local tourist attraction, rent or buy a motorcycle and travel across the great expanse of North America for your long overdue bucket-list trip, or book the vacation of lifetime and feel the moss grown steps of Machu Picchu under your sandaled feet (taking a picture, of course) while staying at the most outrageous five-star resort; it’s all good! And when you do it, create your own Footcircles story and take us along on the adventure. Travel for the fun of it, travel for the adventure and always "Travel for life!"
Jeffrey Voth
CEO, Founder (Bigfoot)
