Kristopher Marks
Kristopher Marks
Keynote Speaker | Facilitator | Musician
Kristopher (Kris) Marks is the CEO and founder of VĪV Mental Health, a business and social enterprise founded in 2021 to further innovate how mental health training and engagement is delivered to organizations, schools, and communities.
Kristopher has established himself as an inspiring and passionate voice in the fields of mental health, leadership development, workplace and generational cultures, psychological safety, suicide awareness, and supporting men, youth, and communities. His authentic delivery style, captivating presence, and creative visuals has resonated with virtual and live audiences around the world, highlighting his connection-based approach to audience engagement and immersive learning.
Kristopher’s personal lived experiences and passion for helping others became the catalyst for his work. A childhood sexual assault survivor, Kris also survived a suicide attempt at the age of 20 during a period of his life when he was living unhoused. After reconnecting with friends and family, he graduated from NAIT in 2010 as a Red Seal journeyman machinist, embarking on a 13-year career in the trades before shifting careers to work in mental health.
Kristopher began studying music at the age of 12 and was classically trained for three years. He embraced his newfound creative outlet and wrote countless songs as a teenager, often performing at parties and in the hallways of his high school. In 2008 he co-founded an original rock/funk/punk band called No Witness, performing dozens of shows and touring western Canada. When the band parted ways in 2015, he worked as a touring guitarist with various Canadian country music artists, in addition to performing his own original acoustic songs at local venues. Kristopher often incorporates his love for music and the arts into his work, offering accessible and entertaining ways to deliver important education and fostering connections with his audiences, such as through VĪV Mental Health’s InstruMental Health Therapeutic Music Program.
Kristopher is a Certified Psychological Health & Safety Advisor (Canadian Mental Health Association) with additional certificates in Mental Health First Aid and Psychological First Aid. He is the host and producer of the VĪV Mental Health Podcast and produces three additional podcasts for the Alberta Cancer Foundation. Kristopher also performs stand-up comedy, loves traveling the world, and enjoys an active lifestyle of hiking, biking, swimming, and hockey. He is actively involved in harm-reduction and community volunteer work, and perhaps most importantly, he is the proud human to a handsome rescue dog named Carson – who often makes appearances in his presentations and community events.
