About Kristopher

Keynote Speaker | Musician | Machinist

 Kristopher (Kris) Marks is the CEO and founder of VĪV Mental Health, a business and social enterprise established in 2021 to further innovate how mental health training, engagement, and support could be delivered to businesses, not-for-profits, schools, and communities.

Kristopher has established himself as an inspiring and passionate voice in the fields of mental health, leadership, 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.

Kris's Personal Experiences: How They Shaped Who He Is Today

Kristopher’s personal lived experiences and passion for helping others became a catalyst for his work in mental health. After experiencing sexual trauma as a teenager, Kris later survived a suicide attempt and was briefly unhoused in his twenties. The next chapter of his life saw him complete four years of apprenticeship and studies at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, graduating in 2010 as a Red Seal journeyman machinist, followed by a 13-year career in the trades prior to shifting his focus to work 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 formed an original rock/funk/punk band called No Witness, performing dozens of shows, releasing an album, 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 writing and performing his own original acoustic songs. 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. VĪV Mental Health’s InstruMental Health Therapeutic Music Program was a lifelong dream that he is very proud to see being fulfilled.