Pembroke

Lana Gorr

Let’s welcome our neighbour, Lana Gorr.

Hi Lana! Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am Lana Gorr, owner and organizer of Walk for Her. Walk for Her started in 2021 after my job ended with another not-for-profit organization. My spirit was broken, as well as the community (which means the world to me), so we came up with the idea for a walk, and six weeks later, we raised $13k. Sadly, eight days after the event, my dear friend Maria passed away.

I continued to devote my free time to raising awareness and funds for our local hospital foundation! In Year 2, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, so the event became even more important to me and my family. In just five years, we (as a community) have raised more than 132k for local cancer services and much-needed medical equipment.

I have been with my hubby, Jim, for 21 years. I have two children — Sarah (33) and Cameron (19).

What is your least favourite household chore?

Doing the dishes. We don’t hear the happy dishes dance to get us wanting to do them!

What is your weirdest habit or trait?

I sense spirits. It’s a cool party trick sometimes. I have also told several women they were pregnant before they knew they were.

Do you have any phobias? What are they?

I have the weirdest fear — ZOMBIES! The fear is real. I can’t watch movies, commercials, and especially NOT The Walking Dead!

If you could start a whole new career path, what would you be?

Crime Scene Investigator. Catching the bad guy would be AWESOME!

What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten?

An entire jar of pickled cows’ tongues. It’s really not as bad as you think!

What actor/actress did you have a crush on as a kid?

Ricky Schroeder from Silver Spoons. (I know the newer generation has NO idea who this is).

How many pairs of shoes do you own?

My hubby would say “too many”, but just guessing, I would say 40-50. Maybe more.

Are you a cat or a dog person? Why?

Definitely a cat person. I have the best cat in the world. His name is “Pede,” and he is a calico male who is lovable and playful (kinda like me).

What would be your trademark karaoke song?

“Told You So” by Randy Travis. No reason. I just love the lyrics and the heart behind it.

You’ve just won the lottery. What will you do with your windfall?

Take my mom to Disney World, pay off family debt, take a trip with my hubby (he’s never been on an airplane), and support my charity and a few local ones for sure!

What do you miss the most about being a kid?

The fashion (80s were the BEST) — the no judgment of what someone wore, or how they lived. We didn’t care that our friends were “different.” Also, I never appreciated all that my parents did for us. We didn’t come from a rich family, but they made sure we got to go on vacation, even if it was to a cottage or to visit family out of town. My sister and I are only ten months apart and are extremely close. Our brother is six years younger, so having him around was awesome. I really don’t miss anything about being a kid, but I sure wish I could have had more time with my Poppa. I was only 12 when he died. He was awesome!

Thanks for sharing with us, neighbour Lana.

If you enjoyed our chat with Lana Gorr, you may want to subscribe below to meet a new neighbour from the Upper Ottawa Valley each week.

Next week, we will welcome Julie Martin.