Stefano Grande has been the longtime executive director for the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ.

Over the past 10 years, he’s been the pointman in working to make downtown safer and cleaner while rolling out new events and programming, and speaking on issues such as downtown housing, rapid transit, and homelessness, to name but only a few. He’s also very proud of his CEO Sleepout, which has raised more than $600,000 to help the homeless, as well as efforts to create downtown’s first outreach street team.

A University of Winnipeg grad and an urban planner by trade, Grande is the father of three young sons.

1. It’s Sunday morning. What are you having for breakfast?

Scrambled eggs mixed with spinach, tomatoes and shredded cheese. And sliced sausages and some Italian espresso with the family.

2. If you didn’t do what you do for a living, what would you be?

I enjoy supporting and nurturing great communities and helping the people around me. So if I was not an urban planner and “building” a community, I probably would be creating great foody dishes and cooking for the people I care about. I’d be a restaurateur.

3. Who’s your hero?

My mom for sure, Gelsomina Grande. She taught me the value of hard work, persistence and to never give up trying to achieve greatness for myself and the people around me.

4. Last book you couldn’t put down?

For some reason I enjoy magazines more than books. American Planning, Mens Fitness, Architecture and Design Magazines. I devour ideas.

5. Who was your childhood celebrity crush?

I have to say the women in Charlie’s Angels — in particular, Farrah Fawcett and Cheryl Ladd.

6. What’s the last song you downloaded?

David Bowie, BlackStar Album. All the songs intrigued me. How a person with so much celebrity power can touch people on a personal basis. It’s powerful.

7. If you could see one concert, what would it be?

Growing up with two sisters, Madonna has always captivated my attention as an incredible female artist on the cutting edge of music, dance and more. I would love to see her live one day soon.

8. What’s the best thing about Winnipeg?

We are a city of people who come together to get things done to improve our quality of life, like no other city.

9. What’s your weirdest habit?

I take time organizing and cleaning my workspace, as a precursor to the week, every week! It makes me feel better.

10. What’s your biggest pet peeve?

People complaining about things, but not willing to work hard to change them, nor acknowledge that they can be changed.

11. What’s your fast-food guilty pleasure?

Once every few months, I will have this incredible craving for KFC. I give in and bring some home for the family.

12. What was your most embarrassing moment?

Putting on clipless peddles on my road bike, not checking the tension setting for my shoes to unlock easily when coming to a stop. Suffice to say, the motorists at the red light where chuckling when I fell straight sideways like a falling domino — and I could not get back up and needed help.

13. Which person, alive or dead, would you like to have dinner with?

I would enjoy sitting down over dinner with Leonardo da Vinci, the famous Italian, painter, scientist, and inventor.

14. What’s your favourite vacation destination?

I enjoy visiting my roots, where my parents were born, in southern Italy, a small town called Amato. The architecture, culture and history is amazing and the attitude towards life — working only enough to live and enjoying the rest of life — is something we need to do more of in North America.

15. What is your favourite TV show?

I hardly have time to watch TV these days, but from time to time I’ll watch Suits, The Flash, or any Marvel Comics types of show.

16. What’s your favourite movie?

I enjoy all the Roman and Greek movies, Gladiator would be one of my favourites.

17. If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

The power and gift to heal people. There is too much suffering.

18. What’s the one thing you haven’t done that you’d love to do?

I would like to travel more with my family and explore and learn together about other great places in our world, like Africa.

19. If we’re buying, you’re having ...

Whatever you are eating!

20. What are your words to live by?

The glass is always half-full. In other words, we all know life has it challenges. But the positive energy of moving forward always brings us to a better place.