Ivan Kristoff

At the age of 15 Kristoff made his own improvised climbing tools and started rock climbing and rappelling. He later joined caving clubs, including the Speleo Club. During caving activities in the western part of Bulgaria, he discovered new extensions of the Cave "Goliamata Balabanova". The club mapped the new areas and extended the explored area of the cave by more than 4,500 metres.{{Cite web|author=Todor Nikolov |url=http://caves.4at.info/index.php?cave_id=1223 |script-title=bg:Информация за Балабанова дупка |script-website=bg:Пещерите в България |language=bg |date=2007-06-10 |access-date=2010-05-07}}

He started solo climbing{{Cite web |url=http://blog.ivan.bg/?page_id=926 |title=Vertical Rush – 55 |access-date=2010-05-07 |archive-date=2010-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327155443/http://blog.ivan.bg/?page_id=926 |url-status=dead }} and joined an alpine club with the goal of escaping the communist regime.http://i41.tinypic.com/a4y1oj.jpg Toronto Sun

In 1987–1989, Kristoff was conscripted into the Bulgarian Army. Upon his discharge, he joined a national expedition and climbed Mount Elbrus in the Caucasus, Georgia.

After the fall of communism in his homeland, Kristoff moved to Canada, where he attempted to join the Toronto Police Service, but was rejected due to his poor English skills.http://i41.tinypic.com/a4y1oj.jpg Toronto Sun In 1990 he started a business for vertical access on the exteriors of high-rise buildings in Toronto. He has completed some challenging rope access projects in the high-rise environment. One was an exterior repair in 2003 of the CN Tower antenna mast at {{convert|526|m|ft}}, during extreme winter conditions with winds above {{convert|60|kph}}.{{Cite web| url=http://paper.standartnews.com/bg/article.php?d=2008-02-08&article=221076 |title=Живот – Паяк качи на върха "Версаче" – Стандарт |publisher=Paper.standartnews.com |date= |access-date=2010-05-05}}

Kristoff founded the first volunteer urban high angle rescue team – the Canadian Highrise Emergency Aerial Response Team (HEART),{{Cite web| author=byRozalia Hristova |url=http://sofiaecho.com/2002/01/31/630883_ivan-makes-a-humble-hero |title=Ivan makes a humble hero – Profile |publisher=The Sofia Echo |date=2002-01-31 |access-date=2010-05-05}} a non-profit organization whose aim is to "minimize the loss of life and to increase the safety of the public." HEART was created to address the needs of over 12,000 high-rises in Ontario, to improve training procedures for rope workers, and to prevent accidents for which traditional emergency response teams would not be equipped.

In Bulgaria Kristoff founded the first volunteer Special Operations Services (SOS) Team.{{Cite web|url=http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=61398 |title=Spiderman Launches First Bulgarian Search and Rescue Motorized Unit – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency |publisher=Novinite.com |date=2006-04-02 |access-date=2010-05-05}} He organized and completed the first aerial video surveillance (from a helicopter) with the technology of 3G and 4G in real time.{{Cite news |author=Любомир Старидолски |url=http://paper.standartnews.com/bg/article.php?d=2010-05-07&article=234542 |title=Пазят тийнейджъри с камери в небето |script-work=bg:Стандарт |date=2008-05-31 |access-date=2010-05-07 |language=bg}} The event was documented with an expert from VIVACOM (a GSM operator in Bulgaria), a TV crew from BBT TV, and Krasimir Svrakov, Chief of Photography of The Standart.{{Cite AV media |publisher=Team IvanKristoff |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZASWFUSG-HI |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206152352/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZASWFUSG-HI |archive-date=2013-12-06 |url-status=bot: unknown |script-title=bg:Очаквайте нов полет с хеликоптер, в рамките на "Златния медицински час" |via=YouTube |date=2008-06-04 |access-date=2010-05-05 }} The project was developed by Ivan Kristoff and experts in mobile computing and IT communications. Over a one-year period, these experts, along with a representative from Hewlett-Packard Bulgaria, worked together with Kristoff to find the most advanced equipment and wireless video broadcast technology (including IP cameras). These information systems can be used in remote areas during crisis situations.

In recognition for Kristoff's contribution to the emergency services community in Canada, the organizing committee of the Toronto Police invited him to be part of the first annual Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Appreciation Day.{{Cite web |url=http://www.verticalrescue.com/events/EmergDay.htm |title=1st Annual Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Appreciation Day |publisher=Verticalrescue.com |date= |access-date=2010-05-07 |archive-date=2010-09-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902191846/http://www.verticalrescue.com/events/EmergDay.htm |url-status=dead }} The event took place at the Canadian National Exhibition.{{Cite web|url=http://www.verticalrescue.com/events/EmergDay98.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030228203940/http://www.verticalrescue.com/events/EmergDay98.htm |archive-date=2003-02-28 |title=welcome to the home of IVAN KRISTOFF |website=Vertical Rescue |access-date=2010-05-05 }} At the third Appreciation Day, Kristoff led the parade, along with members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other Canadian law enforcement agencies.{{Cite web |author=Славяна Манолова |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivankristoff/4338766058/ |title=scanned article |website=Flickr |date=7 February 2010 |access-date=2010-05-07}}

In 2001 Kristoff was chosen by the Toronto community as one of its "Unsung Heroes". The same year, he opened the CFL playoff game between the Toronto Argonauts and Montreal Alouettes by rappelling down from the roof of the Rogers Centre.

Currently, Kristoff is working on creating an International Vertical Access Network called I.V.A.N., the main goal of which is to share new trends to the high altitude vertical and aerial industry.

While studying at the University of Toronto, Kristoff pursued his interest in photography and participated in a photography exhibition in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.{{Cite web|url=http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=63802 |title=Bulgarian Spiderman Opens Photography Exhibition – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency |publisher=Novinite.com |date=2006-05-21 |access-date=2010-05-05}} His photographs document aerial and technical operations.{{Cite web| author=Obektiv.Info|url=http://www.obektiv.info/index.php?article=887&cat=9 |title=Иван Кристоф представя своя поглед към света – Profile |publisher=Obektiv.Info|date=2006-08-30 |access-date=2010-05-07}}

His projects have appeared in publications including the Toronto Computes, Computer Player, Quebec Micro, The Athlete, Bulgarian Army Newspaper, National Post, The Toronto Sun, The Globe and Mail, Town Crier, Mississauga News, Mississauga Business Times, and others.{{Cite web|url=http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=63802 |title=Bulgarian Spiderman Opens Photography Exhibition – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency |publisher=Novinite.com |date=2006-05-21 |access-date=2010-05-05}}

• Harry Gardiner
• Dan Goodwin
• Philippe Petit
• Owen Quinn
• Alain Robert
• George Willig

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.verticalrescue.com Vertical Rescue]
• [http://www.aerialrescue.com Aerial Rescue]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20091216073544/http://bnt.bg/bg/news/view/18547/ivan_kristof_pokaza_umenijata_si_vyv_veliko_tyrnovo_i_gorna_orjahovica Bulgarian National TV, Иван Кристоф показа уменията си във Велико Търново и Горна Оряховица]
• [http://www.btv.bg/news/liubopitno/story/25946-Balgarskiyat_Chovekpayak__e_reshil_da_postavi_rekord.html BTV TV, Българският Човек-паяк е решил да постави рекорд]
• [https://www.flickr.com/photos/ivankristoff Cover Pages of Canadian and Bulgarian Magazines and Newspapers]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kristoff, Ivan}}

Category:Living people

Category:Canadian people of Bulgarian descent

Category:Naturalized citizens of Canada

Category:1968 births