Dr. Antliff's dream: to encourage young adults to give their lives to God, to expand their horizons beyond making money and go on missions trips.

In 1979, Mel Slack and Harold Antliff co-founded Venture Teams International (VTI) with the purpose of training and sending teams of young adults overseas. Team members would use the arts, such as music, drama and puppetry, to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Mel served as President and Harold as Chairman of the Board. Thus began a long partnership: Harold served on the board until 1993 and Mel as President until 1986 and on the board until 2002.

In its first year of existence, VTI recruited, trained and sent out 28 young adults on two year-long teams. To date, over 140 teams have been trained and sent out to approximately 40 countries around the world. Teams range in length from ten days to 11 months. Our alumni now number over 1,300.

During his tenure on the board of VTI, Dr. Antliff recognized a need for VTI to have a fund to facilitate cash flow. This has now been realized. In December 2006, Mrs. Doreen Antliff and her family set up the Dr. Harold Antliff Memorial Fund at VTI in memory of Dr. Antliff. These funds are being held to help pay down the debt on Discovery Lodge and for long-term development.

Venture Teams International was not a random choice by the Antliff family for this memorial fund. They trust that the Dr. Harold Antliff Memorial Fund will help to perpetuate the vision and passion Harold felt: for young people to serve the Lord he so loved and served all of his life on earth.If you wish to honour Dr. Antliff's memory and perpetuate his vision by contributing to the fund set up in his name, please use the form in the Dr. Antliff Memorial Fund Brochure or use the generic Donation Form or go to Donate Online.

Dr. Harold Antliff (1925-2004)

Harold Antliff was born in Calgary in 1925. He earned his B.Sc. in Honours Biochemistry at the University of Alberta in 1950, achieving his Master of Science degree the following year. He completed his doctorate in Basic Medical Sciences at the University of Kansas, specializing in Medical Physiology and General Pathology.

The family moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where Dr. Antliff taught in the School of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin. Upon the family's return to Calgary in 1959, Dr. Antliff founded one of the first medical diagnostic labs in Calgary (now the Associated Clinical Labs).

Dr. Antliff pursued many other interests, such as obtaining a private pilot's license. He co-founded the first private artificial insemination business for dairy and beef cattle in Alberta. He also owned and operated a cattle ranch and grain farm in partnership with family.

Dr. Antliff achieved many goals during his 79 years, but considered it his greatest purpose to serve his Lord Jesus Christ. He was an active member of First Baptist Church, teaching Sunday School, and served on the boards of numerous Christian organizations, including VTI and Operation Eyesight.