Instructor Profiles
Each term we feature a few of our instructors.
This page is a compilation of featured instructors.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Carmela Allevato
Carmela
Allevato, LLB, has negotiated collective agreements, developed and implemented
bargaining strategy campaigns, and was a BC Federation of Labour officer.
Currently practicing labour law with the Canadian Union of Public Employees,
she is regularly invited to instruct continuing legal education and conferences
on labour, human rights and privacy law issues. Carmela teaches in our online
Health Services Administration Diploma Program.
Vaughan Allin
Vaughan Allin has practiced law in Vancouver and Nanaimo for 33 years. His speciality is civil litigation. He likes to help people in business stay in business by minimizing their risks through increasing their knowledge of employment issues. Vaughan enjoys showing students just how accessible law is these days due to the internet
“Law doesn't have to be a mystery. All you need to learn is how to look it up.”
Abbie Aspin
Abbie Aspin has over 40 years experience in the painting and sign trade. He relocated from the BC Interiour to Vancouver Island 35 years ago, where the warmer weather has helped him to better pursue the “art” of sign painting and graphic art. It is a field that is ever evolving due to product enhancements and an endless imagination. From custom signs and lettering to Hot Rods, Abbie is looking forward to helping others unlock their artistic potential.
Martin Barnett
Martin Barnett was educated in England and came to Canada in 1977. Together with his family he ran bakeries in Victoria and Vancouver and more recently was with The Fairmont Empress Hotel. He has been instructing the professional baking and pastry programs at VIU since 2000. Martin just returned from a 3 month tour of Artisan Bakeries in Australia and is excited about the future creative possibilities surrounding the new Wood Fired Brick Oven at VIU.
" Our trade is continually redefining itself and marrying the classic products and their traditional skill sets with modern approaches and techniques. The resurgence of craft baking and all that it entails is very exciting!"
Suzanne Beyrodt-Blyt
Suzanne Beyrodt-Blyt is a past graduate of the Medical Office Assistant program and has been instructing different components of the program for four years. She is a past chapter president for the M.O.A. Association of BC and appreciates the professional and ever changing environment of the medical office.
John Black
John
Black, M.A., Ph.D., has taught in VIU’s Liberal Studies program for
15 years. He has travelled to Europe 10 times teaching and supporting programs.
John is excited by witnessing the tremendous growth exhibited by students
young and old. His goal in teaching is to facilitate learning of the highest
order.
" My goal in teaching is to facilitate learning of the highest order: to use the excitement of curiosity to stimulate the student’s development as an autonomous critical and creative intellect in a community of intellects."
Denis Bouchard
Denis
started working with radios in 1967, and in 1975 became a member of the Alberni
Valley Rescue Squad. In 1981 he started instructing land VHF communication
and has provided instruction to many of the search and rescue teams on Vancouver
Island, as well as the 911 operators in Port Alberni who have since transferred
to Courtenay.
Holly Bradley
Holly Bradley MSW, RSW, a counsellor with 20 years’ social service experience, believes people are inherently resilient, wise and adaptable. She has counselled locally and will soon join the practice of Dr. Bellerose & Dr. Lake Psychology Corp. Holly loves teaching and has guest lectured for Malaspina’s Social Services and Women's Studies departments.
Paddy Briggs
Paddy Briggs, Managing Partner of Dental Education Consulting, is a practice management consultant. Paddy has developed and presented comprehensive management and training programs for various BC educational institutes and the dental profession. She works with dentists in an advisory capacity. Her warm humorous style of communicating promises a rewarding presentation.
Cathie Cameron
Cathie is the Public Education Coordinator for Canadian Mental Health Association-Mid Island Branch and she holds a degree in Social Work from the University of Victoria. Cathie strongly believes in the idea that to teach is to learn.
Doug Corrin
Doug
Corrin, R.P.F., B.Sc., M.Sc., holds a Certificate in Applied & Theoretical
GIS. He has taught in forestry since 1985, and began teaching GIS in 1990.
He states that an over-simplified definition of GIS would be “computer
mapping”. GIS is a sophisticated tool for viewing and analyzing spatial
data (“maps”).
“People are utilizing spatial data more now than ever before. Everyday examples include getting directions from MapQuest, viewing satellite imagery with Google Earth, using navigation systems in automobiles (e.g. OnStar).”
Joan Davis
Joan
Davis lived and worked on the West Coast for a few years but recently returned
to Sault Ste. Marie. She is eager to continue her VIU teaching experience
through online instruction of courses she knows best - Microsoft Office
Skills Training. Joan’s background is in computer instruction and Information
Technology support.
Warren Delaney
Warren
has been instructing at the post-secondary level for over 24 years. A former
paramedic with the BC Ambulance Service, he is also a First Aid Attendant
and an instructor with Vancouver Island Health Authority. Warren has experience
instructing Red Cross, WCB First Aid, AED, O2 Therapy, and Marine Advanced
First Aid courses.
John Dunn
John
Dunn has extensive experience in occupational health and safety in construction,
heavy industry and municipalities. His “specialties” are developing
OH&S programs, confined space entry, respiratory protection, risk assessments
and auditing. He is a WorkSafeBC Education Partner able to deliver WorkSafeBC
certificate programs. John has a very open, friendly style drawing on his
many years of experience using practical examples keeping participants actively
engaged.
Karen Gregor
Karen
Gregor, B.A., M.Ed., has her Advanced Certification in Critical Incident Stress
Management and a background is in dual diagnosis and best practices in integrated
supportive housing and vocational programming. She has worked in community-based
mental health programs and has developed and taught courses related to disabilities
and behavioural challenges.
Ken Harper
Ken
has served as Executive Pastry Chef at Fairmont Empress Hotel, Victoria; Assistant
Pastry Chef, Edmonton Convention Centre; Chef de Partie at Pan Pacific in
Vancouver, and at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Resort, and Second Cook at
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. He has won gold and silver medals in international
culinary competitions as an individual, and as part of culinary teams; as
well as in regional competitions in Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria, etc. He
is a member of the Island Chefs Collaborative(ICC); Canadian Association of
Chefs(CCF) and the US Pastry Alliance.
Tom Hedekar
Tom
Hedekar, RPF (Retired), RFT (Retired) worked in the forest industry and as
a forestry instructor in Prince George and Nanaimo. Early on, he discovered
the pleasure and reward in helping adults learn about things he had come to
know and love. Instructing became a passion; he never looked back.
I think the term “teaching” is an overused misnomer because I don’t believe that you can teach anyone anything unless they are interested in learning about it. The role of the instructor is therefore to help and motivate interested learners to learn.
John Hough
John
has always “had a knack for numbers”. He is a Certified General
Accountant, and has been practicing in Nanaimo for the past sixteen years.
John has taught continuing education courses in bookkeeping since 1991.
Nicole Koch
Nicole is a Certified Professional Coach who also holds a Masters of Arts in Coaching Psychology. Nicole has taught Life Coaching both in-class and online for a number of years and is enthusiastic about the changes that Life Coaching can make to individuals and organizations.
Ken Lacroix
Ken
was born in St. Thomas, Ontario, and spent most of his working career in Manitoba,
including acting as advisor to the Minister of Labour for the Manitoba Provincial
Government. The scenery and the moderate climate brought him to Nanaimo, where
he takes advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and nature. Ken
became interested in instructing occupational health and safety courses from
understanding why accidents occur and what can be learned to prevent them
from reoccurring. Ken believes that everyone should have the knowledge to
make the worksite a safe environment. The information he provides assists
in this knowledge.
“All changes to improve a Safety Program are important and the priorities need to be established. All changes occur from small steps that progress over time.”
Margaret Lamb
Margaret
has worked as a Medical Office Assistant ever since graduating from the Vancouver
Island University program in 1984. Margaret has great respect and admiration
for the first MOA she worked for, a woman who encouraged her to teach. Margaret
finds something new to learn every time she teaches, and she enjoys meeting
new students and seeing their enthusiasm for their subject.
Imogene Lim
Imogene
Lim is a third generation Canadian of Chinese descent, who received her BA
Hons from SFU, and MA/PhD from Brown University. Her "food credentials"
are part heritage (Chinatown restaurateur father) and part academic. She teaches
a food and culture course at VIU, as well as, studied early Chinese American
restaurants while a Rockefeller Humanities post-doctoral fellow at the Asian
American Center, Queens College, CUNY.
Lynn Longmuir
Lynn is a Registered Aromatherapist (R.A.) and has been practising for 14 years. Aromatherapy is her passion. It has given her self-empowerment and great joy. She believes in life-long learning and has continued to develop her skills and techniques by attending workshops and professional development courses.
Rick Lutz
Rick
brings twenty years of experience in supervision and management to his continuing
education courses. He also holds a certificate in personnel management (BCIT),
and is a certified Human Resources Professional and Achieve Global Trainer.
Rick is currently working with Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, and as a
training consultant focussing on supervision, human resources, and labour
relations. He has been teaching management skills courses with Continuing Education since 1994.
“Teaching allows me to use my experience and pass skills on to others. Hopefully I can help them move closer to their goals”.
Susan Lymbery
Enchanted
by the Cowichan Valley, Susan brings a varied background in banking, advocacy,
and civil service from the Niagara area with a wealth of experience teaching
English and Computers to mature students. Computers have provided a whole
new world of opportunity for her disabled son. Passionate about learning with
and from her students, Susan’s motto is “If you’re not laughing,
you may not be learning.”
Neil Macmillan
Neil
Macmillan has a Canadian degree in Education and a Scottish technical degree,
enhanced with relevant courses. The combination is very helpful in teaching
technically-oriented material. Neil has worked in web design and development
since the Internet emerged publicly in 1994, and enjoys the ongoing challenges
of that field. Neil finds it rewarding to pass on skills and watch people
develop ideas as they learn some fundamentals.
" It’s never a case of me doing all the teaching and the students doing all the learning. I learn a lot as well from teaching these courses."
Doug McLean
Doug
has a BA in Communication Studies and MBA specialty in Business Ethics. A
Malaspina/VIU team member since 2003 instructing in the Applied Business Technology
program and Introductory Computer courses, Doug also uses computers extensively
to keep track of his busy life operating a record store and limousine service.
He didn’t learn computer use until his thirties so he can relate to
adults being ‘technophobic’.
Malerie Meeker
During
her 20-year tenure as the Executive Director of the Powell River Association
for Community Living, Meeker directed the development of 10 new residences
and the association grew from a small support agency of 20 staff and 3 programs
to 250 staff and 20 programs. Malerie acts as a director on the BC Association
for Community Living and the BC Association of Community Response Networks.
She holds a Masters in Leadership from Royal Roads University and coordinates
the Human Services program at the Powell River campus of Vancouver Island
University.
Pradeep Menon
Pradeep Menon is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and a past Division Governor for Toastmasters International. He draws on his considerable technical credentials and speaking skills to educate and entertain his students. He is a Training Specialist for the leading entertainment and communications company in Canada. He has lived and worked in three countries.
John Merriman
John
Merriman, M.Ed., did his major paper on wildlife/human conflicts. He was a
conservation officer, an instructor, and now a VIU sessional instructor. Informing
students is important to him, and he enjoys promoting career aspirations.
His love and enjoyment of the outdoors is balanced by knowing all wild animals
demand respect.
Dr. Tonia Mitchell
Dr. Tonia Mitchell grew up in Vancouver and knew from a young age she wanted to combine Nature’s ancient wisdom and modern science in a career in Naturopathic Medicine. Passionate about educating the public on health and wellness, believing the body can bring itself back to healthy, natural states, her treatments focus on diet, stress reduction, herbs, and acupuncture. She has a busy Nanaimo practice, is an active community volunteer, BC Naturopathic Association treasurer, and writes for healthtopics.ca.
Daniel A. Murack
Daniel is one of our long-distance instructors. He lives and works in southern Ontario and teaches finance-related courses for us online. Dan is involved with municipal government in a finance administration capacity, and is on the Board of Directors for his local CGA (Certified General Accountant) chapter. His strengths include budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and analysis, information systems and technology, as well as online teaching.
Zbigniew Olak
For
Zbigniew Olak, B.F.A., the mutual thrill of discovery is the pleasure in teaching.
A photographer and sculptor, Zbigniew has worked as photo illustrator for
Forest Management as well as exhibiting his work in galleries throughout the
West. He has been inspired by such diverse people as physicists, film-makers,
and photographers.
Beth Page
Beth is President of Dream Catcher Consulting, which offers organization development, executive coaching and leadership development to clients throughout North America and beyond. She is a Faculty Member of the MBA and MA in Leadership program at Royal Roads University and is the author of Done Deal: Your Guide to Merger and Acquisition Integration.
Jeanie Patterson
As
a coach, facilitator, and consultant, Jeanie is highly committed to supporting
individuals and organizations who have a genuine interest in cultivating strategic
vision, authentic leadership, coaching effectiveness, enhanced communication,
organizational development, creativity, and wellness in the workplace strategies.
She has a MA in Leadership Studies, has completed Professional Coaching, Appreciative
Inquiry, and Personality Dimensions certifications, and assists personal &
organizational clients through her private practice.
Donna Pollard
Donna
comes from a family of artists and avid photographers. She has operated her
own business since 1987, working in freelance art, graphic design, web writing
and editing, and digital editing. Working with quickly changing technologies
has required Donna to constantly learn and experiment with new software and
hardware. For her, this created an excitement for new technology – especially
digital technology, which is her passion.
“I like to see people overcome their fear, resistance and apprehension about technology. What I teach helps people to explore their creativity in new ways. I get to see students grasp hold of new technologies, and open a whole new beautiful world.”
Deborah Provencher
As a registered Recreation Therapist, Debbie has taught with Vancouver Island University for 16 years. She is passionate about empowering individuals in their practice as recreation professionals. One of her specialties is programming for individuals with dementia. Debbie brings energy and enthusiasm into each of her classes. She is often full of surprises, practical in her presentations and leaves students with ideas to think about and use in the future.
Chef Debbie Shore
Debbie Shore was educated at VIU when it was still Malaspina College. She apprenticed locally then moved to Montreal and worked as Commis Tournant at Queen Elizabeth Hilton International Hotel. With Hilton she transferred to Geneva Switzerland and worked at the Noga Hilton International while it had a Michelin star rating. Back to Canada, she was Sous Chef at Westin Hotel, Calgary and Restaurant Chef at Sky's Rotisserie and Wine Bar also in Calgary. Returning to Vancouver Island she was on the opening team at Ocean Pointe Resort in Victoria. Debbie left hotels and restaurants to pursue a longtime goal of teaching professional cooking. She has been with VIU since 1993, was instrumental in organizing all culinary and baking programs under the umbrella of the Culinary Institute of Vancouver Island and has served as chair of the department on and off since 2005.
Richard Sillery
Richard
Sillery got his first camera at the age of 10. He has since used everything
from speed graphic to digital. Richard sells to stock houses and enters competitions
world-wide. His skills in the art of image enhancement began in a darkroom.
Now, he uses Photoshop’s magic. Richard enjoys teaching people simple
ways to get the most out of their equipment and how to enhance their photography.
"Our aim should be to show the natural world, almost as if we did not exist."
Ron Sitter
(M.Sc.
Human Resources Management) Ron’s career has spanned more than twenty
years of private sector business experience specializing in Human Resources
and Management functions. His career has involved many industry sectors including
manufacturing, telecommunications, energy marketing, pipelines and oil &
gas production. Ron has facilitated supervisory, general management and human
resource courses in many educational institutions including the Southern Alberta
Institute of Technology and the University of Calgary.
Laurie Smith
Laurie
Smith has completed instructional courses at VIU and UVic, and is currently
enrolled in the Certificate in Adult and Continuing Education (CACE) program
at the University of Victoria. 25 years ago, she responded to the need for
cashier training. She has instructed ever since, teaching in many parts of
the province, and meeting interesting people.
Donna Soules
A
graduate of the Justice Institute’s Conflict Resolution Program, Donna
also holds a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution and Mediation. Since
1993, she has been in private practice, specializing in mediation, working
extensively with youth, family and workplace conflicts. Donna’s
enthusiasm for her work lies in seeing the shift people make when they have
skills and understanding of collaborative problem-solving.
“Whether the conflict is in a marriage, workplace, or with youth, developing an atmosphere of respect and understanding, where people feel listened to, will greatly improve communications.”
Marilyn Swallow
Marilyn
graduated from the West Coast College of Massage Therapy in 1992 and continues
to advance her academic and professional training using Neuromuscular technique,
muscle energy, craniosacral therapy, first aid/CPR, Jin Shin Do, and Touch
for Health. She has worked in clinics in Vancouver, Queen Charlotte City,
Princeton and Duncan, and volunteered at sports events, childbirthings and
music festivals. Marilyn believes compassion and a love for all things natural
and healthy are the foundations of the healing arts and a happy life.
Susan Tremble
Susan
Tremble, B.Sc.N., and a graduate of Toronto General Hospital School of Nursing,
became inspired to pursue the foot care nursing specialty. Finding this training
was unavailable in BC, she became determined to provide it. She partnered
with VIU and developed unique courses in nursing foot care.
"It is rewarding to know that my foot care courses have helped nursing staff to meet the needs of the elderly and others in their communities".
Emma Van der Klif
Emma has a double certification from the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) in Third-party Mediation and Negotiation, and is working on a Masters in Conflict Analysis and Management from Royal Roads. With her husband she has operated a training/consulting business for 20 years dealing primarily with disability issues. She has long been interested in finding non-coercive, non-adversarial ways to support inclusion and change.
Norm Wilhelm
Norm
Wilhelm is a consultant and trainer specializing in the areas of Workstyle
Coaching, Recruitment and Selection, Workforce Development, and security-related
subjects. Born in Victoria, BC, Norm has traveled extensively worldwide and
has been employed in numerous countries as part of his previous years of service
with the Canadian government. His areas of expertise include cultural diversity,
information management, strategic analysis, competitive intelligence, time
and project management, curriculum development, change and crisis management,
team-building, presentation techniques, behavioural analysis, and professional
interview techniques.