It is my sincere pleasure to be a part of the OVS team. Working alongside experienced teachers and support staff who are all committed to providing a thriving educational environment for our students is a distinct honour.
I started in education as a mathematics teacher after graduating from the Faculty of Education. After years of teaching high school math, I became a Department Head of Mathematics, Vice-Principal and Principal in the York Region DSB.
My passion turned to eLearning when it became clear that there are many students whose needs cannot be met in a day school. After a year of planning, I implemented eLearning in York Region with great success and was appointed Principal of its Virtual Schooling program.
Beyond education, I have spent many years as a volunteer with the Canadian Diabetes Association at the local, provincial, and national levels. In my spare time, I love to golf, camp, garden and do woodworking.
Let us all remember the quote by Carl W. Buechner:
They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.
You are the artist of your life. Don’t give the paintbrush to anyone else. – Chriag Arora
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.” — Shunryu Suzuki
Hobbies: I love spending time with my family, listening to interesting podcasts, watching musicals, and training for triathlons.
"Be true to yourself. Make each day a masterpiece. Help others. Drink deeply from good books. Make friendship a fine art. Build a shelter against a rainy day. " - John Wooden.
Hobbies: I enjoy watching sports, travelling, reading non-fiction or listening to music. My favourite sports are Football and Basketball and my favourite country I have travelled to is Greece.
"No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care" - Theodore Roosevelt.
Hobbies: I love to play hockey and get outdoors. I also love to travel, meet interesting people, and most importantly, eat delicious foods from all around the world. I also enjoy reading and spending time with friends and family.
"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.” -- Albert Einstein
"In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” - Unknown
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” - Albus Dumbledore
And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it. –Paulo Coelho
There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. - Edith Wharton
You can only become accomplished at something you love. - Maya Angelou
Hobbies: I'm passionate about the outdoors and love spending time hiking mountains or camping in the forest. At home, I'm surrounded by books and spend time reading and watching movies. I'm also constantly being bothered by my two cats!
"Failure is not the outcome, failure is not trying. Don't be afraid to fail." -- Sara Blakely
Hobbies: When I make time to play, I love to read, journal, meditate, spend time outdoors, and be with my family and animals.
"When you give joy to other people, you get more joy in return." Eleanor Roosevelt
Hobbies: Outside of teaching, you will find me travelling and experiencing life with my wife and daughter. I’ve travelled to over 40 countries in the world, and have experience teaching abroad. I also have a passion in fitness, hockey, football and reading.
“When one teaches, two learn." – Robert Heinlein
Hobbies: Beyond education, I enjoy travelling, photography, the arts, and relaxing among nature. Literary genres that I like are: drama, poetry, and fiction.
"Today or never!" - Author Unknown
"Hustle beats talent when talent doesn't hustle"
There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid. - L. Frank Baum
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” ~ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. – Nelson Mandela
Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment, until it becomes a memory. - Dr. Seuss
Hobbies: When I'm not reading, kayaking, spending time with loved ones or researching arbitrary topics, I am keeping the movie theater in business thanks to my love for nachos and films.
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.
Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom. - Oprah Winfrey
Never, never, never give up. – Winston Churchill
Failure is my enemy. – Pundit Hari Prashad
"I want to be in the arena. I want to be brave with my life. And when we make the choice to dare greatly, we sign up to get our a***s kicked. We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both. Not at the same time.” - Brene Brown
I really enjoy reading, drawing, and hiking with my dog! I love taking pictures while I’m out in nature, especially during the summer and fall. My favourite way to relax is by re-watching beloved sitcoms or seeing a scary movie.
"Fiction and essays can create empathy for the theoretical stranger” - Barbara Kingsolver
"Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.” - Ruth Bader Ginsburg
“The purpose of a good education is to show you that there are three sides to a two-sided story” – Stanley Fish
The journey of a thousand miles begin with one step. – Lao Tzu
Hobbies: I love to travel whenever I get the opportunity. I’ve travelled to eleven countries and hope to get to Japan in the next few years. I enjoy swimming, camping and hiking. In my free time, my favourite thing to do is read and play with my miniature dachshund Sasha.
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” St. Augustine
Hobbies: During my free time, I like to follow the world news, travel and share my skills with others in different domains.
"The school should always aim to give its students a harmonious personality" - Albert Einstein.
"Children don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." John C Maxwell
Hobbies: I love to take long bicycle rides in nature. I challenge myself too long extended daily walks with our Goldendoodle whenever I can and if I’m not on a walk you will often find me meditating or relaxing with good soul music. I also enjoy immersing myself with the latest tech news and gadgets as a way to keep up with current and latest technology trends.
“There's always a way - if you're committed.” ― Tony Robbins
“Sometimes it is the people no one can imagine anything of who do the things no one can imagine.” ― Alan Turing
“You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” - A.A. Mine
"Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did." -H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
“A different language is a different vision of life” - Frederico Fellini
One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. - Malala Yousafzai
“All students can learn and succeed, but not in the same way and not in the same day.” - William G. Spady
“You will either step forward into growth, or you will step backward into safety.” Abraham Maslow
Hobbies: Aside from teaching, I have three children and we are all very active. I have been running and racing triathlon for over 20 years, and my own kids are now getting into the sport. We rock climb often, but sometimes we can also enjoy a lazy day at the beach.
Hobbies: Outside of school I swim for fitness and practice yoga. During the warmer months I enjoy golfing and going for long walks. Whenever I am not driving my three boys to their various activities, I like to sit down with a cup of tea and read a book.
Hobbies: My hobbies include travelling, teaching math, coaching volleyball and reading on Sunday morning with a warm cup of coffee.
"Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do" - John Wooden
Hobbies: Outside of teaching, I enjoy spending time with family, travelling, and watching and playing sports. Most recently, I have challenged myself in the sport of OCR (Obstacle Course Racing).
“Perspective is everything when you are experiencing the challenges of life” - Joni Eareckson Tada
Hobbies: I love spending with my family and at the gym working on my physical fitness and strength training. Additionally, I enjoy watching any and all genres of movies/TV shows and am a comic book fan. I also enjoy being outdoors especially in the summer time.
Hobbies: I enjoy travelling, concerts, reading and restaurants. When my son allows me, I do enjoy watching some football (aka soccer).
"Do not worry too much about your difficulties in mathematics, I can assure you that mine are still greater." Albert Einstein (allegedly)
Hobbies: I can’t go a day without coffee and spicy foods! My hobbies consist of spending time with my son, traveling, playing my Nintendo switch or playing a board game.
“Sometimes I’ll start a sentence and I don’t even know where it’s going. I just hope I find it along the way.” - Michael Scott
Hobbies: I love cats and I have three of my own. I practice yoga and I love its ability to heal the body and mind. I embrace my creative self by learning new crafts, such as knitting, crochet, quilting, and so many more!
“"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination." - Albert Einstein
Hobbies: I love to go on long hikes, kayaking and travelling to hidden places! I play the piano and enjoy reading Murder Mystery/Thriller books. I also enjoy baking and cooking foods from different cuisines!
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” —Benjamin Franklin
Hobbies: I am inspired by nature and can always be found in the mountains hiking and backpacking with my dog, Groovy or planning travel adventures- we love a good road trip!
“What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.” —Jane Goodall
Hobbies: In my spare time I love to bake, cook, and go for hikes. I enjoy spending time with friends and family and working on math problems.
"Just because we can’t find a solution, it doesn’t mean there isn’t one.” – Andrew Wiles
Hobbies: I have enjoyed teaching for 30 years. In my spare time, I enjoy working on renovation projects.
“The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.” Mark Van Doren
Hobbies: In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my wife and kids, playing and watching sports, wrestling (amateur and professional), camping, going on road trips, and coaching.
“Be curious, not judgmental”-Walt Whitman
Hobbies: As much as I love spending time in the lab doing experiments, I love connecting science with everything I see in nature. So you'll find me walking on trails, planning the next camping trip, and bouldering during my spare time.
“Think like a proton and stay positive!"
If you don’t sacrifice for what you want. What you want becomes the sacrifice – Jay Shetty
Hobbies: Listening to music, spending time with family, travelling and reading inspiring books
Hobbies: I enjoy being active, camping and the outdoors. I play hockey, volleyball, golf and tennis. I love adventures and being a teacher.
“The meaning of life is to find your gift, the purpose of life is to give it away.” Pablo Picasso
“All of man’s problems stem from his inability to sit quietly in a room by himself.” - Blaise Pascal
“Mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” – Albert Einstein
Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think. – Albert Einstein
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. – John Wooden
Hobbies: I love to break mathematics down and make it easier for students to understand. My passions outside of teaching are my 6 children, working out, water skiing, windsurfing, and advocating for those with physical disabilities.
Follow your dreams and passions! Never give up or let anyone squash your
spirit, and fight for what you believe in!"
Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. – C.S. Lewis
"Whether you think you can or you can't, you are right - Henry Ford"
Change your thoughts and you change your world.- Norman Vincent
Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care – John C Maxwell
Why worry? If you’ve done the very best you can, worrying won’t make it any better - Walt Disney
‘Success isn’t overnight. It’s when everyday you get a little bit better than the day before. It all adds up.’ - Dwayne Johnson
‘Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.’ - Thomas A.Edison
‘There's always magic in the air. ’ - Peter Gabriel
‘I want to leave the world as a better place than I found it’ - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Hobbies: Outside of teaching Math and Computer Science, I enjoy playing board games, travelling, and walking my two dogs: Sine and Cosine.
“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” - Albert Einstein.
Hobbies: While not teaching and taking a break from technology, I like playing scrabble and tennis.
“Obvious’ is the most dangerous word in mathematics.” - Eric Temple Bell.
Hobbies: A few of the things I enjoy doing, outside of teaching Computer Science, are photography, playing chess (both online and over the board), reading Science Fiction / Fantasy (Wheel of Time Series), scuba diving (PADI certified), the occasional fishing trip (catch and release), and world travel (whenever possible).
Anything worth learning is usually hard, and therefore worth giving it your all.
Hobbies: I play Apex Legends, Dungeons and Dragons, and complicated miniature board games. I used to work in engineering but I'm still passionate about it. I own many 3D printers, a ton of Lego and a wide range of robotics and microcontrollers.
Do. Or do not. There is no try. – Yoda
Hobbies: In my spare time I enjoy training for marathons, being outdoors, reading and knitting. I love exploring new places and spending time with my family and friends.
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” ― Albert Einstein
Hobbies: When not in the classroom I enjoy spending time with my children by going on walks, having lightsaber battles or reading stories. I also enjoy playing video games and Dungeons and Dragons in one of several long term groups I am a part of. I am a fantasy and science fiction fan at heart, and can be easily distracted by discussions on these topics!
Hobbies: My hobbies include scuba diving, fixing old muscle cars, archery and building computers.
Hobbies: My favourite hobbies are teaching, sports and hiking outdoors. Outside of teaching, I stay active by playing golf, basketball, and going for hikes. I also enjoy travelling, my favourite place that I have visited so far is Italy.
"I believe that education is all about being passionate about something in your life" - Steve Irwin
Hobbies: Beyond the classroom I spend a lot of time chasing a little white ball around a golf course, cooking, watching the Detroit Tigers, Red Wings and Lions, and traveling on adventures with my family.
“There’s a lot of beauty in ordinary things. Isn’t that kind of the point?” – Pam Beesly, Season 9, “Finale”
Hobbies: I am an avid reader, traveler and yogi! I have previously taught in Guyana, South America, and in the Northwest Territories here in Canada. I also love to cook and stay active!
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela
Hobbies: Some of my hobbies include playing sports, staying active, camping, baking, and hiking with my dogs.
"We rise by lifting others" - Unknown
Hobbies: I enjoy running, weight lifting, swimming, carving wooden spoons and writing poetry. I love exploring nature’s beauty on foot by partaking in multi-day hiking trips. You can also find me tending to my dozens of indoor plants and outdoor vegetable garden.
“Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are.” -Arthur Golden
Hobbies: My wife and I always find ways to add more music to our home. Apart from being a huge fan of all things Science, you can find me playing Spikeball, curling, ultimate, or any type of board game.
"If you want to build a ship, don't collect wood and assign tasks and work. Instead, teach people to long for the endless immensity of the sea." -Antoine de Saint Exupery
Hobbies: I grew up playing sports, so I enjoy being active. I participate in CrossFit and enjoy running and playing basketball. I ran my first half-marathon last year! My hobbies include coaching, spending time with family and friends. My dog keeps me busy too!
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” – Mya Angelou
Hobbies: If I am not teaching or running after my two little ones, you can find me curled up with a good book and a warm cup of coffee. I am an avid reader and love getting lost in the alternate worlds. I also love to bake as I find it very therapeutic.
“Working hard is important but there is something that matters even more; believing in yourself.” -Harry Potter
My favourite quote is Theodore Roosevelt’s 'Man in the Arena' Speech
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela
“Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.” - Francis de Sales
"Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful." - Joshua J. Marine
Hobbies: When I'm not teaching I spend my time playing sports, exercising, reading, and watching good movies. I enjoy getting outside for a long run or bike ride and playing tennis with friends. I love to travel, meet new people, and learn new things!
"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." - Steve Prefontaine
"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today" - Malcolm X
The test of a good teacher is not how many questions she can ask her pupils that they will answer readily, but how many questions she inspires them to ask which she finds it hard to answer. ― Alice Wellington Rollins
"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today." Malcolm X.
Hobbies: I enjoy teaching Chemistry and French and in my free time, I enjoy shopping, cruising to different countries, exploring nature and doing interior decorating.
"For a valiant heart nothing is impossible"
"À vaillant coeur rien d’impossible" - Jacques Cœur
The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day. - Albert Einstein
"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world"-Desmond Tutu
It matters not what someone is born, but what they will grow to be. – Albus Dumbledore
"We are stardust brought to life, then empowered by the universe to figure itself out - and we have only just begun"-Neil Degrasse Tyson
"You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." Winnie the Pooh
Fear kills more dreams than failure ever will. - Suzy Kassem
"Inclusion is not simply about physical proximity. It is about intentionally planning for the success of all students." - Anonymous
Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. - Michael Jordan
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose." - Dr. Seuss
“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need” - Marcus Tullius Cicero
"The more that you read, the more things you will know; the more that you learn, the more places you'll go" - Dr. Seuss
Do the thing that is hard to do, and the power will come!
“Don’t be afraid. Be focused. Be determined. Be hopeful. Be empowered” – Michelle Obama
The important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing – Albert Einstein
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. – Nelson Mandela
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. – Thomas Edison
When first things are put first, second things don't diminish, they increase. – C.S. Lewis
"The important thing is to never stop questioning." - Albert Einstein
Hobbies: I enjoy travelling, learning about new cultures and their history. I’m very musical, I enjoy listening to music but I also play the guitar, ukulele and piano and I used to sing for my hometown for different events.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” Dr. Seuss
Hobbies: My favourite hobby is to travel. I love to experience other cultures and learn new ways of life. I enjoy exercise, walking my dog and spending any time I can with family and of course my dog Rosie.
"The Road to success is always under construction" - Author unknown
Hobbies: I absolutely love travelling and discovering new restaurants and coffee shops. I also enjoy hiking, which has been a great way to immerse myself with nature. When I'm not outdoors you can find me in the kitchen trying new recipes and baking new treats!
What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” - Jane Goodall
Hobbies: When I'm not teaching I enjoy hanging out with my kids or watching sports, such as basketball and football. My family and I love to be outdoors snowboarding, camping, or hiking or inside playing board games.
"Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you." - Dr. Seuss
Success belongs to those who dare to achieve it.
You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great. - Zig Ziglar
The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you. -B.B. King
The expert in anything was once a beginner. – Helen Hayes
Let your smile change the world, but don’t let the world change your smile. - Anonymous
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. – Winston Churchill
“Tell me, and I forget. Teach me, and I remember. Involve me, and I learn.” - Anne with an E
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. – Eleanor Roosevelt
The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. – Amelia Earhart
You are always free to make decisions, but you are never free of the decisions you make – a variation of a quote by Ezra Taft Benson
Keep your face always toward the sunshine- and shadows will fall behind you." - Walt Whitman
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” - Wayne Gretzky
“You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page. Jodi Picoult ”
Don’t dream it, be it!
Kindness is one thing you can’t give away. It always comes back. - George Skolsky
Life is the hardest teacher. It gives you the test first, and the lesson afterward.
Hobbies: Video games, movies, playing music.
"A problem cannot be solved with the same level of thinking that created it in the first place" - Einstein
“Don’t be an electron, always stay positive”
“Every student can learn, just not on the same day, or the same way.”— George Evans