Astor Tsang

Astor has been teaching beginners how to knit for almost a decade. With the experience of teaching hundreds of beginners – as in “know nothing” to “my grandmother gave up on me” beginners - she developed a Nothing Is Obvious philosophy. Her perseverance to explain the knitting process has sometimes led her to throw her students out the door when she uses her analogy of “the doorway is the stitch, Astor is the needle, and the student is the yarn.” Her very unique style of teaching has made her a popular knitting teacher in Vancouver, BC. Astor is an accomplished published knitting pattern designer. Her publications include a pattern in Knitty.com and her book, "A Simple-to-Use Guide to Creating Hip Knits". To see more of her work, visit her website www.knittingastor.com or follow her on Twitter @knittingAstor.

 

Cathy McCashin

Cathy has taught Orff/Kodaly music at Douglas Park Community and other Lower Mainland venues for 22 years. After completing her B.Mus. at UBC, in 1989,
specializing in clarinet, Cathy took extra credits to teach Orff and Kodaly and began teaching this wonderful method to young children. Currently, Cathy also has an active
clarinet teaching practice in her home and through a Surrey Music School.
In her spare time Cathy plays in a local amateur orchestra, the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, and semi-professionally occasionally in other chamber groups and gig orchestra’s around B.C. She is currently expanding her clarinet repertoire to include swing, big band and light jazz as well as recently discovered Italian music. Cathy loves to read, eat, cook, garden, ride horses and travel in her spare time. Cathy’s philosophy of teaching includes the belief that music is a deep meaningful human communication that is part of each of us. She takes delight and joy in fostering the joy of music in children and adults, through Orff/Kodaly and clarinet.

Emily Lee

Emily started playing the piano at the age of six in Korea. She participated in numerous music competitions and won many awards including the national music journal competition at the age of 8. She’s played in many recitals and won various competitions including Coquitlam Music Festivals and Korean Society Music Competition. She was the main organist for the St. Patrick’s Parish from 2003-2005. In 2005 she was a recepient of a Maple Ridge District Fine Art scholarship and Meadow Ridge Arts Council Scholarship. Emily was accepted to UBC School of Music in 2005 where she studied with Dr. Sarah Davis Buchener and Dr. Terrence Dawson. She finished her Bachelor of Music Degree in 2010. She is currently teaching students from beginner to advanced level and she is planning to pursue her career in Music Education.

Georgia Youngs

Georgia is a successful artist, former gallery & art school owner and artist representative. After years spent as a registered nurse, Georgia decided it was time to follow her first dream as a child. She found an art school that could accommodate her nursing schedule and signed up for her first art class. It was as though a dam of creativity had opened. She soon found she was spending more and more time painting and less and less time as a nurse. Within 6 months she had her first solo show at a local gallery and was teaching small classes at the school she joined. She entered and was accepted into many curated/juried art shows. Working from her own photography, her style -- classified as Magic Realism-- has matured over the years. Her latest images show her ongoing desire to find new ways to use the acrylic medium while inventing new perspectives for the viewer. “When I paint I see only lines, design and colour. It all seems quite abstract to me. I am caught up in the methodology of how to render colour, tone and form. It always amazes me when I stand back from my work that it has an actual shape of a flower or leaf. In my earlier work I focused more on the flower now the focus has shifted ands is more on the leaves and design. Although my work is representational I consider it more abstract in form.”

Gord Hauka

“The Game for Life, Played for Fun”

For 29 years, Gord has provided lessons to thousands of adults and children who have had great fun while learning, playing and staying with the game of tennis. Whether you are beginner or advanced, Gord and his instructors can teach you the technical, tactical or emotional sides of tennis. All classes are taught with enthusiasm and the greatest respect for your efforts. “Play Is What We Teach”.

 

 

 

Grant Richards

Grant is a certified Iyengar yoga teacher who began practicing Iyengar yoga in 1990 to complement his soccer pursuits, as well as to work therapeutically to alleviate recurring back pain. His teaching is enhanced by many years of experience as a public and college level educator. Grant recently completed his Iyengar yoga teacher training, and currently teaches mixed classes, and classes for men in various venues within the lower mainland.

 

 

 

Hanna Yung

Hanna teaches Line Dancing, Ballroom dancing and traditional South East Asian dances. Her style and class regime is used to promote fun and well-being through the power of dance. Besides teaching, Hanna also likes to organize fundraising parties and traditional dance performances. Hanna has been part of the Chinese Cultural Association in Kamloops and the Hai Phong Overseas Chinese Association in Vancouver.

 

 

Letitia Falk

Letitia’s passion for bellydance has led her to study a variety of bellydance styles from Cabaret and Classical Oriental to Folkloric and Fusion styles. Since 2004, Letitia has studied with over ten different bellydance instructors and has taught bellydance to women of a variety of ages and health concerns. She graduated from Yasmina Ramzy's Professional Course in 2010 (Toronto, Canada) and performs regularly throughout Vancouver both as a soloist and in groups. Letitia has danced for musicians such as Pavlo Greek Guitarist and teaches performance skills to both live and recorded music. It is Letitia's goal to share this unique dance form with women who are looking to get in touch with their feminine side while improving core strength and flexibility.

 

 

Maurice Pagnucco

Maurice Pagnucco began studying karate in 1974, at the age of 16. He trained in Kyokushin Kai and Shito Ryu Karate. In 1980 he began studying Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate under the Sho Rei Kan system. He was awarded his black belt in 1984. I n 1986, while training at the headquarters dojo in Tokyo under Grand Master Sekichi Toguchi, he was referred to study under Master Instructor Hirakawa. To this day he has continued to study with Hirakawa Shihan. Sensei Pagnucco began teaching karate at the Douglas Park Community Centre in 1986,  shortly after his return from his first visit to Japan. Since then, he has regularly made travels to Japan and Okinawa to study with his instructor. Maurice Pagnucco was awarded the title of Shihan (Master Instructor) in 2007.Sensei Pagnucco is also trained in Kobudo ( Okinawan Weaponry), and Laido ( Japanese Swordsmanship).

 

Martin Gotel

Martin has taught Tae Kwon Do at Douglas Park Community Centre since 1979. Prior to teaching at Douglas Park Martin trained under Master C.K.Choi, who was on the negotiating team which introduced Tae Kwon Do as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Martin gained 2nd degree black belt with Master Choi and taught at his school and Master Kim’s in New Westminster.

Martin has been playing soccer and cricket in Vancouver since 1973. Besides teaching, Martin is the Assistant Chief Engineer at VGH. Martin was also the President of the Meraloma Sports Club which is one of the biggest multi-sport clubs in Canada from 1995 until 2009.

“My teaching philosophy has always been to make my students the best they want to be. Martial Arts is a very personal experience which affords the student flexibility, technique and most of all inner strength. Being a community program, my students, over the years, have become an extension of my family and remain friends. Teaching is a privilege which I take very seriously.”

Mike Vanderwolf

A Golf Professional since 1990, I have played golf for more than 35 years competing in Local, Provincial and National events. Golf and learning have always been a passion and I have been fortunate to work with thousands of golfers, beginners to Tour Players. I was named Teacher of the Year by the Professional Golfers Association of BC in 2000 and Tex Noble Award Winner by the Canadian PGA in 1994.

"My approach to teaching is to look at things as they are, to determine goals with my students and to reward every single victory and accomplishment with great encouragement. I see learning as a personal journey that I can enhance through my expertise and care and I’m honoured to be chosen for the opportunity to work with my students. I enjoy playing golf both competitively and socially. Away from the golf course, I am often found playing my guitars, recreating and traveling with family or walking our beagle."

Director of Instruction, McCleery Golf Academy, Master Teaching Professional, Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, National Facilitator and Evaluator, Canadian Professional Golfers Association, Teaching and Coaching Certification Program

Ron Way

“Coach Ron”

Coach Ron has been teaching at Douglas Park since 1987. He has coached his famous Kick it Up Soccer for over 23 years bringing the joy and skill of Soccer to children from ages 2-7. Thousands and thousands of children have come through his program and then graduated into The Douglas Park, Kerrisdale, Point Grey, Dunbar and KLM Soccer Leagues. Hundreds of parents have also gone on to coaching and administrative positions in these same local Vancouver Soccer Leagues. Nowadays, people come from districts far and wide to give their children a proper happy start in their sporting life with Coach Ron. For more than 20 years, most Saturday afternoons throughout the year,from 1:30-3PM, floor hockey for 5-16 year olds echoes in the Gym at Douglas Park. As well, every Spring Break and Summer for 20 years, his famous Street Hockey Program which provides recreation to kids from 5-16, rules the gym and Douglas Park basketball court from 9 AM until 1PM every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This program is one of the only all age programs in the city. The model, which has different age specific lines on each team, competing in the same game, harkens back to old-time neighbourhood hockey games where EVERYONE could play. This allows for younger children to benefit from the mentorship by older children and teens, while teaching older children and teens empathy and the value of leadership, mentoring and coaching. One of Coach Ron's favourite things is acting as MC at the Annual Sharing our Wealth Festival in September. Ron says that his greatest memory is to have been mentored by and be great friends with Betty O'Duffy-Brennan, his hero, for whom our Gym is named.

Sung Yang

Sung is a mindfulness teacher and a long time practitioner of mindfulness. He received mindfulness training since the late 1970s. He teaches mindfulness classes and private lessons, as well as leads mindfulness retreats. His teachings are based on the scientific research and the original teachings of mindfulness. He also teaches unique techniques that effectively calm busy and anxious minds. His goal is to alleviate suffering and help people to live healthier and happier. He has long been advocating the benefits of mindfulness for mental and physical health. He is a director for Canadian Mental Health Association, South Fraser Branch. Previously he worked at Intel Corporation and realized urgent needs of mindfulness in the workplace as well as outside the workplace. He is a member of the American Institute of Stress. He is the author of the book "Mindfulness Techniques".

Tarrynea Biallecki

Since the beginning of time Tarrynea has loved to explore, create and embrace the energy that transforms earth, air and water through fire at high and low temperatures. Most recently she has pushed past all limitations, developing porcelain, porcelainous stoneware, Egyptian paste, paper terracotta, glazes and luster in the low-fire realm. She also enjoys working with electric, gas, raku and primitive firings. Using hand building, Tarrynea creates covered jars, vases, planters, wall hangings, masks and tiles. Her sculptures range from Buddhas to a playful series of cast stiletto-heeled shoes. She has shown her recent works at the BC Potters’ Guild and at Trout Lake Pottery Club as the “Potter of the Month.” Using revolutionary techniques in her learning years, Tarrynea was a prize winner at Georgian College School of Design in Ontario. The drama classes that fascinated her then, now inform the storytelling technique she uses to teach. Teaching those around her with passion and delight, Tarrynea’s work becomes a legacy to the community both through her own creations and those of her students.

Toni Durbin

Toni has been involved in the fitness industry for many years and she has been personal training and teaching group fitness for over 5 years. She currently runs her own boot camp and stroller fitness classes for pre and postnatal women through Mommies in Motion. A sports enthusiast, Toni is a Vancouver Marathon finisher, indoor cycling instructor and she regularly competes in half-marathons and 10Ks throughout the city. She is committed to instructing and designing fun, motivating and time efficient workouts for people at all fitness levels. She believes that you don’t have to spend hours in the gym if you work hard and train smart.

BCRPA Personal Trainer, BCRPA Group Fitness Instructor, Can Fit Pro Pre & Postnatal Fitness Instructor