Athletics Coaches
Conrad Alscher
Head of Tennis
Conrad Alscher is a Brentwood College School alumn, having graduated from the School in 2013. After completing a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Victoria, Mr. Alscher worked with youth at various non-profit organizations before making tennis coaching his career.
Tennis has been a large part of Mr. Alscher’s life since he was 8 years old. He competed at a national level throughout his junior tennis career and continues to train with top tennis players in the province.
Owning the largest tennis coaching business in the Cowichan Valley, Mr. Alscher is dedicated to growing the sport of tennis at Brentwood and throughout the region. He is passionate about ensuring tennis players have the best experience possible by improving their skills while participating in an enjoyable learning process.
Wesley Barrett
Houseparent (Whittal House); Head of Soccer
B.A. (UVic)
Born and raised in Richmond, BC, Mr. Barrett is going into his ninth year at Brentwood and eighth year as Head of Soccer.The Brentwood Soccer Program sees over 100 different athletes on the pitch at any given time throughout the year. Competitive soccer runs in the fall term for boys and the spring term for girls, with soccer training happening in the winter term. The highlight over the last ten years, if you asked anyone in the soccer program, would be the boys winning the BC Championships in 2021. Mr. Barrett moved to Vancouver Island at 19 to attend the University of Victoria to pursue his post-secondary education and to play Vikes Varsity Soccer. He played soccer for the Vikes from 2008-12. The highlight of his university career was winning the National Championship on home soil in 2011.Mr. Barrett finished a degree in Recreation and Health in May of 2013 and he holds a National B coaching Licence out of British Columbia. Mr. Barrett has spent the last 20 years coaching soccer, mostly in Victoria and the Lower Mainland. He also co-founded an organization called EPIC Sport Management Society and continues to oversee and facilitate EPIC while working as Brentwood’s Head of Soccer. EPIC runs the largest College ID Camp in Western Canada. Mr. Barrett has a very close connection to a multitude of Canadian university soccer programs.
Doug Branchflower
History/Social Studies Teacher; Rugby Coach
B.A. (UofS), B.Ed. (UofA)
Mr. Branchflower received his B.A. from the University of Saskatchewan and completed his B.Ed. at the University of Alberta. He has taught several business and humanities courses, including economics, entrepreneurship, history, law, psychology, and English. He is currently teaching AP World History and Social Studies 10. Having both attended and worked at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame, Mr. Branchflower is a boarding school stalwart. Before coming to Brentwood, he served as the Director of Athletics and Head of Humanities at Notre Dame, where he also held the position of Houseparent for several years. Mr. Branchflower is an accomplished rugby coach, working with both men’s and women’s school, regional, and provincial teams in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, and BC, as well as being both an assistant coach and manager of Rugby Canada’s U17/U18 men’s programs. Mr. Branchflower is also a coach educator for World Rugby, Rugby Canada, and the National Coaching Certification Program, holding both a Level 3 coaching certificate and an Advanced Coaching Diploma from the NCCP.
David Calder
Head of Rowing
OLY, B.A. (University of Washington)
As a member of the Brentwood class of 1996 (Privett House), David Calder is no stranger to our school. Mr. Calder went on after graduation to represent Canada, rowing internationally at four Olympic Games, and retiring from competition after the 2012 London Olympics. In his racing career, he won numerous World Cup medals in the 2- and 8+, the World Championships in the Jr 2- and the Sr 8+, and an Olympic Silver Medal in the 2- at the 2008 Beijing Olympics—with fellow Brentonian Scott Frandsen (‘98).
Brian Carr
Rowing Coach – Junior Women's Lead Coach; Associate, Alumni Relations
B.A., P.D.P.P. (UVic)
Born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Brian Carr came to Canada in 1964 with his parents and younger brother, Rory. The Carr family moved onto the Brentwood campus in the fall of 1964—where the senior Mr. Carr served as Houseparent for 19 years. After Brentwood, Brian attended the University of Washington as a rower and fledgling geographer. Graduation from the University of Victoria brought him back to the Cowichan Valley, where he taught at Frances Kelsey Secondary School before answering his primal urge to return to Brentwood—where he promptly became a busy member of the Social Studies Department and key leader within the Brentwood College Rowing Club. Mr. Carr has continued his coaching service and is now Associate of Alumni Relations at the School.Brian’s wife, Leslie Reid Carr, taught Spanish and French at the school and was the Houseparent of Allard House from 2007-19. Their daughter Natalie (2011) and son Aidan (2014) both graduated from Brentwood.
Paul Collis
Instructional Leader, English; Soccer Coach
B.A. (UBC), M.Lit. (St Andrews, UK)
Head of the English Department, and sartorial inspiration for multitudes of Brentwood students, Paul Collis teaches English 9, Language and Composition 11AP, and Writing 12. With an undergraduate degree from the University of British Columbia, a master’s in Shakespeare from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, no experience as a long snapper for the Pittsburgh Steelers, a lot of experience missing disc golf putts, and a teaching diploma from the University of Victoria, Mr. Collis ensured that he remained in school in perpetuity by joining the Brentwood faculty in 1998. When not brandishing semi-colons to the reluctant or championing Dickens to the incredulous, Mr. Collis coaches soccer at Brentwood, then returns on his bicycle to Cobble Hill, where he, his wife Karen Handford, and their chickens spend many pleasant hours re-enacting great scenes from Pickwick Papers to amuse their corpulent cat.
Toby Collis Handford
Assistant Houseparent – Ellis House; English Teacher; Soccer and Flag Football coach
B.A., B.Ed. (UBC)
Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Toby Collis Handford is thrilled to be working at Brentwood as an AP Language and Composition teacher, a soccer coach, a football coach, and now the Assistant House Parent of Ellis. While completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at UBC, Toby was able to receive the Chancellor’s Scholarship in academics, accept the Kelly’s Curtis Memorial Scholarship in English, and defeat Harold Wardrop in a fantasy football league. Toby is grateful to have held teaching positions at UBC-O, West Vancouver Secondary School, and Academic Camps Canada. He aims to use his experience to give the young men of Ellis House the best start to their academic careers possible.
David Cowie
Rugby, Strength & Conditioning coach
B.A. (UVic)
Mr. Cowie, aside from being a current staff member, as well as Brentwood alumni, grew up around the school. The son of long time faculty member Mr. Steven Cowie, his love of rugby – instilled in him by his father – grew through his five years spent at Brentwood, culminating in his playing for the school’s BC Provincial Championship winning 1st XV. After graduating from Brentwood, Mr. Cowie attended Uvic where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree while playing rugby for Uvic, and then for his hometown club of Cowichan. Following his university studies he moved to Auckland, New Zealand, where he spent a short stint playing rugby for Auckland Suburbs. It was here that he discovered his penchant for coaching and training. Upon returning to Vancouver Island in 2012, Mr. Cowie began coaching rugby back at Brentwood, while simultaneously earning his personal trainer’s certificate (CPT), as well as his strength and conditioning certification (CSCS). He has since helped develop Brentwood’s strength and conditioning program, while also working in Victoria, B.C as a strength and conditioning trainer, and consultant.
Steve Cowie
History, Social Studies teacher; Rugby Coach
B.A., M.A. (UVic)
A native of sunny Kelowna, British Columbia, Steve Cowie graduated with honours from the University of Victoria in 1975, majoring in history and English, then completed his master’s in history in 1976. He has played rugby for the UVic Vikings, the Castaways, the Island Crimson Tide, and Cowichan. As the longest-serving member of the Brentwood faculty, Mr. Cowie is a “lifer” nine times over—and now teaches the sons and daughters of students he taught in the early years. For his first five years at Brentwood, he was the Assistant Houseparent of Ellis House and has been associated with Ellis ever since.He has taught history, geography, English, creative writing, and law—while coaching at every level of rugby, basketball, golf, and tennis. He was Head of the Social Studies Department for ten years and was also Editor for 15 Brentwood yearbooks. He has had the privilege of coaching the Girls’ Rugby Team since 2003 as well as the Island Tsunami U18 Girls’ Team and the BC U18 Girls’ Team, with Mr. Marius Felix.Though Dr. Johnson defined a historian as “a hopeless drudge”, Mr. Cowie makes history come alive in the classroom with his passion for teaching and his belief that inspiration and encouragement are the greatest motivators. He likes to think this keeps him eternally young at heart. Mr. Cowie and his wife Sheila have two sons who are Old Brentonians—David (‘08; married to Mandy Marchak) and Nathan (‘05; married to Robyn), and three grandchildren, Finn, Lilly and Elias.
Rebecca Day Reynolds
English Teacher; Cross Country Coach
B.A. (UCC, Ireland); TESOL (USask)
A campaign of wheedling and insistence that began in 1999 and spanned two administrations ended successfully for Rebecca Day Reynolds when she was invited to join the Department of English near the close of the 2004/05 academic year. A Brentonian, herself (1980), Mrs Reynolds returned to the school she loves after teaching English in the Alberta college system for a number of years and living, studying, working, and playing on three continents during a gleeful nine-year hiatus from North American life. Mrs Reynolds’ eclectic employment history spans a bizarre spectrum: she has worked as a ghost-writer, an editor, an Irish barmaid, a course writer, a phone canvasser, a minor bureaucrat, a fundraiser, a barn-mucker, a racehorse owner, an instructor of “Gymboree” and “Babyswim,” and a reader for audiobooks. Her hobbies include working at Brentwood and gratuitously correcting the grammar of others. The proud mother of three Brentonians—and thus far, a grandmother of another two— Mrs Reynolds lives in Mill Bay with her doctorly husband.
Jill Fougner
Head of Volleyball, Sr Girls' Soccer Coach
B.A. (UVic)
Born and raised in Victoria, BC, Jill Fougner competed in a wide variety of sports as a child. Her teenage years were divided busily between softball and volleyball. Ms. Fougner was a member of Team BC in volleyball for four years. At 18, she was selected to join Canada’s National Volleyball Team; shortly after she relocated to the national training centre in Ottawa, she represented Canada in the 1982 World Volleyball Championships in Peru. After playing for the Canadian National Team, Ms. Fougner competed for the University of Victoria where she was named to the USports All-Canadian Team four times. She was also named Best Setter at the 1989 Canadian National Championships. On graduating from the University of Victoria with a degree in psychology, she moved to Australia to play professional beach volleyball. She then returned to Victoria where she headed up the UVic Varsity Volleyball coaching staff for seven years. Ms. Fougner joined the Brentwood coaching staff in 2000, and became Assistant Houseparent of Gwynneth House (now Allard) in 2001. She is currently the Brentwood Volleyball Program Head. Jill has coached the Brentwood Senior Girls’ Volleyball Team to nine Island Championship titles, two Bronze, and back-to-back Provincial Championship titles. She was the assistant coach for Team BC in 2007, which won the Gold Medal at the Western Canada Games and finished 4th at the 2009 Canada Summer Games; she was named Volleyball Coach of the Year for Vancouver Island (2006/07). She has also assisted with the Senior Girls’ Soccer Team since 2005.
Blake Gage
Director of Athletics; Business Teacher; Head of Basketball
B.A. (Western), M.B.A. (UVic)
A member of both the Humanities and Business departments, Blake Gage joined the Brentwood faculty in 2004 after a career in management consulting and as a professional basketball player.Following an undergraduate degree in history from the University of Western Ontario, Mr. Gage realized a life-long goal by playing basketball professionally in a number of different European leagues. Upon his return home, he completed his M.B.A at the University of Victoria with a specialization in Entrepreneurship. He worked locally as a marketing manager before accepting a position as a management consultant in the United States—where he helped establish best practices for organizations in a variety of industries.After two years away, Mr. Gage and his wife Robin made the easy decision to return to Vancouver Island, raise a family, and allow Mr. Gage to pursue his passion for teaching and coaching youth. A graduate of the National Coaching Institute (Level IV), Mr. Gage is often found in the gym working with anyone who shares his love of basketball. The Gages have two children, Dylan (Whittall ‘23) and Zoë (Alex ‘26).
Cody Gibson
Social Justice & Social Studies teacher; Climbing Coach; Graphic Design
B.Ed., IB, TESOL,
Mr. Gibson, is an experienced world educator and traveller with thirty-four countries and counting; mainly in Vietnam, Guatemala and Mexico. His time overseas provided constant challenges and joys and he hopes to bring his experience to students here at Brentwood.If you can’t find Mr. Gibson on his standard rounds on campus, then seek him outside in the forest—climbing rocks, looking at moss, hiking the west coast trail and generally galavanting around the island that he grew up on and loves. He is excited to offer classes that deliver an exciting time, lots of debate, and a widening of horizons.
Sean Hacker Teper
Science, Marine Science, and Biology teacher, Ice Hockey Coach
B.A. (Boston University), M.Sc. (Memorial University), B.Ed. (UBC Okanagan)
Mr. Hacker Teper was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. From a young age, he gravitated towards water and conservation. As a keen young scientist, he could often be found “rescuing” frogs with his younger brother, transporting them from streams to the local lake for the purpose of providing them a “better” life. On family vacations, he always pushed to see the local aquariums. This interest led him to Vancouver Island in the summer after Grade 11, where he completed a marine biology course and earned his scuba diving certification. Back in Toronto, Mr. Hacker Teper’s involvement as a coxswain on his high school rowing team earned him a position on the Boston University men’s rowing team. He graduated with a degree in Marine Biology and memorable fieldwork along the Massachusetts coast, Belize, and Ecuador. He returned home to Toronto for a year to pursue a budding photography passion before heading east to Newfoundland to earn his master’s in marine biology. In St. John’s, he learned biochemistry on the fly as he investigated a food web for little critters living in rhodolith beds. As he completed his master’s degree, he realized he loved teaching and headed westward to BC, where he earned his teaching credentials and has taught since 2020. Outside of school, you can find him baking fresh sourdough, fermenting strange foods, playing pickleball, doing astrophotography, or somewhere underwater exploring British Columbia’s reefs.
Tiara Hobbs
Head of Tennis
Born in Singapore, and later moving to Canada with her family, Tiara has called Victoria, BC, her home since 2001. Athletics has always played a very important part in her life as she participated in numerous sports teams competitively throughout high school. As Ms. Hobbs grew older, she began focusing more of her attention on a select few and found her passion lay mainly in three sports: tennis, volleyball, and golf. After completing the Golf Management Program at Camosun College, she moved back to Singapore to coach golf and tennis but return to Victoria in 2013 to further her tennis career. She was successful at obtaining both her Instructor and Club Pro 1 certification and plans to continue upgrading to Club Pro 2 in the future.
Taryn Knorren
Social Studies Teacher; Climbing Coach
M.Ed. (University of Calgary), B.Ed. (University of Calgary), B.Phil in Leadership with a minor in Political Science (University of New Brunswick)
Taryn Knorren grew up in Calgary, AB, splitting her time between exploring the mountains, competitive Irish dancing, travelling, and learning. Not being one for overly formal or stereotypical classrooms she was drawn to the East Coast of Canada to a unique university experience that allowed her to travel the world and dive deep into teamwork and collaboration. Her work, dance, and education have allowed her to travel and live abroad in many countries including India, Australia, and Japan. Throughout all of these experiences, Taryn’s passion for social justice and politics made her want to make her home country of Canada a better place. In 2015, she ran in the Federal election as a candidate in Calgary Signal Hill but the grassroots of education kept calling her to the classroom.After completing her B.Ed. in Calgary, Taryn taught at an independent school for several years while completing her Master’s in Education with a focus on collaboration. Ready for new challenges, Taryn, her husband, and their border collie Charlie’s love of nature and the ocean called them to the west coast and Brentwood College School.
Drew Langer
Eldon & Anne Foote Athletic Centre Manager
B.A. RHED (UVic); CSCS – Strength & Conditioning Specialist (NSCA)
Growing up on the beautiful coastal shores of British Columbia, Mr. Langer graduated from the University of Victoria with a B.A. in Recreation & Health Education and then completed his NSCA-CSCS (Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist) qualification. During his 12 years of playing rugby, he was part of provincial and national titles at the high school, university, and regional levels. Mr. Langer is the heartbeat of the Eldon & Anne Foote Athletic Centre as the Facility Manager, creating memorable experiences for both students and staff throughout the year. He is also the lead coach of the Brentwood Cross Training Program, helping high school students learn healthy fitness habits.
Mandy Marchak
Rugby Coach
B.Ed (University of Victoria), B.A. (University of Victoria), Association of Canadian Mountain Guides CGI 2 & TRCI
Ms. Marchak played a prominent role in Rugby Canada’s fifteens and sevens programs during her career. She began playing in Manitoba and was inducted into the Manitoba Rugby Hall of Fame in 2017 following an outstanding career. She moved from Winnipeg to British Columbia to play with Capilano in 2004, and in 2009 she was named BC Premier Player of the Year. Marchak relocated to England for three years to play with the historic club Saracens RFC in London. On the 15s circuit, Ms. Marchak represented Canada on the U-19 side in 2002 and the U-23 side in 2004. She was selected to the 2006 World Cup side and played in an impressive three World Cups in total (2006, 2010, 2014), capturing a Silver Medal in 2014. Marchak also competed with the women’s seven’s program and went to the first sevens World Cup in 2009, as well as the 2013 seven’s World Cup in Russia. She currently coaches on Brentwood’s Girls’ Rugby Team.
Michael Miller
Biology Teacher; Open-Water SCUBA Diving Coach
B.Sc. (Guelph), M.Sc. (U.Sask), P.D.P.P. (U.Vic)
Michael J. R. Miller was born and raised in the non-wilds of Mississauga, Ontario. A fascination with animals led to an undergraduate degree in zoology—which eventually morphed into a passion for birds of prey. After graduation, he migrated westward to Saskatchewan, where he completed an M.Sc. investigating lead poisoning in Bald Eagles. Duties as a field biologist led him to Arizona and sites throughout western Canada and Ontario, working with both government agencies and consultants on various raptor species, ranging from conservation concerns to environmental contamination. During and after graduate school, Mr. Miller taught in biology labs at both the universities of Saskatchewan and Victoria. He completed his teaching credentials in 2006 and taught in the Cowichan Valley School District prior to taking the role at Brentwood. In the classroom, Mr. Miller is known for his puns, infectious enthusiasm, and the visits of his parrots to spice up morning lessons. Outside of school, Mr. Miller and his wife Karena enjoy travelling and routinely explore the local Vancouver Island environs with their dog—all the while managing the lives of their teenage sons and other domestic vertebrates at home. Mr. Miller brought his passion for SCUBA diving to Brentwood as a campus sport and enjoys sharing his affection for the underwater world with students and colleagues. Mr. Miller is passionate about aviation, and for campus dress-up-themed days, he can be counted on to don a selection from his growing collection of vintage flight helmets and other flight gear.
Dan Norman
Mathematics Teacher; Outdoor Pursuits Coach
B.Ed. (Uof O), B.Sc. (Western)
Dan Norman was born and raised in Toronto, but quickly left. He studied mathematics at the University of Western Ontario and education at the University of Ottawa. During this time, he trained and competed in the sport of whitewater canoe slalom, first qualifying for the Canadian National Team in 1988. In 1992, he represented Canada at the Barcelona Olympic Games. His involvement in competitive kayaking brought him to British Columbia and his interest in the outdoors became a cornerstone of his personal and professional life.Since 2001, in addition to mathematics, Mr. Norman has taught the Outdoor Pursuits Program at Brentwood College School. His passion for the west coast environment drives him to take students to beautiful places all over Vancouver Island. His preferred modes of transportation are human-powered and include skis, snowboards, sea kayaks, canoes, bicycles, and hiking boots.Mr. Norman likes very few things more than goofing around in paddle-powered boats—canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards. His current challenges include developing and delivering outdoor and experiential education at Brentwood. In his leisure, he and his family spend as much time as possible in remote wilderness locations, and work hard to minimize their footprint on this beautiful island they call home.
Hank Panek
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coach
Henry (Hank) Panek, comes from a Carlson Gracie Sr lineage under 8th Degree Black Belt Professor Marcus Soares. Hank is his 16th student in Canada to receive his Black Belt and has trained under him since 1999. In addition to holding a Brown Belt in Judo, Mr. Panek has been in the fitness industry for more than 40 years and is responsible for introducing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the Cowichan Valley in 2008. Combining his fitness expertise and Judo accomplishments, Mr. Panek’s experiences have allowed him the ability to instruct Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the highest levels.
Vittorio (Vito) Pasquale
Social Studies Teacher; Basketball Coach
B.A. (UVic), B.Ed. (UBC)
Born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario, Mr. Pasquale left his Italian immigrant upbringing to attend the University of Victoria, where he graduated with a B.A. degree and played varsity basketball for five years, experiencing 3 national championships while attending.Mr. Pasquale spent a few years coaching at the college and university levels before returning to school at UBC and graduating with his B.Ed., then teaching at the high school level for the last 35 years. He has spent time at various schools in BC: Vancouver College, West Point Grey Academy, and Shawnigan Lake School. He has been a committed social studies teacher in grades 9 to 12. This will be his 7th year at Brentwood.
Malcolm Phillips
Math Teacher ; Rugby Coach
Bachelors in Marketing/Economics ; PGCE (University of South Africa)
Malcolm Phillips is an experienced international educator and coach with over 15 years of teaching across South Africa, Canada, and the UAE. Born and raised in Durban, South Africa, he moved to Canada in 2016 and taught at Rundle College in Calgary. After obtaining Canadian citizenship, he moved abroad to pursue international teaching opportunities in Abu Dhabi.In the UAE, Mr. Phillips served as Head of Mathematics at the Canadian International School and most recently as Head of Grade 7 at Raha International School. He is certified to teach in the South African, Alberta (Canada), and IB Middle Years Program frameworks and is known for his strong leadership, dedication to student development, and collaborative approach to education.As a passionate sportsman and coach, Mr. Phillips has led school teams in rugby, football, swimming, volleyball, and cricket to regional and provincial championships. He is also the current Head Coach of Team UAE Underwater Hockey, having previously represented both South Africa and Canada at the international level. He sits on the CMAS College of Coaches and Referees.Outside of his professional life, Mr. Phillips enjoys golf, padel, pickleball, and surfing. He is excited to bring his experience, energy, and enthusiasm to the classroom and sports field as part of a vibrant school community.
Tammie Rena Ramsay
Assistant Houseparent (Whittall House); Grad Sponsor; SAC Sponsor; Weight Training Coach; Interhouse Coordinator
Ms. Ramsay was born and raised in Eastern Canada, where she completed her practical nursing and went on to spend the next 25 years working in diverse areas of human services. Her jobs included psychiatric-geriatric, spinal cord rehabilitation, brain injury rehab, and working with marginalized individuals struggling with homelessness and addiction who were living on the streets of Victoria. She feels that being the team leader at the Emergency Homeless Shelter in the downtown core gave her enormous insight into humanity, and taught her to be curious rather than judgmental. She holds several certifications in mental health, martial arts, and conflict resolution. Ms. Ramsay was also chosen for the Award of Accommodation for outstanding leadership in her community from the Victoria Police Department. Kindness, compassion, humor, and joy follow Miss Ramsay wherever she lands. She joined the Brentwood community in 2018 as a BFA, Woodworking Instructor, Weight Training Coach, and Advisor to the Mackenzie House girls. She quickly immersed herself in the Brentwood Family and moved on to become the Assistant Houseparent in Whittall House, and is currently head of the Student Activity Council, Interhouse Coordinator and Grad Sponsor. Ms. Ramsay and her teenage son Keiran (who also attends and lives at Brentwood) enjoy travelling and experiencing new cultures, food, and lifestyles.
Megan Rea
Dance Teacher; Choreographer
B.A. Hons (The Hammond School, University of Chester); PGCE (Royal Academy of Dance)
Miss Rea brings a lifelong love of dance and musical theatre to her teaching, shaped by experiences living across Europe and studying in the UK. Having attended boarding school herself, she understands the unique opportunities and sense of community that life in such a setting can offer. Growing up, she followed her passion for the stage to earn a B.A. (Hons) in Musical Theatre, later completing postgraduate study at the Royal Academy of Dance.Miss Rea’s teaching journey has taken her from East London to the Swiss Alps. She has embraced the unique opportunities of each role while inspiring and supporting her students of all ages and diverse backgrounds. Drawing on her professional stage experience, she brings real-world insight to her teaching, enriching students’ learning. Miss Rea loves connecting with young dancers, encouraging them to step outside of their comfort zone, build confidence, and reach their full potential.Now having embarked on a new adventure on Vancouver Island, Miss Rea is thrilled to share her passion, creativity, and enthusiasm with the vibrant Brentwood community.
Neil Robinson
Instructional Leader of Social Studies/Business; Metamorphosis 9 Teacher; AP Capstone; Ice Hockey Coach
B.A., B.Ed., M.A. (U of C)
Having grown up in the mountains of eastern British Columbia without much television to speak of, Mr. Robinson is drawn to the great outdoors at every opportunity. After completing high school, he attended the University of Calgary to pursue several degrees, including a master’s degree focused on gifted and talented learning. He has a passion for all things athletic and particularly enjoys golf, functional fitness, and ice hockey. Mr. Robinson’s academic interests lie in gifted education, global cultures, international politics, human rights, volunteerism, and travel. In a perfect world, he’d like to do all of them at the same time. It comes as no surprise, then, that he led Brentwood’s inaugural Learning Service Trip to Peru and, more recently, four more trips to Eswatini.
Tanya Scheck
Athletics Coordinator; Head of Strength & Conditioning; Volleyball, Sports Rehabilitation coach
B.A. Kinesiology (UVic)
Ms. Scheck was raised in Northern BC where she developed a keen interest in playing a variety of summer and winter sports. Her main interests were volleyball, softball, basketball, and curling. It did not take long for Ms. Scheck to realize that volleyball was going to be a sport she continued playing throughout her life. After high school, she went on to play for the College of New Caledonia—leading the team to a qualifying spot at the Provincial Championships. Ms. Scheck was named to the Inter-Collegiate All-Canadian Team. The University of Victoria was the next stop for Ms. Scheck where she continued her studies and her volleyball career. She knew her interest in sports would be a stepping stone for her future interest in how the human body moves. Ms. Scheck graduated with a degree in kinesiology from UVic while playing on the Women’s Varsity Volleyball Team. Ms. Scheck was a middle blocker at UVic—training under her mentor, Ms. Jill Fougner. After graduation, Ms. Scheck went on to continue her mentorship as an assistant coach to Ms. Fougner. Tanya Scheck holds her Level II National Coaching certification in volleyball and joined the Brentwood community in 2003. Ms. Scheck currently coaches volleyball, girls’ weight training, the senior-level strength and conditioning program, as well as the rehabilitation program. Ms. Scheck and her family reside in the Mill Bay area.
Tom Shadlock
Head of Ice Hockey
With over 25 years of coaching experience, Mr. Shadlock is a NCCP Level 1 Coach and has coached everything from initiation-level hockey to Junior B. Over the years, he has been lucky to work with some amazingly talented athletes and has become lifelong friends with coaches and parents associated with the sport. Some of the athletes he has worked with have moved on to play at Division 1 University, AHL, WHL, and Junior B. Working with these amazing kids is a pleasure and a privilege—their youthful exuberance keeps him feeling young with every minute he spends with them.
Ryan Skardal
English, Cross Country
B.A., B.Ed. (Brandon)
Originally from Manitoba, Ryan attended Brandon University. There, he studied English literature, wrote for the student newspaper, The Quill, and spoke persuasively and sometimes heckled loudly for the Brandon University Debating Society. When Brandon University offered him a chance to study as an exchange student at Tamkang University in Taiwan, Ryan jumped at the opportunity. Upon returning to Manitoba, Ryan completed his teacher training with the intent to explore new places after graduation. Before coming to Brentwood, teaching took Ryan to Kuwait, Hong Kong, and New Jersey. While in America, Ryan presented at a variety of conferences, including the NCTE Annual Conference, the AP Annual Conference, and the National Writing Project Mid-Winter Conference. In spite of his terribly lacking sense of direction, Ryan is a cheerful — if often lost — hiker, runner, and traveler. Pleased to have found a beautiful home with Brentwood College School, Ryan can most likely be found wandering amongst the trees or else through the aisles of a nearby library.
Phil Smith
Mathematics Instructional Lead; Rugby Coach
B.Ed. (UVic), MMT (Waterloo)
Phil was raised in Victoria and graduated with a B.Ed. from the University of Victoria. He spent 10 years teaching in New Zealand and in 2014 he was awarded a Teacher Fellowship through the Royal Society of New Zealand to investigate Maori health and education. In 2015, he completed a Master of Mathematics for Teachers at the University of Waterloo. He returned to Canada in 2015 and has been teaching at Brentwood since. Phil is married to Maraina and they live with their five children. He loves mountain biking, ferrying his children around, and rugby!
Shane Thompson
Assistant Houseparent (Rogers House); Head of Rugby; Grade 8 P.E.
B.A. (Bishop's)
Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Shane Thompson grew up in a very athletic family, developing an early and incurable passion for sports. Focusing on university-level basketball, football, and rugby, he attended Bishop’s University and completed a B.A. in geography and economics—in between practices. Shortly afterward, he moved to Victoria, BC, played rugby for the Canadian National Team, and toured the world several times over. In 2005, Mr. Thompson transitioned into coaching for Rugby Canada and completed his Master of Education at the University of Victoria. When not coaching rugby or strength and conditioning at Brentwood, he works as a professional coach and manager for the BC Rugby Elite Youth 7s Program and also coaches the Canada Maple Leafs 7s Team. Mr. Thompson’s goal is to strengthen Brentwood’s Rugby Program and to cultivate elite players who may one day realize their Olympic dream. He is an outdoor aficionado, a keen traveller, and a surprisingly talented hip-hop and swing dancer.
Alexandria Toporowski
Boarding Faculty Assistant (Hope House); Volleyball Coach
B.A. (University of Waterloo)
Old Brentonian Alexandria Toporowski joins Brentwood as a Boarding Faculty Assistant in Hope House. Upon graduating in 2018, she pursued volleyball at the University of Waterloo and earned an OUA bronze medal with the team. Her time as a varsity athlete came to a close as she focused on her passion for social service. Equipped with experience in supporting society’s most vulnerable individuals, Alexandria aims to foster empathy, resilience, and growth in others. Ms. Toporowski previously returned to Brentwood during the 2021/22 school year as a coach for the Senior “B” Volleyball and Senior “A” Girls’ Basketball teams. Since then, she has embarked on an exchange program at the University of Sussex in England and concluded her academic endeavours in Waterloo, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Social Development. Alexandria is thrilled to be back on the beautiful west coast. Returning to Brentwood, she hopes to shape a positive experience for current students.
Gustavo Verna
Squash Coach
Born in Buenos Aires, Mr. Verna’s early sporting life revolved around rugby and squash. In 1976, he was lured to Victoria, BC, after playing against a Canadian rugby squad that was touring Argentina. Mr. Verna enrolled at the University of Victoria and played varsity and club rugby while he pursued his Bachelor’s Degree in Human Performance. He also found the time, energy, and patience to play competitive squash and soccer, participate in mini-triathlons, and serve as program director for the YMCA. It was through rugby, not squash, that Mr. Verna came to Brentwood. In 2001, at the suggestion of rugby ‘mate’, Mr. Tony Medina (former Athletics Director of Brentwood), Mr. Verna applied for the newly vacated position of Squash Coach. He continues to coach, and has also started a community league that gives local players the opportunity to play squash in what he considers to be the ‘finest courts on the Island’. Mr. Verna has two sons and is the co-owner of the Quadra 24-Hour Sports Club. Mr. Verna holds his NCCP Level 3 coaching certification plus his Level 3 Canadian Squash certification.
Jenna Warner
Houseparent (Alexandra House); Biology, Science teacher; Field Hockey Coach
B.Sc., B.Ed. (Manitoba)
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Jenna Warner is a prairie girl at heart. After earning her Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Manitoba, she moved west to join the Brentwood Family to teach science and biology. A sports fanatic from childhood, Mrs. Warner played many sports, but field hockey is her passion. She represented the University of Manitoba, and played and coached field hockey at both the Western Canada Summer Games and Canada Summer Games. She currently enjoys living on campus in Alexandra House with her husband, children, and dog.
Jordan Warner
Mathematics Teacher; Golf and Basketball coach
B.Sc., B.Ed. (U of Manitoba)
Growing up in Roblin, Manitoba, Jordan Warner played a variety of sports in his youth, with his main focus on hockey and baseball. After graduating from high school as one of the top scholar/athletes in Manitoba, he obtained both his Bachelor of Science (Math and Physics) and Bachelor of Education with distinction from the University of Manitoba. He arrived at Brentwood in the fall of 2007 to teach mathematics and coach. On sport afternoons, he can be found coaching junior boys basketball or at the golf course with the Brentwood Golf Team. In his spare time, he can often be found at the hockey rink or baseball diamond coaching one of his children’s teams. A former Assistant Houseparent of Rogers House, Mr. Warner currently lives with his wife and three children in Alexandra House.
Sue WhitneySarah Wolinsky
Assistant Houseparent (Privett House); Math Teacher; Outdoor Pursuits Coach
B.A. (History & Math), B.Ed. (Intermediate/Senior), M.A. (History) (Queen’s University)
Originally from Ontario, Sarah spent her early adulthood chasing a variety of threads as any millennial did in the mid-2000s—academia, backcountry canoe guiding, and teaching—before finally finding a middle ground in outdoor education and independent boarding schools. The Master’s of History, on transculturation in the early internet, was what the youth might refer to as a ‘side quest’; the monochromatic wardrobe was more intentional. She now teaches Pre-Calculus, is an assistant coach of the Outdoor Pursuits Program, is Assistant Houseparent in Privett House, and dabbles in running Brentwood’s D&D Club when time allows.
Where Students Choose To Be
+1 (250) 743-5521
admissions@brentwood.ca
info@brentwood.ca
2735 Mount Baker Road
Mill Bay, BC, Canada V8H 1K8