Hi-Sook Barker

Hi-Sook Barker is a full time teacher known for both floral and landscape paintings using an impressionistic style. She is an elected member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour (cspwc). She currently teaches at several locations throughout Durham Region. Her original works can be found in private and corporate collections in Canada, USA, Great Britain, Australia and South Korea.

Sandra Jin

My name is Sandra Jin and Tai Chi has been a part of my life for over 14 years. I started classes to manage my stress, eventually assisting and then substituting for my instructor. I now teach the Yang 24, Bejing and sword styles in standing and chair format.

Judi White

Judi lives in Bowmanville and has been a member of the BOAA for the past 7 years and enjoys every moment spent with her “home away from home family” She is in the choir and participates in line dancing and several exercise classes. Judi’s love of Theatre and Crafts has found her at the head of these two drop-ins and she finds it so fulfilling to see a play/skit or a simple craft come to life.

Julie Ditta

Julie started drumming eight years ago as part of facilitator-training program offered by OSCC. Julie volunteers with the “Dare to Drum” facilitator collective which share their passion for drumming by offering Drum Circles to non-profit organization in Durham Region. Julie facilitates two local drum circles of her own as well as the Woman’s Peterborough Drum Circle. She teaches seniors in both Whitby and Bowmanville. Julie is a Hawaii Reiki Master, certified in Therapeutic Touch and Relaxation Therapy. Julie facilitates the Spirit Dances, meditation groups and offers Intuitive Tea Leaf and Palm readings. When Julie is not drumming, meditating or facilitating, she can be found at the euchre table.

Lisa Balsdon

Health and Fitness Professional – “We overhaul your lifestyle!” Lisa is the owner/operator of Live In Motion. Lisa specializes in adding health and vitality to your life through Personal Training, Nutrition Counseling, Health Cooking and more!

Lydia Vooys-MacLeod

Lydia is a certified fitness consultant, group instructor and a personal trainer and has been at the “Beech” for over 20 years including outreach programs. But also teaching a variety of classes for over 30 years, involving, cardio with pep, fabulous muscles, chair yoga, and combo fitness. Lydia wants to make it fun, safe and beneficial to all and always will compromise to each individual needs. Lydia welcomes you always and is open to your concerns. There is a variety of classes that fits every individual level of fitness – please join us.

Veronica Vargas

Veronica was born in Mexico City, started dancing at the age of 5 taking Ballet, Spanish and Folkloric dance at The “Academia de Danza Coppelia”. She also learned tap, jazz, became certified dance instructor in 1980. She continued dancing and teaching dance while attending University where she earned a degree in Industrial Engineering. In 2004, Veronicamoved to Canada. A year later she earned her Salsa Babies® Instructor Certification. In 2008 got certified as Zumba® instructor. In 2010 became a Canadian citizen. Other certifications as AquaZumba® Zumba Gold®, Zumbini® SFIC and Salsa Tots® CPR and SFA update.

Paul Livingston

Any day that I can spend doing something creative with my art or music is a good day. I have enjoyed the distinct privilege of being able to use my art as my livelihood ever since graduating from Ontario College of Art in 1971. Art was always in my curriculum and my best subject all through school. I worked in the advertising field for over 20 years in the capacities of Art Director, Illustrator, Designer with agencies both large and small.

Making pictures was always my favorite pass-times, so, since leaving the advertising grind, I continued to use my art with freelance assignments and painting scenic landscapes and wildlife to sell at numerous shows around southern Ontario. Together with my wife Pat, also an artist, we operated our small business as Kicking Horse Arts, undertaking special commissions ranging from portraits of people and animals to large murals and custom art gifts. Around 1990, I began teaching adult night school art classes with the Durham Board of Education, and over the years taught seniors classes in Whitby, Oshawa and Bowmanville. I find it fulfilling to be able to show students in my classes how to do a drawing or painting and help them along by demonstration, positive reinforcement and encouragement for their efforts.

In 2000, I learned to use a Drawing/Painting Computer Program and have enjoyed working with it to digitally create and manipulate images as well as demonstrate, using the computer like a blackboard in some of my drawing classes. For 10 years I volunteered in a kid’s after-school music program with Simcoe Hall Settlement House in Oshawa. To this day, I spend a good deal of time playing guitar and songwriting, organizing jam sessions, hosting open mic afternoons and other volunteer functions at The Bowmanville Older Adult Association. Other activities and interests include woodcarving, making picture frames, photography and walking the dog..

Sharon Wildeboer

Sharon has been teaching in the fitness industry since 2003. Teaching a variety of classes from gentle yoga, yoga, yogalates, strength training and sit and be fit (level 1 & 2). In every class participants are encouraged to go at a pace that is appropriate for them. So come out and have fun while safely working out.

Brian Greenway

Brian Greenway has been an instructor for personal computers and the photographic arts at the centre for over 10 years. Brian’s love of photography began when he started taking photos for the Queen’s University student newspaper, The Journal. Despite the chemical exposure in the dark room, he survived to become an educator and principal for the Durham Board of Education for more than 32 years. As a leader in bringing the first personal computers to Durham’s School system Brian has experience in personal technology. After his “starter” career, Brian was finally freed to breathe life into his art, taking professional workshops in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe. His main interest is in travel photography, but his work features an eclectic mix of landscapes, artistic distortions, cityscapes, black-and-white and High Dynamic Range images (weird looking ones). Brian continues to use his educational background to teach others the craft of Photography and personal computing. Brian is a member of the Oshawa Camera Club and serves as a judge for the Greater Toronto Council of Camera Clubs competitions.

Dianne Darch

Dianne Darch was born in Bowmanville and grew up on a farm in Enniskillen surrounded by nature. She turned to art as a source of relaxation from a busy hospital career. Dianne has studied extensively with pen and ink artist Claudia Nice, watercolour artist Karen Richardson and recently with watercolour artist Karin Isenburg; to refine and bring realism to her work. Dianne’s art combines ink techniques with watercolour and reflects a love of nature and her rural heritage. She starting showing and selling her artwork in 1999 when she was asked to be part of the Millennium Group solo exhibitions at the Bowmanville Town Hall. Joining the Oshawa Art Association in 2000, she is a regular participant in their Art Festival show and sale at Camp Samac. A COAA member since 2010, Dianne enjoys the choir and her other volunteer duties at the BOAA. After numerous requests, Dianne started teaching pen and ink in 2014 and looks forward to passing on her love of art and nature to her students.

Tanya Cochrane

Tanya’s interest in computers started when she was studying engineering at McMaster University. She moved on to earn a Business Administration Diploma at Durham College and then began a career providing employment support in the community at a local non-profit organization. Computers was a large part of her work day and she enjoyed learning about new ways of doing things that involved technology. It wasn’t until she began facilitating computer classes to seniors in Oshawa in 2011 that she realized what her true passion was. Her students will tell you that her excitement for technology is contagious and there’s always time for fun and questions in her class! When she’s not teaching, she’s enjoying family-time with her husband and two children or riding and training her Morgan horse.

Maurice Laganière

Maurice has been the instructor of the French level 3 and 4 classes at the Bowmanville Older Adult Centre since 2015. He grew up in Montreal and later moved to Ottawa where he obtained degrees in Translation and Education from the University of Ottawa. He then moved to Bowmanville in 1980 where he taught French immersion to elementary students for 29 years at Ontario Street Public School. He is now retired and he enjoys travelling, cycling and of course teaching French.

Nancy Trimble

Nancy Trimble is a retired pharmacist who is now following her passion for family history. She earned her Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies at the University of Toronto in 2004. Nancy is the owner of Trimble Family History Services and offers lecturing, research and DNA analysis services. Currently she volunteers as the Chair of the Durham Region Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society.

Elizabeth Jobb

Elizabeth Jobb was born and raised in Montreal and then lived in Beaconsfield Quebec. Over the years Elizabeth has served in the Christian church as an elder, church school teacher and ecumenical Bible study leader. She was trained and employed as a medical laboratory technologist and worked at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Montreal. In 1983, Elizabeth began studies at York University, and graduated in Religious Studies with an emphasis in Judaic Studies.

In June of 1993, Elizabeth was ordained and received a call to undertake the office of associate minister at Knox Presbyterian Church in Guelph. She enjoyed eight years of ministry at Knox until she was called to be the minister at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian church in Amherstburg, Ontario. After 11 years in Amherstburg, Elizabeth retired and moved to Bowmanville to be near her family. She is currently attending St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church where she is “Minister In Association” and is still actively involved in preaching and teaching when called to do so.