Our Program Team
Each leadership program at OELC has its own dedicated and distinct staff comprised of a program Director, Program Coordinators and Teacher Facilitators. Our staff are leading educators from across Ontario and are selected based on their passion, commitment and understanding of leadership, their educational expertise, and their belief in students' potential for personal growth, development and positive impact!
Our elementary and intermediate programs also have a Youth Facilitator (YF) as part of the program staff. YF’s stay in cabins with students and are selected from a fine group of OELC graduates who have demonstrated exemplary leadership skills, compassion, reliability and maturity.
Our student-to-teacher ratio is a maximum of 16 to 1. We also have full time, qualified (24/7) Medical Facilitator on site for each course.
Amanda Kennedy
When Amanda isn’t spending her time as one of the Course Director’s of OELC’s June Intermediate Arts, she lives in Barrie and teaches at Elmvale District High School.
She has been fortunate enough to be involved with OELC for over 14 years in various roles. She considers OELC a second home and has met some of her closest friends here over the years.
Outside of school she enjoys horseback riding, playing pool, watching football, and spending time with family and friends.
Carolyn Wiens
Carolyn is an Intermediate Teacher from London, Ontario.
She has been a Gr. 7&8 Teacher, Division Leader, Pd Facilitator, coach, and is/has been involved in Student Leadership over her 22 years as an Educator.
Carolyn has also worked at the Ontario Educational Leadership Centre for 17 years with a variety of courses including Intermediate Athletics, STaR, Intermediate School Leadership and is currently the Course Director for Secondary Growing Leadership.
Carolyn is a 500 RYT Yoga Instructor and has a passion for all elements of health and wellness.
Kimberly Gilhespy,
(she/her)
As a multi-award winning Physical Education specialist, Kim has a passion for student leadership through physical activity, games, and recreation.
She believes that everyone is a leader and she strives to provide safe environments for youth leaders to step out of their comfort zone, challenge themselves, and connect with others.
Kim enthusiastically delivers leadership opportunities for youth at OELC and has presented workshops on leadership at the provincial and national level. OELC holds a very special place in Kim’s heart!
Nathan Adams
Nathan Adams, BFA, B. Ed, M.Ed, has been working at OELC for over 10 years as a Teacher Facilitator, Course Coordinator and now Course Director.
He has been an elementary school teacher for the past 18 years and specializes in music, drama, dance, and technology.
He runs various extracurricular leadership, music and dance programs in his spare time.
Nathan also hosts our OELC podcast
Tracey Goodwin
Tracey first stepped foot on OELC grounds when she was in grade 10 as a Secondary Music leader.
Honoured to be the original Course Director for SIA and an elementary teacher, she now strives to empower all of her students to take a stand on critical social justice issues and become a leader that changes the world.
Chris Ackroyd
Chris Ackroyd has spent more than half his life involved in OELC; engaging in roles from student leader, to Youth Facilitator, to Teacher Facilitator, and serving as the Course Director of Foundations of Youth Leadership since 2015.
He’s passionate about education and sport, and seeks opportunities for mutual growth in every interaction.
Ali Potts
Ali Potts is a Special Education teacher with the Trillium Lakelands District School Board who is creative and ambitious with a passion for wellness and overall well-being.
Ali is caring and motivated to create the best individualized experience for all youth.
Ali has over 10 years of camp and leadership staff experience and has been a part of the OELC team since 2015.
Andrew Blake
Andrew Blake is a Grade 8 teacher with the Halton District School Board who enjoys integrating Outdoor Education, Equity and Well being into the classroom, and empowering student voice and action in both schools and communities.
Andrew has over 15 years of camp and leadership staff experience and has been a part of the OELC team since 2016.
Kara van der Hoff
Kara van der Hoff is a Learning Support Teacher with the Thames Valley District School Board who has a passion for exploring personal identity by empowering leaders to be who they are and then encouraging them to make change through student voice and action.
Kara has over 18 years of camp and leadership staff experience and has been part of the OELC team since 2013.
Peter Stratford
Peter has been a teacher with the Halton District School Board since 1993, where he has developed many physical education and well ness programs for his students.
He has been an active OELC teacher facilitator with OELC since 1995 in Intermediate Athletics. In Hamilton, he is also head coach for the Mountain view Volleyball club, and is also a member of CIRA (Canadian Intramural Recreation Association)
Tracey Haesler
Hi everyone, I’m Tracy and I have been a part of the OELC family for 13 years in a variety of capacities but mostly as the Co-Director of the Grade 6 Leadership of Innovation and Creativity course.
My full time job is a Special EducationTeacher in York Region and when I am not teaching, you can find me enjoying the outdoors and keeping active with my husband and my rescue dog.
Eric Marcotte
Eric has taught mathematics, computer science, and physical education at Macdonald-Cartier Academy, in Ottawa.
In 2018, he became full-time escape room creator for the company he co-founded called Mobile Escapes.
After 4 years of in-person services, Mobile Escapes have expanded to virtual escape rooms and products played in over 35 countries.
Eric is also a professional magician who has been performing for over 17 years.
He shares a passion for teaching, magic and offering team building experiences through his diverse services.
Sue Tilley
Sue joined the OELC family in 1980 when she attended the Ontario Athletic Leadership Course (O.A.L.C). The two-week course was a highlight and a spring board to what has been a meaningful and lasting connection to OELC.
Sue joined the summer office staff in 1982 and for 5 years she was an integral part of the summer programs.
In 1989 Sue joined the Elementary Athletics program as a teacher facilitator moving into a program coordinators role in 1990 and Course Director in 1992.
Her 40+ year connection with OELC has been and continues to be one of the most amazing, motivating and rewarding parts to her teaching career.
Working with so many leaders and teachers from across the province to support and encourage the development of their leader skills and leadership opportunities, has and continues to be the highlight to her summer.
Bruce Alexander
I Have been working with OELC since 2003 in both our Secondary Athletics program and Secondary School Leadership.
As a physical education teacher for over 16 years I love all sports and being outside. I have a passion for getting youth active and leading with in their schools and communities.
Dave Inglis
Dave Inglis has been a teacher, Department Head, Curriculum Consultant, Athletic Director, SHSH-Sport Lead, coach and intramural advocate for 35 years.
Dave is the current Course Director for SHSM Leadership and works with the Secondary Athletics program where he teaches the PLF4M Course for Credit.
Dave has a passion for physical activity, health and physical education curriculum development and engaging staff and students in all types of play.
Chris Wilson
Chris is a retired Physical Education teacher from the Waterloo Board of Education.
He is the President of CIRA Ontario (Canadian Intramural and Recreation Association) and a Course Director at OELC in Athletics, SHSM and Humber Recreation Programs.
Chris was the 2019 PHE Canada Teacher of the Year and has written numerous resources for CIRA, OPHEA, OELC and the Terry Fox Foundation.
He has a passion for hiking and nature.
Revlon Stoddart
My name is Revlon Stoddart, and I have been working with OELC for almost 11 years. I first came to the program as a Teacher Facilitator in 2010, and now I am the co- Course Director of the Grade 6 Leadership for Innovation and Creativity.
Currently, I am a Special Education teacher in the Toronto District School Board and teaching a Grade 2/3 virtual class this year.
I am passionate about social justice and advocacy work that connects equity, diversity and inclusion.
My hobbies are writing, travelling to new places, eating various cultural foods and picking up phrases of new languages.
My hope for our program this year, is to continue the work of empowering young leaders and creating a space for leadership, innovation and creativity.
Looking forward to meeting and connecting in-person with our leaders in June 2022!