While public speaking can spark fear among the bravest of beings, it can alternatively provide a creative outlet and sense of community. Indeed, that’s what drew Vasily Lykov to the craft when he joined Toastmasters International almost a decade ago while attending university. Now a coach and coordinator of the Vancouver Gavel Club (an affiliate of Toastmasters International tailored to youth), Lykov shares his passion and knowledge as an instructor of the Toastmasters Youth Program at the Kerrisdale Community

Growing up singing and playing musical instruments, Abigail LaForest would later discover that music is not just for self-expression but also for bringing people together and supporting well-being. A recipient of the George Stroumboulopoulos Scholarship for their advocacy work in disability care, LaForest has witnessed firsthand how group music therapy can help with pain management and improve quality of life. Earning a bachelor of music therapy at Capilano University, they were able to combine their passion for music with their desire to make

More than half of Canadian households are now home to a dog or cat. And no wonder – our furry friends bring us much joy, companionship and comfort. But pet ownership also comes with the heartache and sadness that follows their inevitable passing. It was just such a loss that prompted counsellor and art therapist Stephanie Hartfield to launch her own program at the Kerrisdale Community Centre this fall. Ideal for anyone seeking connection, understanding and growth

A love for tennis was sparked early on for brothers Spencer and Marshall Mackoff. First introduced to the sport in public parks as young children by their mother, they began playing more seriously at UBC tennis camps. Eventually becoming coaches themselves, they founded Summer Smash Tennis together in 2012 – and haven’t looked back. Operating year-round today, Summer Smash Tennis teaches some 2,000 students annually through community centres, schools and First Nations. Spencer, drawing from his varsity

Don’t tell Jan Cooper that you can’t sing. “Singing is within all of us. Some people are natural and others need to be trained. If you can speak, you can sing,” says Cooper, a vocal coach with 40 years’ experience. Introducing his vocal training programs to the Kerrisdale Community Centre this year, Cooper brings a variety of musical and theatrical experience to the classroom. He got his break during the production of Godspell at the

As a shy child, Jessica Wampler discovered the power and magic of music. “I found through music I was able to express myself in ways I was too shy to do in my daily life,” says Wampler. “I felt the magic that music can bring, whether singing alone at home or finding the courage to somehow perform in front of a live audience.” Today, the West Side Music Together teacher helps babies and children up to

He has a master’s degree in computer science, and he’s worked as an Apple software engineer and UBC quality assurance team lead. Yet Nikhil Naidu’s career highlight stems from one small but moving moment while he was teaching. As director of Wize Computing Academy (Vancouver, Richmond and Burnaby), Naidu fondly recalls when one of his students created their very first game from scratch. “It was a simple project, but the pride they felt and the excitement they

You could say that Gloria Yu’s skill set strikes a rather complex chord. Indeed, the music teacher and active performer knows how to play at least 10 types of instruments – from the harp, baroque recorder and classic guitar to Chinese string pieces like the guzheng, pipa, erhu and liuqin. But when it comes to introducing children to the art of playing music, it’s the piano and ukulele that are her instruments of choice. “I hope

Faye Hung brings a wealth of experience and accolades to the danceroom floor. Specializing in standard and Latin ballroom dances, she and her former dance partner were not only finalists in top-level dance sport competitions around the world (think World Championships, World Cups, Asia Cups and Grand Slams), they were also the Hong Kong national standard champions for 10 years straight. “Then in 2014 we won the bronze medal at the WDSF World Championship in Italy,” says Hung,

It’s not every gymnastics coach who can say they helped a Canadian athlete make it to the Olympics. For Kerrisdale Community Centre instructor Bing Zhao, one of her career highlights was seeing student Kate Richardson successfully compete in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The then-20-year-old athlete made history by becoming the first Canadian woman to qualify for an Olympic final in women’s gymnastics. “I was so happy to have had a chance to coach Kate Richardson, who had been at the top of the Canadian