Mentorship Program
Dylan Myers Manager, Recreation Operations+
I graduated from the BRM in 2020 and have always been passionate about recreation. I am fortunate to have a great mentor in Steve Kellock who was a graduate of the Bachelor of Recreation Management and empowered me to take the program in 2017. The online format allowed me to complete my degree while working full-time and still be able to fulfill my volunteer commitments.
My fondest memory of Langara was the faculty and how they treated me and my classmates. Since I joined the program in 2017, I had lost my grandmother and had both my parents diagnosed with cancer. The Recreation Studies Department at Langara was extremely empathetic and supported me through one of the most difficult times of my life. I could not have achieved my professional and academic goals, without their leadership throughout my time at Langara.
I am currently the Manager of Recreation Operations with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation. I am also actively involved in my community, as I volunteer for St John Ambulance, Honour House Society and Emergency Support Services.
I am currently completing a Diploma in Local Government Management and I am exploring Master programs in leadership and/or public administration disciplines. I strongly feel Langara has given me the skills to succeed in the next level of my academic endeavors.
Professionally, I have always loved the dynamics of the public sector and with my education and experience, I hope to one day be a Director of Parks & Recreation. I feel this would give me a platform to empower leaders in the parks and recreation sector, as well as provide high-quality service to the community.
I have a strong passion for mentorship and have recently started a non-profit called Evolve You that focuses on personal development in health and wellness. I hope to use my experience and education from Langara to empower the next generation of leaders, as well as provide support and education for a variety of demographics.
Contact: Dylan.myers@vancouver.ca
Heather Nivison Program Manager+
I am a 2014 BRM graduate! Prior to deciding to further my career in recreation, I completed a Human Kinetics Diploma and worked for 8 years in the fitness industry as a fitness coordinator, instructor, and personal trainer.I found the BRM program extremely flexible, and well-rounded. I highly recommend the BRM to those seeking supervisory and management positions in the recreation field.
After completing the BRM I was able to quickly move into a sports management position at the Vancouver Lawn Tennis & Badminton Club-one of Vancouver’s oldest and most prestigious private racquets/social clubs. Now, as the Athletics Director, I oversee all sports, fitness, and aquatics programs, manage the online booking system, work on special events and tournaments and oversee Sport Shop and summer camp operations. The education and skills I received in the BRM Program were extremely valuable and really set me up for success in all aspects of recreation management. Please feel free to contact me if you would like insight or support from a BRM graduate.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like insight or support from a BRM graduate.
Contact: hnivison@vanlawn.com
Jeremy Quan Recreation Programmer+
I graduated from Langara’s Bachelor of Recreation Management in 2012 and Recreation Leadership in 2010 – taking these programs was the best decision for my career in the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation. Like many young and eager recreation workers in the Vancouver Parks Board, I started off as a Youth Leader; coincidently, it was the same week I entered the Recreation Leadership program. It was an amazing opportunity to apply school learnings to the workplace, and take applicable examples from the workplace to school; as the teaching modules got more complex, my ability to take on more tasks and roles quickly followed. With my graduation into the Recreation Management program, because of its online design, I was able to spend more time at the community centre, honing the skills and experiences that are essential to excel in the organization. In addition, I enjoyed the online discussions with other like-minded students which allowed me to open my mind to new ideas and best practices. At the same time, though, I enjoyed a classroom setting and was able to have the option of taking some of my courses on campus. I appreciated the flexibility of the program, and easily graduated within two years while maintaining a healthy and balanced work life, social life and sports schedule.
Currently, I am one of the Recreation Programmer IIs at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre, and I could not have done it without my education at Langara. Recreation professionals trust and seek those from the program – I have had the pleasure of working not only at the Roundhouse Community Centre, but also Douglas Park, Hillcrest, Coal Harbour, Kitsilano, Champlain Heights, Strathcona and Trout Lake Community Centres.
On my spare time, I embody recreation and leisure. I am an avid outdoorsman (hunting and fishing), I play ultimate, ride my bicycle, dabble in photography, play the cello, and most importantly, I’m slowly trying to travel to every continent. I believe that being a well-rounded individual, when it comes to investing in myself, transfers positive energy to my working life.
If you have any questions, please feel free to shoot me an email. I am always open to chat, and want nothing but success for those who take on the challenge of Recreation Management at Langara!
Contact: Jeremy.Quan@vancouver.ca
Jaimie Brown Facility and Program Supervisor+
I graduated from the Bachelor of Recreation Management program at Langara in 2012 and was the recipient of the Graduate Excellence Award.
Since 1998, I have had the pleasure of working for the North Vancouver Recreation and Culture Commission (NVRC) where I get to make a difference in the community I live in, every day. Having worked in a wide variety of roles and facilities for NVRC I enjoy working closely with community members of all ages and backgrounds to develop and implement programs and services that reflect the diverse needs and interests of the community.
I currently work as the Facility and Program Supervisor at Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre in North Vancouver, where I recently hosted an Internship student from the Recreation Leadership Diploma program.
I am a passionate supporter of the recreation field and look forward to connecting with, and continuing to learn from current and future students in the BRM.
If you have any questions about the BRM or working in the Recreation field, please feel free to contact me!
Contact: BrownJ@nvrc.ca
Matt Bains Recreation Professional+
As an alumnus of both the diploma and the degree programs, thanks to Langara’s Recreation Department, a high level of self-confidence was unlocked deep within me that I never knew I had. All of the instructors, class sizes, experiential learning, flexibility, and sense of community played massive roles in my personal and professional development.
Professionally, this led to me working several jobs in both municipal and non-profit recreation. I have taken great pride in being an instructor, youth worker, coordinator, recreation leader, support worker, and more for the Cities of Richmond, New Westminster, and Vancouver, as well as Canucks Autism Network. I also found the confidence to teach in both Costa Rica and Thailand, go backpacking by myself, and participate in organized sporting events that pushed me to my limits physically and mentally (Whistler Gran Fondo and the Ride to Conquer Cancer).
To me, recreation is about pursuing one’s passions to live a higher quality of life. While I do this personally with my recreation (cycling, Muay Thai, and boxing to name a few), professionally, I decided to go back to school to become a teacher. If not for the roads I took in my recreation career, I would not be where I am today as an elementary school teacher in my hometown, taking great pride in being a caring adult and champion for my students. Furthermore, I now find myself embarking on my next adventure as I pack up my life here in the Vancouver area and move to Montreal to continue pursuing my passions in life.
I am incredibly grateful for my time spent in Langara’s recreation diploma and degree programs. This has led to me giving back to the department in many roles since 2014. If you are reading this, please do feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns about either of the programs. Whatever you choose to do, I will do my best to support you!
Contact: matthewbains92@gmail.com
Nick Bonnett BRM Graduate+
I live in Kelowna, BC with my wife and four children and I have worked for the City of Kelowna’s Active Living and Culture Division for 13 years. During this time, I have served my community in roles related to recreational facility rentals, direct community programming, program marketing and advertising via digital, print, and social media streams, event and festival coordination, and social/community development.
Growing up, my recreational pursuits were in the form of different team and individual sports. I participated in high performance competition in soccer and athletics while also playing basketball, volleyball, rugby, and football. As an adult, I have remained active playing community level soccer while also competing and training for obstacle course races of varying distances.
I am also passionate about music and performing arts and have played the bass guitar for almost 20 years in various settings throughout the Okanagan.
While working full-time and raising my family with my wife, I was fortunate enough to enroll in the Bachelor of Recreation Management at Langara college and graduated from the program in Spring, 2021. I highly recommend the program for the high quality instruction and diversity of learning opportunities it offers. The online environment and engagement from instructors and fellow-students offer a flexible advantage for any person looking to expand their knowledge and professional potential.
Contact:
250-863-0635
