My wife Rebecca and I live in Squamish after having lived in Saskatchewan for most of the last decade and we homeschool our four kids - with two girls and two boys we figure we have a TWO million dollar mily! Dania is in grade 7 and loves writing and just generally being creative in her approach to almost everything; Jonas is 9 years old and loves soccer, video games and math; Emma is in grade 2 and has the enthusiasm and determination of ten men in whatever happens to interest her; and Christoph is 4 years old and loves sports (when he first learned to talk he thought the word for goalie was Luongo) and his Cajon yes, thats what he chose for his birthday this year despite our best attempts at redirection. Oh, and both Dania and Joe can already beat me up the Grouse Grind by a good 10 minutes, although the question remains if that reflects well on them or badly on me! Have a great year!
Pat Mackesy - Assistant Director of Data ManagementI LOVE being an online and individualized support teacher at HCOS! Since joining this Virtual Family, I have met and worked with the most wonderful milies and staff. I am very grateful for the opportunities to challenge my grade 5, 6 and 7 onlineHeritage Christian Online School students as well my individualized milies to venture further in thinking more deeply into their world view as we awaken to the mystery and romance of knowing God and seeking Him in every aspect of our lives.
Gordon Robideau - Director of BC Online School I am thrilled to be part of the ministry and vision of Heritage Christian Online School. Currently I administrate the BC Online School division of cross-enrolled students and the Advanced Placement program. It has been truly inspiring for me to be part of a community of ministry minded professionals whose heart is to disciple and educate children in all areas around the world where God opens the door for us. The transformative nature of the biblical worldview we live is evident in the teachers, the students and the staff of HCOS. It is a joy to serve with an inspiring group of people.
Greg and Christines daughter, The law online Christabelle, is pursuing an education and career in medicine following her completion of one year in MTI. She also received the BC Provincial Scholarship, graduating from HCS and was on the Deans list in her first year of university. Josiah also graduated from HCS and is currently serving on the mission field in Puerto Escondido, Mexico. On his return he hopes to receive training in music and childrens ministry at Hillsong, Australia, and someday become a firefighter. Kenny, their youngest, will graduate also from Heritage and plans to go for an engineering degree after a year in Bible School. All four of their children are actively involved in the youth, childrens and music ministries of Kelowna Christian Center.
His weekly Castanet column, Oh! Canada! reflects his love for the Canadian people and for this nation. In it he creatively addresses issues of common concern. You will find his heart for searching out clarity on moral, social, political and spiritual issues, refreshing.
If it is ever necessary to meet ce to ce with our Administrators (get sent to the principals office) their offices are located in the Kelowna Christian Center Society building located at 905 Badke Rd. Map to the HCOS Offices
Sue Savard - Guidance CounsellorWhat a blessing it is to me to be part of this amazing staff! Though I was born and raised in the Okanagan, I currently live in Vancouver, BC with my husband, Mike. We have three grown daughters; two of them, Lauren and Chantelle, are attending Trinity Western University and our eldest, Alyssa, has finished her schooling and she and Nick are currently focused on raising our beautiful granddaughters, Naya and Kali. I bring a passion to empower others to lead a life that honours God and thoroughly enjoy working with the Grad Program students and parents that are part of our school community.
David started his post-secondary education at Okanagan College, Kelowna, BC, spent three years at Summit Pacific College, Abbottsford, BC, and then, completed a double major B.A. in Religion and Political Science at Vanguard University, Southern California. A few years ago he was honoured by Dr. C. Peter Wagner, through Wagner Leadership Institute, with a Doctorate in Practical Ministry.
Jeffrey Laird - Assistant Director of Thompson Okanagan I grew up in the Interior and my wife Aleece and I live in Kamloops. We have two awesome boys, Maclean and Calum, that I get to stay home with and teach. I have been at HCOS from its start and it has been a scinating and ever changing journey. I have two roles at Heritage, one as support teacher and the other as an assistant administrator for the Thompson/Okanagan. Our own homeschooling adventure has been enjoyable and challenging and I wouldnt trade it for anything. It has been, and will continue to be, a blessing to be able to work with the parents, students, and staff that make up our school.
Ted Gerk - Director of Operations Ted is HCOSs Director of Operations, overseeing the day-to-day function of our office. He is the ther of 11 children, has 3 grandchildren, and has been married to Marina for 30 years. Ted came to HCOS after 18 years in pro-life/pro-mily ministry, serving in a variety of positions in local, provincial, national and international organizations. He is the former executive director of Kelowna Right to Life, a past president of the Pro-Life Society of British Columbia, and the past director of Life InterNET, an organization creating web-based educational materials dealing with bioethical topics.
I grew up in the Peace country of Northern Alberta and took my post secondary education at the Peace River Bible Institute, Augustana University College, and the University of Alberta. My graduate degree was also finished at the University of Alberta. My wife Joanne and I have been married since 1989. Joanne is a teacher on the campus of Heritage Christian School, and we are blessed to have our two wonderful children educated at Heritage. As parents we love to see our children thrive in the home, church and educational environment they are in.
By the way, if you want to read a phenomenal book, check out Oryus by Craig Gordon (my vourite author) at
On the front row of my church in 1983 while attending Bible college the Lord very clearly to my heart and said, I want you to work with the children. Ever since then my wife and I have poured our hearts and lives into ministering to and discipling children, youth and young adults. Jesus has mandated us to go and make disciples of all the nations. We responded to this command by educating and training children to become agents of kingdom transformation. From early on in our work with children we began to see the pervasive influence of a secular education in their lives. Families would bring their children to us on Sunday for one hour of mentorship and take them to explicitly secular mentors for 30 hours a week. Is it no wonder why many of our children forsake a kingdom approach to life when they get older and leave the nest? Thus we began to involve ourselves with Christian education flowing from the two primary educational institutes; the home and the church-run school.
We are looking for educational leaders who are specifically equipped to work in an online environment. If you are interested or know someone who might be interested in working with us in an administrative capacity please contact our Superintendent . We would ask that anyone interested in serving in such a role first spend quality time reviewing our school philosophy, policies and procedures throughout the website and make sure to consider all the requirements listed at: Teachers Wanted before contacting Greg Bitgood.
Both he and Carleen have had a burden for Christian education. They were the founders of Heritage Christian School, which has grown into a number of very successful online school expressions. Carleen continues her work in education as a manager with ICOS. Establishing the Global Training Ministry Center, a one year post-secondary discipleship school, was a critically important part of their heart for post-secondary discipleship. They also owned and operated Trend Business College for 12 years, with campuses in Kelowna and Edmonton, Insurance News until their closing in 2006.
David and his mily are passionate to see people become all that God has called them to be and to help them discover and fulfill the purpose for which they were created. He has authored a book, Life Purpose that has sold broadly throughout Canada, and is now being printed internationally.
Claire Pollok - Assistant Director of Island, North, and Online Subscriptions I am richly blessed to serve within a community of believers, striving through Gods grace, to raise up a new generation of Christian disciples. I believe parents are given the awe-inspiring privilege to share their life in Christ with their children. Parents are ultimately commissioned and gifted to train up their children in the way they should go. My vision is for each child to discover and develop his or her gifts in service and relation to Christ. After eleven years of homeschooling my children and six years of supporting homeschool milies and teachers I am a firm believer that ones purpose and calling in Christ brings true peace, happiness,Education Information. and fulfillment.
Mark DaleyHi everyone. Im delighted to be partnering with you in your learning endeavours this year, and I am especially honoured to be collaborating with you in a truth-inquiring community whose aim is to unleash a wonder that will transform young persons from within ... from where we have the privilege of calling forth the fullness of each learner while directing them toward the fullness of hope for which they were made our two ends, if you will. As well as enjoying this shared passion with you, I spend a good deal of time in university circles working with curriculum, doing occasional lobbying, instructing as a sessional lecturer and completing my own research in areas that, by and large, intersect educational theory and practice with a vigorous spiritual liberation.
David Kalamen - Spiritual Director Dr. David Kalamen is founder and senior pastor of Kelowna Christian Center (KCC). Married to Carleen for 38 years, they and their mily, all living and working in Kelowna, have been ministering to the people of this region for close to 30 years. David is a pastors son, born in New Brunswick, and raised in the diverse culture of four of Canadas great provinces New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and now, British Columbia. He has been blessed to see three generations of ministers flowing together, as he has served alongside both his ther and his son.
Eric Vanee - Leader of Online Curriculum and Writing Committee I was born in New Westminster, British Columbia and raised in Richmond, BC where I attended public school until my graduation. After graduation, I attended the Bethany Bible Institute in Hepburn, Saskatchewan for three years and then attended SFU and UBC where I completed my undergraduate and graduate degrees. Patsy and I have been married since 1992 and we have three girls, Courtney (b. 1997), Lauren (b. 1999), and Grace (b. 2000). We are presently living in Burnaby, BC.
His hobbies include hiking, reading and anything to do with Russian history.
Craig Kwiatkowski - Assistant Director of Data ManagementIts a dark and stormy night. Late May, 1980. Denver, Colorado. An eerie silence fills the halls of the hospital long after the screams subside. A phone receiver lays abandoned on the counter, the only remaining evidence of the nurses who fled in a panic. A doctor stumbles out of the delivery room, eyes wide, mouth moving but no sound coming from it. He does not notice as his clipboard drops from his outstretched hand, missing the counter and clattering to the tile floor. He barely flinches, stumbling toward the exit and beyond. A low moan emits from behind the delivery room door, a strange mixture of exhaustion, terrorand love.
Steve Codling - Assistant Director of the Lower Mainland I have been blessed to be part of HCOS for a number of years now and Im very thankful to be working for such a great school with such a great assortment of people. This is really the best example Ive ever experienced in my Christian walk of a group of believers using such a wide diversity of talents, giftings, perspectives and backgrounds for the encouragement and growth of one another. I also feel very blessed because I get to work in a number of different sections of the school, as a K-9 Support Teacher, as the GradProgram Music Support Teacher, and helping out with administration in the Lower Mainland. It keeps me busy, but its really cool to see the different components of our school working together for our milies and students to the glory of our Saviour!
Greg Bitgood - Superintendent Pastor Greg Bitgood has been a director of Heritage Christian School since 1987 and our Superintendent since 1996. As Pastor of Christian Education in the Kelowna Christian Center Society (the governing board authority of all of our educational programs) he oversees:
Fortunately I was born in Prince George that night, cause that would have been weird. I am a proud graduate of Heritage Christian School (Class of 97) and I have worked at HCOS as the Data Manager since the end of 2007. I have been married to my amazing wife Lora since 2001 and we have two kids, Adam and Ryelle. Apparently Im somewhat unusual since I am a worship leader and author but I also thoroughly enjoy a good spreadsheet. I love to golf, read, write, sing, play bass guitar and partake in any discussion that involves the pursuit of the Truth and the incredible majesty and plan of God.
The Lord led me to the Heritage Christian Online School in the summer of 2005. My first job with HCOS was teaching Social Studies 11 (Online). I have been a full time individualized/online contract teacher for our diverse, exciting educational community since the 2007/2008 school year. My vourite online course is Comparative Civilizations 12. My vourite hockey team is the Vancouver Canucks. My vourite book is the Lord of the Rings.
Pastor Greg has lived in Kelowna, BC, Canada since 1986. His wife, Christine, is the childrens Pastor at Kelowna Christian Center and director of Heritage Christian Preschool. Their oldest son, Richard has completed his Bachelor of Science from the University of British Columbia and is now teaching in both the campus and online schools. He graduated from Heritage Christian School as a recipient of the BC Provincial Scholarship. He is also a graduate of the one year Discipleship program at the Ministry Training Institute. In 2006, Richard married Chelsea who has also received her Bachelor of Science from UBC-O and is also pursuing a teaching career. They are expecting their first child this ll.
John Davies - Director of Special Education Learning outside the box was part of my upbringing as I was born and raised in India. I travelled around the world a lot at a time when globalization wasnt a common term. I settled in Vancouver for university and taught for about 25 years for Vancouver School Board. During this time I met my wife Alison and we got married in England. We spent some time in Wales when our kids were younger as I did my Masters in librarianship. We have two boys, now grown, and we discovered Heritage several years back through our move to Sayward to homeschool them. Currently I am the Director for Special Education and have been privileged to be a part of the growing team. We have become a driving force in BC to provide very unique learning opportunities to kids who can blossom when provided with a nurturing and customized program in their home.
Janet Rainbow - Director of Individualized Education K to 12 I was born in Saskatchewan and started my teaching career there. I married my husband John in 1972 and moved to BC. I have a wide range of teaching experience doing everything from playschool to grade 10 in both the public schools and Christian Schools. The best experience of all was homeschooling my own 2 children for several years. When I felt the Lord leading me to put my children in school I asked the Lord to help me always be willing to encourage homeschool parents in their journey. The Lord has answered that prayer as I have worked encouraging homeschooling parents for nearly 20 years. As the Director of Individualized Education for HCOS I continue to seek Gods guidance in how to encourage parents, and teachers in both the DL or registered program. During my free time I enjoy playing with my grandchildren, managing the our golf course and skiing or going on tropical holidays with my husband.
Christian Education is my passion. My formal teaching career began in 1992 and I taught in bricks and mortar Christian Schools for just over 15 school years. It has been a challenge and a privilege to create Christian curricula for a wide variety of subjects and grade levels. The Lord has blessed me with a irly lengthy teaching career which has been highlighted by a wide variety of academic, athletic, and administrative educational experiences. I am especially thankful for the students and colleagues the Lord has brought into my life and how they have shaped my development as a person.
David carries a deep attachment to Kelowna and region, cares deeply about the souls of its citizens and the state of the city. He served as President of the Ministerial, hosted numerous City Transformation conferences, and developed the Houses of Mercy program to help build intelligent and compassionate community.
