At Collingwood, we are very proud to have 43 employees currently who have been with us for 20 years or longer! In BC, the average number of years someone stays with the same employer was just below 8 years in 2022 - but at Collingwood, longevity is a differentiator. 

Remarkably, we have seven current employees who have worked with us for 30 years or more, including our Head of School, Lisa Evans. These individuals joined the school during a very different time, before we had two campuses and 1,200 students. They have touched the lives of thousands of young people and uphold our vision of ‘socially responsible students pursuing passions for a better world’ with enthusiasm and heart.

Who are they? Here are some of our longest-serving faculty:

Wendy Nielsen

This is Ms. Nielsen’s 38th year at Collingwood. She joined us in 1987, just a few years after Collingwood’s inception. Beyond teaching grade 2 all these years, Ms. Nielsen has been a coach at the Junior School for over 25 years, and her passion for basketball, volleyball and watching her former students shine on and off the court is commendable. You'll be sure to spot her cheering on the team at the next game! Wentworth students may also be familiar with 'Nielsen's Nest', the outdoor sitting area in the forest named after her. Here’s what she has to say about her time with the School:

“Working here for 38 years I have many fond memories, and new memories are made daily. I love helping my children learn, make meaningful connections and find their passions. Staying connected and watching former students thrive as they progress through life at school and beyond makes me feel very proud. I now have the honour and privilege of teaching children of my former students. It has been a wonderful journey!”

David Speirs

Mr. Speirs has been a big part of our Athletics strand for 35 years. As Collingwood’s Director of Athletics, he’s proud of the 50 (and counting!) BC Provincial Championship banners our athletes have won. He came to Collingwood in 1990 while playing for the Canadian national rugby team - and competed in the 1991 Rugby World Cup. He’s been a major driving force behind the School’s success in rugby over the last three decades, and isn’t planning on giving it up any time soon. Here’s his take:

“People keep asking me when I'm going to retire. What they don't realize is that I love working with my colleagues and still get an adrenaline 'high' from coaching and cheering on our many teams. Until that stops, I'll keep teaching at Collingwood.”

Lisa Evans

Ms. Evans joined Collingwood in 1993 as a young teacher and field hockey coach. Over the last 31 years, she’s ingrained herself in the Collingwood community, taking on the role of Senior School Principal and then Head of School in 2018. Throughout her many years at Collingwood, Ms. Evans has seen plenty of change, but one thing’s stayed the same: her warm and caring spirit.

"As I look back on my 31 years at Collingwood School, it is the relationships with students and colleagues that I remember the most. Whether I was teaching English or PE, coaching a sports team or supporting the Encounter Program, I valued the opportunity to get to know our students on a personal as well as academic level. As Head of School, I now see many of my students enrolling their children at Collingwood and so it feels like a full-circle-of-life moment when three generations - grandparents, parents, and children - are gathered together in our gymnasium for a school event. I feel very blessed to have worked with such talented and dedicated colleagues, and to have seen our School grow and evolve into the wonderful community that it is today!"

Kristin Neilsen

Ms. Nielsen also came to Collingwood in 1993 as a science teacher. She now supports our Senior School students through the Inclusive Education department and ensures no student gets left behind, plus her passion for volleyball has inspired many of our athletes! Her best takeaway from 31 years?

"My fondest memory of Collingwood is the incredible sense of community and the amazing people I've had the privilege of getting to know over the years".

Walentyna Karcz

Ms. Karcz is known by her students as a no-nonsense teacher of economics and physical geography. Since coming to Collingwood in 1994, her love of travel and adventure has permeated into her work – she’s taken student groups on many international trips, like Eastern Europe and South America, and she often takes the classroom out onto the hiking trails. She loves connecting with Collingwood alumni and finding out where their journeys took them after graduation. A moment she remembers fondly: 

“During our last Meet the Teacher night, I saw two of my former students who were going to meet their kids’ grade 9 and 11 teachers!”

Kyran Kennedy

Ms. Kennedy came to Collingwood as a teacher in 1994 and since then she’s left her mark on both our Inclusive Education and PHE departments. She’s also been a coach for at least six different sports, including rugby, volleyball, soccer, and cross country at the Junior and Senior schools.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working at Collingwood over the last 30 years. The school has provided me with a supportive environment to grow as a teacher and I have formed friendships with my colleagues that will last a lifetime.”

The last 40 years would have looked very different without these folks! Thank you to all our faculty and staff for their commitment to the school, no matter how many years they find themselves here.