Meet Urban Academy's Educators & Staff

Mrs. Brooke attended Simon Fraser University where she completed a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre and History, followed by a Bachelor’s in Education from Brock University. She has always wanted to be a teacher for as long as she can remember, believing that it’s very rare to have a job that allows her to do all her favourite things every day while empowering her students to strive for confidence and courage in everything they do. Outside of school, Mrs. Brooke runs Shadows and Dreams Theatre company, which has performed Shakespeare productions in Queens Park for the last 12 years. Mrs. Brooke hopes to create joyful and critical thinkers who use their knowledge to make the world the best place it can be.

Mr. Wang Cho Peter Chan holds a Master’s in Music Education from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor’s in Cello Performance and Music Education from the University of Cincinnati. Mr. Chan is passionate about fostering creativity and musical excellence in students. A professional cellist, conductor, and skilled luthier, he has performed internationally with various orchestras and community ensembles and enjoys repairing and crafting string instruments. Outside the classroom, he loves windsurfing, playing soccer, and mentoring young musicians. Mr. Chan is thrilled to inspire UA students to explore their musical talents and develop a lifelong appreciation for the arts.

Mr. Craven graduated from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland with a Bachelor of Education in Physical Education. He was born and raised in a beautiful part of the world called County Down in North Ireland. After teaching two years in Edinburgh he taught PE at the Rotterdam International School in the Netherlands for nine years before arriving in Canada in 2016 to continue teaching PE in a school in Vancouver. Mr. Craven loves engaging kids of all abilities and ages in games and activities, and his ultimate goals in Physical Education are to make sure his students have fun, experience a wide range of sports and become lifelong participants in physical activity. His hobbies and passions are unsurprisingly all sport-related. Living in North Van he loves mountain biking and snowboarding but his main activity is Football, or Soccer as they call it here. Mr Craven looks forward to adding his experience to the extracurricular Soccer program and is excited to be part of the Urban Academy team!

Born and raised in France, Mme. Céline holds a Bachelor of Arts in French and Education and a Master’s Degree in French Linguistics and Curriculum Design. She brings 25 years of experience teaching French in a variety of settings, including 15 years in BC independent schools. Mme. Céline has taught all levels of French, from early years through to adult education, and has served as a language coordinator and teacher trainer in Europe and Southeast Asia. In Canada, she has focused her teaching on the Junior School, developing comprehensive programs to support students’ fluency and social-emotional growth across grade levels.

A true language lover, Mme. Céline also speaks Italian and Dutch, and she is currently learning Spanish. She is passionate about creating joyful, inclusive, and engaging classrooms where students feel empowered to take risks, grow in confidence, and cultivate a lifelong love of languages. In her free time, she enjoys travelling, reading, kayaking, and nurturing her interest in the arts and design.

Born and raised in New Westminster, Ms. Stella Georgilas holds a Diploma in Special Education and a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from the University of British Columbia. Ms. Georgilas specializes in differentiated instruction within inclusive education; she is a strong advocate for student-centred learning. She believes school is a place where students grow academically, explore passions, build confidence, develop a lifelong love of learning, and of course, have fun along the way. Outside the classroom, Ms. Georgilas enjoys an active lifestyle that includes running after and chauffeuring her two young children to their respective activities. She also loves playing golf, pickleball, kickboxing, swimming, and travelling.

Mr. MacKay is a passionate, caring and experienced educator. He graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in Human Kinetics and was awarded the Head Of Physical Education award before moving to Europe and becoming a professional athlete. Mr. MacKay spent 10 years living in Germany and travelling the world before returning to Canada to continue his education career. Mr. MacKay has specializations in primary school classroom teaching, sport and physical education for all grades, as well as experience in school administration and curriculum writing. Mr. MacKay wrote and designed an innovative and inclusive sports and physical education curriculum that he presents through his Sport Discovery programs. Mr. MacKay is an avid athlete and musician and enjoys engaging with students and parents in a collaborative learning process. Mr. MacKay’s students will be engaged and challenged while focusing on critical thinking, community and creativity. Mr. MacKay and his family are excited to be a part of the Urban Academy community!

Ms. McEwen earned her Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia in 2011. Since then, she has gained experience teaching in both public and independent schools across the Lower Mainland and London, England. With a lifelong passion for Visual Arts, Ms. McEwen is dedicated to sharing this enthusiasm with her students. In the classroom, she explores a wide range of media and enjoys exploring the works of both historical and contemporary artists. Her goal is to empower students to take artistic risks, solve creative challenges, and develop their unique styles. Outside of teaching, Ms. McEwen enjoys hiking, travelling, baking, and embarking on new creative projects.

Mr. McQuiggan grew up in Niagara, Ontario and obtained his H.B.Sc and Master of Teaching from the University of Toronto. During his education, he conducted independent research on teachers who use technology to promote real-world connections with the curriculum. Beyond teaching, Douglas is a published neuroscience researcher who investigated memory through novel and innovative imaging techniques. He has been a performing musician for over 15 years and is excited to share the same level of enthusiasm he demonstrates on stage with the students of Urban Academy.

Ms. Pederson has been teaching since 2006, primarily as a French Immersion teacher. She holds a Master of Education degree from Simon Fraser University and brings a strong academic background and passion for language learning to her classroom. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in inclusivity and sustainability, aiming to create a welcoming, environmentally conscious learning environment for all students. Outside of school, she enjoys jogging, soccer, skiing, and softball, and loves exploring new places while travelling with her son.

Ms. Twaites graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts in History. She also completed her teacher education program at UBC. Ms. Twaites has worked as a homeroom teacher teaching grades one, two and three for over a decade, with extensive experience and training in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years program. She values inquiry-based approaches to learning and is passionate about encouraging students to apply their learning to take action, connecting with and impacting their local and global communities wherever possible.

Ms. Twaites enjoys spending time with her family, including her husband Mike, and their young son Noah, as well as playing baseball, making jewellery, travelling and reading. She looks forward to supporting and nurturing students in the library this year, in a space where they feel safe, included, and inspired to think critically and creatively.