Mr. Veeken
All About me...
CooperWe welcomed Cooper into our lives in 2017 and have never looked back. Cooper is a bundle of energy one second then a snoozy doggo the next. He loves swimming, hiking, and chasing balls. Since Cooper joined us, he has forced us to get out and explore the beautiful outdoors - rain or shine, 365 days of the year. I have a new appreciation and love of the forest, all thanks to Cooper!
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This website is constantly improving, expanding, and changing as it reflects, highlights, and grows alongside my personal and professional journey. My Better Half...Meet my partner Patrick. He is the rock that keeps me grounded.
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Where I studied...
I attended high school at Duchess Park Secondary in Prince George, BC.
-All roads lead to PG! |
After high school, I attended CNC for 2 years where I studied Human Kinetics and played volleyball as a Kodiak in the PacWest.
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I completed my Bachelors of Arts degree in Sport, Health, and Physical Education at VIU in Nanaimo. I completed my college eligibility playing volleyball as a Mariner.
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While taking 1 year off after graduating to move to Vancouver, I completed my Bachelors of Education in 2015 from UBC.
I completed my Diploma in Education, specializing in Home Economics in 2021. |
Where I have worked...
Hired in 2015, I started my teaching career in Chilliwack. Commuting from Downtown Vancouver put a strain on my career - but I was determined to make it work. I TTOCed for most of the year and accepted a part time position at AD Rundle Middle School.
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I finished off the 2015/2016 school year TTOCing in Burnaby. In October, 2016, I accepted a temporary full-time position at Burnaby South Secondary for the 2016/2017 school year. I returned TTOCing the following year. To finish off the 2018 and 2020 school years I accepted positions at Burnaby Mountain Secondary and Burnaby Central Secondary respectively. In 2022, I accepted a permanent position at Burnaby Central Secondary, teaching PHE and Home EC.
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In 2017, I was hired to teach in the Tri-Cities. During the 2018/2019 school year I accepted a temporary, part-time position at Heritage Woods Secondary. COVID limited the available teaching positions; I have been TTOCing since.
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In My Spare Time...
Hiking
Every weekend I try to get out into the great outdoors. I am lucky enough to live in beautiful Port Moody where, within minutes, I can be climbing a mountain or hiking a lake. Being among the beautiful lakes, forests, and mountains always puts me in a positive mood. The Japanese have a term "Shinrin-yoku" which I interpret as the positive energy the forest gives you. Bowling
I started bowling in 2007 at Fifth Avenue Bowling in PG. I was working with a friend - Kelsey, whom taught me everything I know. I joined my first league in Nanaimo at Brechin Lanes. Currently, I am bowling at PoCo Bowl with their Co-Ed Wednesday evening league. My goal is a perfect game (obviously); however, my top score is 347.
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Volleyball
Volleyball quickly became my passion at and early age. I started lacing up my shoes in elementary school and continued through high school and post secondary.
I was dressed in black and gold as a Duchess Park Condor in high school. Traveling most weekends to Vancouver, Kelowna, or Edmonton for quality competition was exhausting. But that did not stop after high school. As a Kodiak at CNC, our closest rival, UVF in Abbotsford, was a 10 hour bus ride away. After two years, I transferred to VIU in Nanaimo and became a Mariner. Bussing long distances no longer was a concern, but 2 sailing waits were. I have been privileged to play volleyball for almost 20 years and, for that, I am eager to give back to the sport I love. I started coaching when I was in high school and have not stopped since. I have been lucky to work with many talented athletes, teams, and programs across the province, including taking Burnaby Central Senior Boys to their first Provincial appearance in over 25 years - and placing 11th. The 2022 club season has a new adventure for me as part of the Ducks coaching staff - coaching 16U boys. Pottery
For a few years now I have been getting dirty with clay. Thanks to Marlene Bowman, I have found another passion in pottery. It is fascinating how molding a mug, bowl, or vase out of a lump of clay can give you such a rewarding feeling. I am just beginning to scratch the surface of the vast world that is pottery and ceramics. Check out some of my work on IG @veeksstudio. |
"Think and wonder, wonder and think"
-Dr. Seuss |