Mev’s Introduction

Hello everyone!

Mev here, pronouns she/her! You type out my full name when we chat if you wish: Marie-Ève, both work for me. I am originally from Québec and moved to BC in 2008, where I now live on the unceded lands of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation. This is my 8th MET course and I am hoping to complete the program by the end of the year. I recognize a lot of names here from previous courses, which is exciting. I am looking forward to learning with all of you this semester out of Canvas.

So, what do an active volcano, skiing, and a career in workplace learning have in common?

Me!

My teaching career started in front of the classroom at the High School level. However, I always taught skiing on the side since the age of 15. After my first year in the classroom, I decided to take a year off. I got my working holiday visa and went to teach skiing on an active volcano in New Zealand.

This was a catalyst for me. I realized that I could make a living doing the sport I love, teach outside the walls of a classroom, and develop confidence in others through skiing. As much as I loved New Zealand, it was a little too far from Montréal. This is why I decided to move to Whistler, BC. My world for those 9 years meant overseeing a team of ski instructors, training them, and coaching clients in the winter. In the summer, I did anything and everything from teaching English Language Learners, running a mountain bike camp, to making pizza in a wood-fired pizza food truck.

Fast forward to today, I now manage the ‘Programs & Training’ department at my work. We offer bike and swim lessons to youth around North America. The Programs half means bike & swim curriculum development. The Training half means ensuring that our 2000+ seasonal staff are trained annually online and in-person across 4 provinces and 8 states.

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Why am I here?

I am a fan of ‘out of the box’ learning. Thus far, I have mostly only explored this in-person with my career and by completing MET’s Digital Games & Learning Summer Institute! I am looking forward to the creative aspect of this course and learning more about digital ‘out of the box’ ideas, businesses, etc.

Although it is not a digital company, our owner built where I currently work from the ground up over the last 35 years. She continously impresses me with her entrepreneurial mindset. At this stage, I have no desire to start my own business, but I see this course as opening the door to possibility. May we learn what is possible together!

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