Blyth educators embrace an experiential approach to education, but fun does not come at the expense of academic rigour. Our faculty includes many university professors, and winners of the Premier’s Award, Governor General’s Award and Maclean’s magazine “Teacher of the Year” award. Members of the Blyth faculty have authored the Ontario curricula in History, Philosophy, and Law, as well as many other notable texts. Meet some of our award-winning staff and faculty.

JOHN GELLARD has received national accolades for his teaching, and is constantly requested, year after year, by Blyth students. He loves pushing students to the edge in creative writing projects and exploring the depths of T.S. Eliot, Dylan Thomas, and Shakespeare. John tailors his English course to fit the location. Paris, for example, calls for Hemingway, Zola, and Moliere. He has an MA in Philosophy from the University of Western Ontario, and was named Canada's top teacher by Maclean's magazine in August 2005.

DR. WAYNE SPROULE is a professor at York University’s Faculty of Education. He has a PhD in Philosophy and is the author of several History and Philosophy textbooks currently used in secondary schools. Dr. Sproule has been teaching with Blyth for seven years, and feels that the program has something special to offer that goes beyond the regular classroom experience: “Learning and teaching history and the great philosophical and social ideas in the very places they were created is an extraordinary experience for both students and teachers.”

SOPHIE WILLIAMS graduated from Bournemouth University in the UK with a first-class honours degree in Television Production. Her two short graduation documentaries received critical acclaim on the film festival circuit and were broadcast by the BBC. Sophie’s passion for filmmaking and surf has taken her around the globe, surfing and freelancing in Morocco, Nicaragua, Bali and most recently Hawaii, where she enthusiastically leads our summer program and produces films for Blyth.

FRANCA IANNI is the 2004 winner of the Governor General's Award for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History. She is the author of the History curriculum currently used in Ontario schools, and a firm believer that there is no better place to pursue historical study than where the events actually took place. To this end, Franca continually wows Blyth students with her passion and excitement as she leads them through the histories of the two world wars in locations all across Europe. Franca recently completed an extensive course on Holocaust Education in Jerusalem, and with her participation in an archaeological dig in Israel in 2006, Franca is an example of just how “hands on” history can be.

JAASON GEERTS is the recipient of several awards from the University of Toronto, where he is currently completing his PhD in Leadership, Education, and Theology. In 2007, Jaason was voted the "Greatest Local Hero" in a Toronto-wide, year-and-a-half-long newspaper contest for his role as the Director of a network of Youth Leadership groups involved in community service. Jaason is one of our Program Managers and has led trips to over 20 different countries worldwide.

PAUL FINKELSTEIN is the director of our Culinary Arts program in Italy. Paul was educated at Queen’s University, where he completed both an undergraduate and teaching degree. His culinary training spanned the globe before he returned to Canada and graduated with the top practical cookery award from the renowned Stratford Chef School. Paul currently teaches in Stratford and was awarded the Premier's Award for Teaching Excellence in 2007-2008. He is also the host of the Food Network Show 'Fink' and has a regular
column in Best Health magazine.

CHRIS BLAKE has been a tutor with Blyth for the past two summers, traveling with both our Spain and Italy programs. Chris is entering his final year at Oxford University, where he studies Human Sciences. He is the recipient of the Limestone District School Board Student Achiever’s Award, achieved first-class honours in his preliminary Examinations, and is currently the JCR President for St. Hugh’s College, Oxford University.