Vancouver College

The design for governance and management of Vancouver College involves three groups: the Trustees, the Board of Directors of Vancouver College Limited, and the Administration of Vancouver College.

The Trustees
The Trustees of the Vancouver College Trust are in place to ensure that the assets of the trust are used to fulfill the charitable objects of the trust. The Trustees will carry out these responsibilities by approving any changes to the Memorandum and Articles of Vancouver College Limited, reviewing and approving the audited financial statements of the company, and by exercising their authority over the appointment of the Board of Directors.

Vancouver College Trustees 2008 - 2009

The Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of Vancouver College Limited is responsible for providing the policy environment in which Management operates the affairs of the Company. The Board also provides Management with the resources to conduct the business by approving the Budget, including both revenues and expenditures. The Board is also responsible for providing the organization with Management by hiring the Senior Administrator (the Principal) who in turn is accountable to the Board. The Board also engages external auditors who conduct the audit of the financial affairs of the organization.

Members of the Board of Directors 2008 - 2009

The Administration
The Administrators are led by the Principal whose prime responsibility as Chief Education Officer is the overall educational program at Vancouver College. Duties of the Administration team include admissions, supervision and evaluation of academics, extracurricular activities, and long-range planning of academic programs. Other members of the Administration include the Assistant Principals of the Senior, Middle, and Elementary Schools, and the Business Manager.

Principal - John McFarland

“We are confident that John will provide exceptional leadership, stewardship, and service to Vancouver College. John’s educational philosophy is consistent with the Essential Elements of a Christian Brothers Education, which focuses on the development of the whole student – spiritual, academic, cultural, physical, and social.”

Franco Trasolini, Chair VCL

John McFarland served St. Francis High School in Calgary as Principal from 2003 - 2009. St. Francis, a part of the Calgary Catholic School District, is one of the largest senior high schools in Calgary with a strong tradition in athletic excellence. John has over 28 years of teaching and administration experience in the Catholic school system, the last 19 of which have been at a Principal level. John has served as an elementary school Principal for 10 years, with the balance being at the high school level.

John has a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and a Bachelor of Education, both from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. John also has a Master of Arts, Administration and Curriculum from Gonzaga University in Washington State and is in the process of completing his Doctorate in Educational Administration and Supervision from North Carolina State University.John is also an internationally qualified basketball referee and is a former high level athlete himself.

Vancouver College Principals 1922 - Present

Assistant Principal - Mary Joy Derouin
Senior School (Grades 10 - 12)

Mrs. Mary Joy Derouin joins Vancouver College in 2007 as Senior School Assistant Principal. Mrs. Derouin graduated from Montreal’s Concordia University with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and later received her Master of Education in Education Administration and Leadership from the University of British Columbia. She began her teaching career at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in North Vancouver where she served as Senior Mathematics teacher and Department Head. In 1993, she was appointed Principal of Sacred Heart School in Ladner and served in that capacity for eight years. She was appointed Principal of St. John Brebeuf Regional Secondary School in Abbotsford in September of 2000.

Assistant Principal - Michel Deslauriers

Middle School (Grades 7 - 9)

Mr. Michel DesLauriers joined Vancouver College in 1999 as Assistant Principal for the Middle School. In addition, he also serves as co-campus minister. Mr. DesLauriers attended UBC and played for the Thunderbird football team. He graduated with a Bachelor of Recreation-Education in 1981. He spent the next 17 years as a teacher and administrator at a Catholic High School in Burnaby where he taught Religion, Social Studies, Mathematics, and Physical Education. He was also Athletic Director, Religion Department Head, and served as Vice Principal during his last 7 years at that school.

Assistant Principal - Barbara Seppelt

Elementary School (Kindergarten to Grade 6)

Ms. Barbara Seppelt is completing her 20th year in education. She holds a Bachelor of Education with a focus on learning assistance, Physical Education, English and Biology. Ms. Seppelt has been at Vancouver College since 1990 and was appointed Assistant Principal for the Elementary School in 1997. Ms. Seppelt has taught Kindergarten and Grades 1 and 6. She thoroughly enjoys working with the students, teachers, and parents of Vancouver College.

Business Manager - Kelly Lattimer

Ms. Kelly Lattimer joined Vancouver College in December 1993 as the Business Manager. She has the overall responsibility for the establishment of financial, administrative and general business policies, practices and procedures within the College's sphere of operations, and for the on-going implementation of these policies. She is also responsible for the support, the maintenance, and the landscaping staffs.

Kelly graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Urban Land Economics with a minor in Finance. Upon graduation she worked for eight years in commercial real estate managing office buildings and retail and warehouse complexes in Western Canada.