Get to Know the Instructors – Made in Manitoba 2017
Amy Barca
B. Kin, CEP
Completed her Bachelor of Kinesiology in 2015, CSEP Certified Exercise Physiologist (CEP) certification in 2016, and is currently working towards attaining her NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification. She strives to be a well-rounded athlete and is not afraid to work hard for improvement in both team and individual activities. Amy has always been involved in and enjoys team sports and strongly believes in being a team player on and off the field.
Blake Wood
B.Kin, CEP, CSCS, FMSC
Has let his passion for fitness and health lead him to create one of Winnipeg’s most successful strength and conditioning facilities developed on the foundation of the highest levels of education. Blake is currently the chair of the University of Manitoba Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management Academic Advisory Board. He believes that exercise is medicine and is working hard to promote professionals in the field of Kinesiology as front end fighters in the war on chronic disease.
Brent Lohmer
BSc, CSCS, CPT
Is the owner of Fitness Revolutions in St. Boniface. He has spent the last 5 years working with youth 16-18, the last 8 years coaching adults in general fitness and the last ten years coaching special Olympics. As a result, he was the Provincial Coach for Special Olympics Powerlifting, and a 2015 SO North American Coach of the Year Nominee. Brent lives in Winnipeg with his fiancée Meaghan and dogs Zoey and Zac.
Buffy Handel
Is a successful award-winning entrepreneur, artist, choreographer, designer, athlete, educator, author and speaker whose vision is strong in purpose. She is the founder of the Aboriginal School of Dance and has been recognized for her unique approach to the arts and culture. She has mentored thousands of people throughout the years based on the theory of applying Native American traditions to mainstream mannerisms.
Chantal Givens
Has thrived on challenges since childhood, and finds the determination to persevere through obstacles. She participated in a variety of sports as a child, settling on springboard diving in her early teens. Nearing the end of a 10-year national level diving career, Givens had the opportunity to volunteer at the 2001 Triathlon World Championships in Edmonton, handing out water bottles at the finish line. Seeing the expressions on the faces of the finishers motivated her to attempt the sport.
Cheryl Taylor-Kashton
MFC Certified Fitness Leader
As an MFC leader for over 20 years, Cheryl draws experience from leading hi/lo, step, cycling, sports conditioning, balance training, TRX, ViPR, stretch fusion and Stott Pilates classes. Holding a Masters degree in Molecular Biology, Cheryl’s understanding of the body and how it functions translates into her unique design of class programs. An avid runner and weightlifter, she enjoys the benefits of healthy living and is passionate about helping others achieve their fitness goals and dreams.
Christine van Der Hoek
CSEP-CPT
As Christine gets older, her interest in Seniors’ fitness has become her passion. A fitness instructor, a personal trainer, owner of The Training Zone and Manager of adult fitness programs for the Wellness Institute, she has 19 years experience working with a variety of older adults. She was thrilled to be Manitoba’s Fitness Instructor of the Year for 2005 and enjoys mentoring leaders as a Trainer and Evaluator. An outdoor enthusiast and three-time Ironman finisher, Christine looks forward to sharing ideas.
Glen Bergeron
PhD CAT(C)
Glen is Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Health at The University of Winnipeg. He certified with the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA) in 1975. He has been a member of the Canadian Medical Team for five Olympic Games and many other international games and world championships. Glen was a founding member of the Manitoba Athletic Therapists Association and the Sport Medicine Council of Manitoba. He is currently the Vice president of the World Federation of Athletic Training and Therapy.
Jaime Angus
BMR (PT)
Graduated from the University of Manitoba in 2000 with a Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation in Physiotherapy. She has completed course work in the management of incontinence, pelvic pain disorders, pelvic organ prolapse, prenatal and postpartum health and fitness as well as post-mastectomy care. She has also undergone extensive training in the areas of myofascial release, visceral manipulation and acupuncture. She is also a Pilates instructor working with individuals with injuries as well as the healthy population.
Janine Ennis
M.S., S-LP, CCC
Has 18 years of experience at Health Sciences Centre in the areas of adult voice, head and neck cancer, and swallowing. For the past 9 years, she has focused solely on outpatient voice and swallowing.
Janine is a member of the American Speech and Hearing Association, and is registered with the College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists of Manitoba.
Kim Szajkowski
BMR (PT)
Graduated from the University of Manitoba in 2002 with a Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation in Physiotherapy. Her post graduate training includes a variety of soft tissue and joint mobilization courses, including an advanced course in the assessment and treatment of the TMJ (jaw). She has completed her acupuncture training, Stott Pilates Mat training , pelvic floor therapist training and a therapeutic yoga instructor training.
Patrick Furkalo
MFC Certified Leader
Has been a certified fitness leader since 1996. He is currently certified with the Manitoba Fitness Council to teach Group Fitness and Resistance Training. Patrick enjoys teaching group fitness classes anywhere, however, he enjoys it most in the rural communities. Growing up in a small town in Northern Manitoba (Snow Lake), he realized after he left, the rural communities are deprived of many things the larger centers offer.
Sue Boreskie
CEP
Has held a variety of health, fitness, and sport-related positions throughout her career. Currently, she is the CEO of the Manitoba Cardiac Institute (Reh-Fit) Inc. – a leading Canadian medical fitness centre that helps improve the quality of life for those recovering from a heart attack, and those at high risk for one, through supervised cardiac rehabilitation programs.
Rebecca Atkinson
PT
Is a physiotherapist with a scope of practice including orthopaedics, neurology and long term care. She uses T’ai Chi in her treatment regimes and teaches classes out of the Reh-Fit Centre and her home-based business, Envolve Physiotherapy. She’s a regular speaker for the Osteoporosis Society and is on the board of the Stroke Recovery Association of Manitoba. Rebecca is devoted to helping people help themselves to live a quality life.
Tia Levine
BPE. BKin
Tia is a physical education teacher with both a kinesiology and Physical Education degree. “I also have my certification through Manitoba fitness council to teach resistance training and pre-and post natal fitness classes”. I currently work as a substitute physical education teacher, a recreation program planner for the City of Winnipeg and teach fitness classes including combat cardio hip hop for 2 different locations.