Barb wants to live in a world filled with inclusive education, access to essential services, books that come bundled with mint chocolate bar, and a killer cup of coffee along with the ability to eat plain rippled chips and dip that have zero calories. Barb completed her Bachelor Degree in Education in 1989 and went on to be an Award-Winning Educator. As an educator, she’s taught children from K-6 and junior high, and she was also a former administrator. Barb has also tutored children, taught Sunday school, and night school for adults requiring English as a second language. 

In her career as a teacher Barb won the “Who Makes School Cool Award” in June 2000. She was also awarded the Alberta Teacher Excellence Award in 2004 with Provincial Recognition. Barb was a guest panelist on the “Let’s Talk Show” for the Women in the North Conference held in April 2016 in Peace River and again in Fairview in 2022. 

When Barb is not taking online courses and researching Down syndrome information she is also busy assisting her husband run their three restaurants and an office complex. Barb has tremendous skills in HR and office management. More recently, Barb became a Board of Director for the Tim Hortons Children's Foundation. A position in which she takes extreme pride and is looking forward to working with such an amazing foundation.

 

Barb was director of a professional tutoring franchise "Scholars Education Centre" in Peace River on February 2018 to December 2021.

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Barb loves cutting-edge techniques and programs that strengthen brain function. In the past she was heavily involved in the SOI (Structure of Intellect program) and more recently has become certified as an SOI Practitioner and an IPP (Integrated Program Protocol) Specialist as well as a TLP (The Listening Program) Provider – a music listening program, personalized to improve brain fitness at any age, level, or ability. TLP involves listening to acoustically-modified instrumental music through high-quality headphones with bone conduction allow a multi-sensory audio system to reduce stress, improve focus, self-regulation, learning, memory, and more. All of these programs, Barb has introduced into her Education Centre! 

As a couple they strive to be an employer of choice and are Award-Winning Business Owners – They received the President’s Award of Excellence (local Chamber of Commerce) in October of 2012. 

Barb and her husband Gordon won the Premier’s Council Award for Employment Excellence with Provincial Recognition. They have demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership in making positive changes that create inclusive, barrier-free communities where persons with disabilities can fully participate. 

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Barb and Gord also won the DMI Henry Fuller Davis Award of Selflessness.

 

"Your selfless dedication to all above self in times where selfishness is celebrated and rewarded is commendable. We are honoured to be able to provide the recognition you so justly deserve. Lives well lead."

                                         Amber Armstrong

 

Barb’s future plans are to write a book, obtain her Master’s degree, and learn how to take naps.