The ASCEND Team
Our vision at ASCEND is to build a community, both on-line and in person, of families and individuals dedicated to promoting a life in Christ through faith, family, and education. Raised in the power of the Holy Spirit’s sacramental presence, we prepare our families to be “lights onto the world” by our example of Love.
ASCEND Online is the only Catholic online school option in British Columbia.

Lynn Hale
Principal

Msgr. Jerry Desmond
Pastor

Dina Fiset-Kinzel
Vice Principal
- Email:vp@ascendonline.ca

Merryn Denholm
Inclusive Education Administrator

Merryn Denholm
Inclusive Education Administrator
- Email:mdenholm@ascendonline.ca

Mary Gallagher
K-9 Academic Advisor and Contact Teacher

Mary Gallagher
K-9 Academic Advisor and Contact Teacher

DeeDee Harder
Office Manager

DeeDee Harder
Office Manager
- Email:admin@ascendonline.ca

Lauraine Wakely
Learning Services Coordinator and Inclusive Education

Lauraine Wakely
Learning Services Coordinator and Inclusive Education
- Email:lwakely@ascendonline.ca

Rebecca DeMonte
Office Support

Rebecca DeMonte
Office Support
- Email:records@ascendonline.ca

Terri Haynal
Support Services Coordinator and Home Support Teacher

Terri Haynal
Support Services Coordinator and Home Support Teacher
- Email:thaynal@ascendonline.ca

Gaylene Woodland
Library Resources


Eben van Renen
Pilgrim’s Quest and Saint’s Quest

Eben van Renen
Pilgrim’s Quest and Saint’s Quest

Lorna Hessels
Home Support Teacher

Lorna Hessels
Home Support Teacher
- Email:lhessels@ascendonline.ca

David Ziebart
Religion Coordinator and High School Teacher

David Ziebart
Religion Coordinator and High School Teacher
- Email:dziebart@ascendonline.ca

Erika Salas
Subscription Coordinator and Inclusive Education Teacher

Erika Salas
Subscription Coordinator and Inclusive Education Teacher
- Email:esalas@ascendonline.ca

Gord Higginson
Home Support and Inclusive Education Teacher

Gord Higginson
Home Support and Inclusive Education Teacher

Marissa Schweitzer
Home Support and High School Teacher

Marissa Schweitzer
Home Support and High School Teacher

Viveca Calvert
Inclusive Education Teacher

Viveca Calvert
Inclusive Education Teacher
- Email:vcalvert@ascendonline.ca

Sebastian Salas
IT Coordinator and High School Teacher


Shelley Steele-Gittel
Inclusive Education Teacher

Shelley Steele-Gittel
Inclusive Education Teacher

Lee Ann Cote
Home Support Teacher

Lee Ann Cote
Home Support Teacher
- Email:lcote@ascendonline.ca

Shailah Gulyas
Inclusive Education Teacher

Shailah Gulyas
Inclusive Education Teacher
- Email:shailah@ascendonline.ca

Natalie van Renen
Inclusive Education Teacher

Natalie van Renen
Inclusive Education Teacher

Mike Filipski
Home Support Teacher and High School Teacher

Mike Filipski
Home Support Teacher and High School Teacher

Melanie Bartusek
Home Support Teacher

Melanie Bartusek
Home Support Teacher

Kristy Smyth
Inclusive Education Teacher


Teresa Bell
Inclusive Education and High School Teacher

Teresa Bell
Inclusive Education and High School Teacher
- Email:tbell@ascendonline.ca

Joshua Schweitzer
Home Support Teacher

Joshua Schweitzer
Home Support Teacher

Barb MacLeod
Inclusive Education Teacher

Barb MacLeod
Inclusive Education Teacher
- Email:bmacleod@ascendonline.ca

Krista Brautigam
Inclusive Education and High School Teacher

Krista Brautigam
Inclusive Education and High School Teacher

Leeanne Williams
Home Support Teacher

Denise Grimard
Home Support Teacher

Denise Grimard
Home Support Teacher
- Email:dgrimard@ascendonline.ca

Esther Cowper
Home Support Teacher

Esther Cowper
Home Support Teacher
- Email:ecowper@ascendonline.ca

Melissa Yang
Home Support Teacher

Melissa Yang
Home Support Teacher
- Email:myang@ascendonline.ca

Tony Howie
High School Teacher

Tony Howie
High School Teacher
- Email:thowie@ascendonline.ca

Claude LaFrance
Home Support Teacher

Claude LaFrance
Home Support Teacher
- Email:clfrance@ascendonline.ca

Allen Haaheim
High School Teacher

Allen Haaheim
High School Teacher
- Email:ahaaheim@ascendonline.ca

Lidia Wasylinko
K-9 Home Support Teacher

Lidia Wasylinko
K-9 Home Support Teacher