Rob Brownie (B.C.)
France Carisse (Ontario)
Diana Chalmers (B.C.)
Karen Golas (Alberta)
Anne E. Laws (Ontario)
Nancy Mackenzie (B.C.)
Dena Shah (Alberta)
Riza Weinstein (B.C.)
Laurie Wilson-Forbes (Ontario)
Katie Wilton (B.C.)

Rob Brownie

Rob Brownie has a B.A. in Philosophy and Urban Geography from the University of Victoria and has been working towards a post-graduate diploma in the Humanities at Simon Fraser University. He is currently Head Teacher of the Early Elementary Program at Vancouver Montessori School. Rob obtained his AMI Primary (1990) and Elementary (2002) diplomas at the Montessori Training Centre of BC. Rob has published articles on art and architecture in Vancouver and has been active in local organizations advocating for sustainable transportation and climate change awareness.

France Carisse

France Carisse received her AMI diploma in 1985 at the Toronto Montessori Institute. She has been a member of the Montessori community ever since her diploma and before as she was an assistant at Ottawa Montessori Schools before her training. She worked as a teacher at OMS for three years (1985-1988) before opening her school. She is the owner and founder of the Orleans Montessori Children's House Inc. which opened in 1989. France currently works part-time as the administrator and part-time as the Casa teacher at her school.

Diana Chalmers

Diana Chalmers received her AMI Elementary training from Bergamo, Italy in 1993-1994. She was awarded her Masters in Education and Child Studies from Simon Fraser University in 1999. Since 1981, Diana has been involved with and held many positions at Nanaimo Montessori School on Vancouver Island. Diana began as a parent, became the secretary, then the dance and computer instructor. As her four children moved on, Diana was ready to be an elementary directress. She became the principal in 2003. Diana is currently supporting the opening of a new Montessori school in Qualicum Beach- Ocean Montessori- and holds a view of opening another school in Campbell River.

Karen Golas

Karen achieved her AMI Primary Diploma in 2006 under Nicole Marchak's instruction in Ottawa and graduated with honours from the University of Manitoba's B.Ed program in 1999. For the past seven years Karen has assumed a variety of roles at the Montessori School of Calgary beginning as an assistant to the Primary and finishing with the position of Principal. During that time she has volunteered on the organizing committee for the 2006 National Conference held in Calgary. Karen eagerly awaits the arrival of her twins this fall and looks forward to implementing the Montessori method in her home.

Anne Laws

Anne received her AMI Primary diploma in Toronto in 1984. She graduated from Queen's University with a B.A. and a B.Ed. and went on to receive a M.Ed. from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Anne worked as a Directress and Principal in several Montessori schools. While living in Vancouver she began the Trainer of Trainers' Programme and is now an Auxiliary Trainer for the AMI and a trained AMI Primary Consultant. She is currently teaching full time in the classroom while continuing some occasional work as a Consultant, Lecturer and National Examiner. She was a founding member of the Society and continues in her role as the Editor of the Society Newsletter.

Nancy Mackenzie

Nancy has been active in Montessori education since 1976. Beginning as an administrator in her daughter's Montessori school in Winnipeg, she then completed her AMI Primary Diploma in Toronto. Nancy thoroughly enjoyed her work with 35 children at the Toronto Montessori School. After five years as a classroom directress, she entered the AMI Trainer of Trainers Programme in toronto and completed the final year in San Diego. She went on to open her own school in California which she operated for five years. Nancy returned to Canada two years ago and has made Vancouver her home. She enjoys working directly with the children and is the Directress of a Primary class with Vancouver Montessori School.

Dena Shah

Dena holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education Studies from the University of Calgary (1983). She received her AMI Primary Diploma in 2006 from the Montessori Training Centre of British Columbia. She is currently a Directress at the Montessori School of Calgary (MSOC) where she has been working since 2004. She is the mother of a nine year old girl who has attended MSOC since Primary and is now enrolled in third year elementary.

Riza Weinstein

Riza has been a member of the AMI Montessori community for over a decade, as a parent, teacher and administrator. She holds a B.A. from the University of British Columbia as well as AMI Diplomas in Primary and Elementary. She is the founder of Mole Hill, North Creek and Anchor Point Montessori Schools located in Vancouver, serving Casa and Elementary children. Mrs. Weinstein has been involved in volunteer work for WABA (World Alliance of Breastfeeding Association) and is co-founder of Siddhi Publications, a small publisher specializing in books devoted to teachings on meditation and compassion.

Laurie Wilson-Forbes

Laurie Wilson-Forbes (Claremont, Ontario) has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Toronto and received her AMI Primary Diploma from the Foundation for Montessori Education in Toronto, in 1992. Following her training, she taught for 2 years then opened The Children’s House Montessori School, in September of 1994. She currently serves as a full time Casa teacher and administer at her school in Port Perry, Ontario.

Katie Wilton (Vancouver)

Katie Wilton completed her AMI Primary Training in 2005 at the Montessori Training Centre of B.C. under Eduardo Cuevas.  Since then, she has been a Casa Directress at Vancouver Montessori School, where she has had the privilege of working with an Extended Day community of children.  She also holds a B.A. in English Literature and a B.Ed. in Secondary Education from Western Washington University (Bellingham, Washington).  She has enjoyed attending numerous Montessori conferences and workshops in Canada and the United States and is passionate about upholding Maria Montessori’s vision for the child.  She is currently enjoying the wonders of life with her first born son.  Katie hopes to continue her Montessori training at the elementary level.