Sports Academy Administration

Ian Kennedy

Ian Kennedy

Director of Instruction

Prior to becoming a Director of Instruction in West Vancouver Schools, Ian has served in a variety of positions:

  • Vice-Principal at West Vancouver and Rockridge Secondary Schools
  • Director of Instruction and Head of Wentworth Campus at Collingwood School
  • Principal at Carson Graham Secondary in North Vancouver

Ian has three decades of experience in education, as a teacher and administrator. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Education from the University of Victoria and his Master’s degree in Education from Simon Fraser University.

Ian has a rich background in public and independent schools and is passionate about the evolution of education, the development of teachers, and the transformation of our public education system.

Ian has a proven track record of guiding innovation and his leadership work around school improvement has been recognized locally and nationally.

Ian is a former National Team athlete and has always been involved in coaching and supporting school athletics. He is a resident of the North Shore and is an active member of the community.

Paul Eberhardt

Paul Eberhardt

Vice Principal Academies

A Vancouver native Paul began his coaching career in 1982 while he was still a student at Magee Secondary and continued coaching as he got both his Bachelor of Physical Education and Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia. He also earned his Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix in 2005. He began teaching in the Richmond School District in 1989 where he spent 28 years prior to moving to the West Vancouver School District in 2018 to take on the job of Vice Principal for the Academy Programs.

During his career Coach Ebe has coached just about every sport but his main passion is coaching basketball which he has coached at every level including High School, College, Provincial Teams and the Canadian National Team. Presently Paul is the head coach of the Langara Falcons men’s team and the West Vancouver Highlanders grade 9 boys team. Paul has been recognized as one of top coaches in the Country as he was selected as the 2013 Canadian Colleges men’s Basketball Coach of the Year. He has also been selected by Sport BC as the Coach of the Year in 2014 and Basketball BC has named him the College Coach of the Year in 2013 & 2014 and the High School Coach of the Year in 2007 and 2011. Paul’s colleagues also recognized him as the PACWEST Coach of the Year in 2013, 2014 & 2017 as well as Richmond Coach of the Year in 2011 and the Lower Mainland Coach of the Year in 2007.

Paul has been chosen to lead our BC Provincial teams on numerous occasions winning five gold medals and one silver at the Western Canada Games and one silver medal and three bronze at the Canadian National Championships. Paul was also selected to be an assistant coach with the Canadian Men’s National Basketball Team from 2000 to 2004.

Paul is also one of only two coaches in the Country to have won both a High School Provincial Championship which he did in 2011 with the Palmer Griffins and a Canadian College National Championship in 2014 with the Langara Falcons.

Paul has also been very actively involved in athletic administration as he was an Athletic Director for over 20 years and he has also served on the Board of Directors for the Nighthoops Program which works with at-risk youth in Vancouver. Paul has also worked with Basketball BC on a number of occasions serving as the chair for a variety of elite programs and he was the longest serving President of the BC High School Boys Basketball Association serving from 2014 to 2018. For all his volunteer work in high school sports BC School Sports recognized Paul with a Special Merit award in 2018. Presently, Paul is the head coach of the Langara Falcons men’s team and the West Vancouver Highlanders Junior boys team.

Tara Ledingham

Tara Ledingham

Assistant

Tara was raised in West Vancouver and attended UBC and SFU, graduating with a double major in Sociology and Communications.

Since graduating, Tara has been employed in the human resources field for over twenty years.  She initially worked as a recruitment specialist for Medical Recruiters International Canada, placing medical professionals in hospital and clinic settings in the United States.

After taking time off to raise her two children, Tara was hired by Mackay CEO Forums as a meeting and event planner before starting with West Vancouver Schools in 2016.

Tara has also enjoyed contract work with BC Children’s Hospital and the Crystal Ball Foundation and was registrar for the North Shore Inline Hockey league.

Being a part of the West Vancouver community has always been important to Tara and she spent several years managing her children’s sports teams and volunteering at the school level.

Teacher/Coaches

Connor Louie

Connor Louie

Head Coach

Connor Louie
WVS Premier Badminton Academy
Head Coach
Hollyburn Country Club Badminton Coach

Connor is knowledgeable, skilled & passionate about giving back to the Badminton community. Connor enjoys working with all age and skill levels, with the goal of helping them further develop in this amazing sport. Connor enjoys sharing his knowledge and expertise as this is a great way to stay active for life and have a lot of fun along the way!

NCCP Certified Badminton Coach

2016 – Present

  • Experience training aspiring badminton players one-on-one as well as in group settings guiding the players in a variety of skills ranging from basic to more advanced tactics
  • A key focus is on skill-based training, along with the teaching of safe and efficient training techniques

Competitive Badminton Athlete

2014 – Present

  • Competed in many tournaments, including Junior Provincial and Junior Canadian National Championships
  • Ranked as high as 2nd in British Columbia in the U19 category
  • Formerly trained at Clearone BC at the super-elite level

Education

  • Simon Fraser University & Langara College
  • Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology
  • Sept 2016 – Present
  • Have a strong background in training, rehabilitation, and exercise physiology
  • Experience, knowledge & interest: sports medicine; biomechanics; high performance strength & conditioning; anatomy & physiology, and motor learning
Saurabh Pandiar

Saurabh Pandiar

Assistant Coach

WVS Premier Badminton Academy
Assistant Coach
Hollyburn Country Club Badminton Coach

Detail-oriented and passionate about the sport of badminton, Coach Saurabh is a motivated individual who brings a varied, strong skill set that includes critical thinking, ability to problem solve and to meet the needs of the athletes he coaches.

Saurabh is a member of the Badminton Professional coaching staff at the Hollyburn Country Club (HCC). He believes in effective training with a strong concentration in such areas as strength, agility, focus, and the importance of proper nutrition.

Saurabh brings a wealth of experience both as a coach and a player. Saurabh won the Men’s single at Clear One held in Richmond, B.C.

Klaus Heck

Klaus Heck

WVS Supervising Teacher

Klaus taught Physical Education in the Vancouver School District for 33 years, serving as Department Head for 23 of those years. In addition, he was Principal and Vice-Principal, Vancouver School District Summer School, was on the Board of Directors for BC High School Track & Field and was named to the BC High School Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2007.

Klaus was also head coach for five consecutive Vancouver City Championship teams at Point Grey Secondary School in Vancouver.

Klaus joined the WVS Premier Sports Academies in 2008 and has been the supervising teacher for many of the academy programs: Ice Hockey, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Field Hockey, Tennis, Rugby, and Table Tennis.

During his time in West Vancouver Schools, Klaus has coached both boys’ and girls’ basketball teams at various grade levels.

Klaus is past President of BC High School Boys Basketball Association where he initiated the 20-Team format that has been used for the AAA tournament for two decades and launched the original slam dunk and three-point shot contests.

Klaus has been recognized as a Lifetime Honourary Member by the Association and is currently Chairman of the Past Presidents’ Association.

Klaus obtained his Bachelor of Education and his Master of Education specializing in Administration from Western Washington University, where he played basketball and competed in track & field.

Julia Chen

Julia Chen

Consultant

Badminton Pro & Consultant

Hollyburn Country Club

Coaching Certification & Highlights

National Certification Program (NCCP) Level 4 – completed and certified in 2004

2001-2003  National Coaching Institute in Vancouver, BC
1992-1996  Douglas College, New Westminster, BC – Badminton Scholarship

  • Coach of a two-time Olympic badminton athlete and many Pan-Am/Pam-Am Junior/National/Provincial champions
  • Badminton BC Coach of the Year – 2004
  • 2000 – Present Hollyburn Country Club Head Badminton Professional
  • 2009 – Present Badminton @ Mulgrave School – Program Founder/Instructor
  • 2008-2010 Burnaby School District – Badminton Program Creator/Instructor
  • August 2003   Pan-American Games, The Dominican Rep. – Canadian National Team Leader and Assistant Coach
  • February 2000 World Team Championship,  Sofia, Bulgaria – Canadian National Team Assistant Coach and Player
  • 1996-2000 Hollyburn Country Club – Assistant Badminton Professional
  • 1994-1996 Royal Glenora Club, Edmonton, AB – Assistant Badminton Professional
  • 1993-1994 Vancouver Racquets Club – Badminton Coach

Sport Career

2000 Canadian National – Ladies’ Doubles Silver Medallist
2000 World Championships – Canadian National Team Member
2000 Toronto Open 
– Ladies’ Singles Winner
2000 BC Open – Ladies’ Singles, Doubles and Mixed Silver Medallist
1999 Spain Open – Ladies’ Singles and Mixed Double Champion
1999 Spain Open – Ladies’ Doubles Runner-Up
1999 Canadian National – Ladies’ Doubles Bronze
1999 BC Open – Ladies’ Doubles Champion
1998 World Championships – Canadian National Team Member
1998 Canadian National – Ladies’ Doubles Silver Medallist
1996 Winnipeg Open – Ladies’ Singles and Doubles Winner
1993 ~ 1996 – Three Champion Titles of CCAA in Ladies Singles
1980-1990 – Professional Badminton Player in China

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