The Boulders Climbing Gym

Staff Biographies

Sebastian Powell, Manager

Kimanda Jarzebiak, Director of Operations, Chair of the Board

An "international man of mystery" - and by man, we mean woman - Kimanda is the Chair of the not-for-profit society that runs the Boulders. She also serves as Director of Operations. Rumour has it that she runs a public affairs consulting firm in her spare time, but we find it hard to believe that someone who on-sights 5.15c has the time to hold down a desk job. See what we mean about mystery? We do have proof that Kimanda sits on the Board of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, is a Climbing Gym Instructor Level 3, is the Manager of Canada's National Climbing Team, and occasionally examines for TRU in the climbing instructor program. When she’s not working, climbing, talking and travelling (usually doing all 4 at once), she spends time doing dead- hangs in the mistaken belief that it will correct her height deficit.

Samantha Todd, All Around Gym Gal

Sammy has been hanging around this place for so long, we finally had to start paying her. An original member of the youth climbing program, Sammy balances her post-secondary studies in fine art with her fine work for the Boulders. A Climbing Gym Instructor Level 1, her role at the gym has evolved to include coaching the Saturday morning Slate team, teaching introductory lessons, and helping to keep the gym ticking.

Gillian Calder, Instructor

Gillian has spent most of her life trying to figure out what to do with her monkey-length arms. After years on the badminton courts and toiling as a legal academic, she finally discovered the joys of climbing. Besides coffee, there is little this enthusiastic and patient teacher likes better than sharing the magic of climbing with others.

Meghan Hagar, Instructor

Meghan is another youth climbing team original, and has since gone on to earn her Climbing Gym Instructor Level 1. She now coaches our youth teams, teaches beginner lessons, and – most importantly - periodically reminds us that smiles are contagious! In addition to being a University of Victoria student, she’s a practiced pole vaulter.

Ashleigh Hawes, Instructor

Ashleigh most relishes her title as the Official Boulders Speed Climbing Coach, earned during the North American Climbing Championships in Montreal in 2008. After earning her Climbing Gym Instructor Level 1, Ashleigh added the teaching of beginner lessons and the coaching of youth teams to her resume. Ashleigh has a passion for travel, and keeps threatening to leave us in order to further explore the world.

Kimberly House, Instructor

You’ll find Kim wearing bright colours and gracefully pulling her way through tough boulder problems. A former Stelly’s student, she graduated from climbing with the youth team to completing her ACMG Climbing Gym Instructor Level One. Kim does a bit of everything at the Boulders, from coaching and teaching introductory classes to route-setting. A UVic student, she loves to travel after classes are done. Recent trips include Nepal and the Dominican Republic.

Brendan Morton, Instructor

Brendan joins Ashleigh, Sammy and Meghan in making some of us volunteers feel really OLD! Brendan has his Climbing Gym Instructor Level 1, and is fond of reminding everyone that we opened the current gym only months after he graduated from Stellys. He often tells kids of those hard old days, when team practice was limited to “The Cage”, and bouldering comps took place on the erratic outside, even in the snow and rain.

Graham Proulx, Instructor

Herman Remodo, Instructor

Herman is an easy-going North Island boy who has been climbing for three years and mountain biking for twelve years. He discovered the Boulders in 2006 and has been hanging around ever since. As a certified ACMG Climbing Gym Instructor Level 1, Herman is one of the friendly folks that teaches intro lessons, sets routes, and greets people through the door. When not at the gym Herman can be found chillin with his family, blazing down trails on his bike or climbing around the local crags on the beautiful South Island.

Patrick Vincentine, Instructor

Patrick is a teacher by training and trade, and has an expertise in developing student-centered curriculum with an outdoor education focus. We aren't quite sure how he manages to find the energy to teach and supervise at the gym after his long work week, but we presume it is out of kindness... or pity. Let's stick with kindness. When he isn't teaching, or teaching climbing, or teaching while climbing, he spends time with his expanding family. Patrick completed his Climbing Gym Instructor Level One in 2007, and is pursuing his CGI 2 in 2008.

Martin Pultz, Web Guy

Monkey? Man? Missing link? Science hasn’t answered the question yet, but this engineering student can be easily identified by the way in which his knuckles scrape the ground when he walks. Martin helps out around the gym in a number of ways, including volunteering his time on this website. Look for him swinging from hold to hold in search of some tasty dynos. Marty holds his Climbing Gym Instructor One cert from the ACMG, and avoids telling people about it.