Derek Henson
Prior to moving to Calgary in 2005, I lived in the garden city of Victoria, BC where I was born and raised. Growing up in a family separate from the Word of God, I was not introduced to Jesus until I was 14. Since the age of three I have participated in competitive sports including lacrosse, ice hockey, field hockey, soccer, figure skating, rowing, track & field, cross-country, and curling. This helped me to establish my love for sports, especially hockey (which I still play and coach), which also paved the way for a career as a Physical Education teacher.
During my high school years, I was heavily involved in Video and Media Arts. My thought was to become a television Director but God had other plans for me. In my grade 12 year, I missed the scholarship application date to get into Ryerson Polytechnic. Instead, I spent the next two years in the mission fields of Scandinavia and the former Soviet Union with Christian Sports Outreach International, playing ice hockey and soccer. After returning from the mission field, I began coaching ‘AAA’ hockey for the Saanich Braves and working a variety of full time jobs while serving as a youth pastor for my local church. I heard my calling to become a teacher when I was 25, after confirmation from my youth group students and hockey players.
Since coming to HCA in 2005, I have taught an abundant variety of classes, served as Athletic Director, led two school Mission teams to Costa Rica, and started up the Video Production course. I have also helped expand the athletic options available to HCA students by coaching such sports as golf, wrestling, x-country, floor hockey, badminton, soccer, and track & field. For the past several years I have focused primarily on coaching both Junior and Senior Track and Field; winning several League and Zone Championships with some very talented young athletes.
In 2011-12 I participated in a teaching exchange program to Kuopio, Finland; becoming the first Canadian teacher to do such an exchange in Finland. It was an amazing, eye-opening experience. I also had the privilege of coaching youth hockey that year. One of the players from that team now plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kasperi Kapanen ("Kasu").
When I am not teaching, I serve as the Lead Instructor for the NCHL Beginner Hockey Program for adults. I have been doing this since 2006. During my holidays I enjoy traveling- especially anywhere that I can pursue my newest recreational passion- scuba diving. In the summer of 2013, I completed two months of training to complete my Divemaster certification and in 2019, I successfully completed the PADI scuba diving instructor exam. As a result of this traveling, I have been studying the Spanish language. I hope one day to be fluent in both Spanish and English.
I also enjoy creating our annual Talent Show video that is our humorous gift we teachers give to our students before they leave for the Christmas Break. You can see them below.