CILC Team

OUR BOARD

CILC Governance Team

CILC Board

Left to Right

Greg Kern - Secretary and IT Support

Isabelle Johnson - Member

Nada Ramsden - Director

Carol Kerfoot - Corporate Membership Coordinator

Gabriel Bejarano - Treasurer

Doreen Spurgeon - Board Chair

Dennis Shierman - Director

OUR STAFF

Working together to make CILC a great place to learn.

Nada Ramsden

Director

Nada has taught English Language Learners since 2004, including 14 years of teaching at CILC. She has also taught for short terms in Japan and Peru. She understands the challenges of learning another language having worked at French, Spanish, Greek and Japanese. She loves helping newcomers to Canada learn English and become comfortable in their new setting. She also enjoys hiking, gardening, travel and reading.

Dennis Shierman

Director

Since 1990 Dennis has been working with an international mission organization. Having lived and worked in Indonesia for three years and Bolivia for ten years, these varied experiences make for an excellent fit to assist in the work of “Centre For International Learning Calgary”.

Since 2004 Dennis has worked in the Canadian constituency in communication fundraising, promotion and development of CBM and their partners along with many other programs worldwide. 

One of Dennis’s passions is helping and serving people. “CILC is an area that enables me to help Newcomers especially in the area of language and cultural learning”. Having learned Bahasa Indonesian, Spanish, English, and some knowledge of German I understand the need for newcomers to Canada to learn English. It is great to be a part of such a great organization like CILC.

Our teachers

Classes in the full-time program are taught by passionate, ELL-certified instructors. 

Carmen

English Teacher

Carmen(B. Ed. TESOL Cert.) has an extensive teaching background that includes all ages from six months to adults, in both formal classrooms and recreational activities. Many of her early experiences were in cross-cultural situations. She is passionate about English, photography, cooking and travel. Carmen loves learning about other cultures and she is excited to have the opportunity to work with the students attending CILC.


Our volunteers

CILC students enjoy conversation practice and fun extra activities thanks to these generous people. 

Alec & Carol Kerfoot 

Working with CILC since: 2008. Have lived in a Spanish-speaking country and enjoy communicating with people from that group.

Specialties: Alec—teaches vocabulary, pronunciation and reading comprehension as students read and converse in class.

Carol—teaches beginner English classes, with emphasis on everyday grammar and vocabulary.

Other roles:

Alec—former CILC director and Board chair. 

Carol—current Board member.

Greg Kern

Working with CILC since: 2005

Specialties: lively conversation classes

Other roles:  Former Board Chairperson

Doreen Spurgeon

Working with CILC since: 2002; taught both Day and Evening programs


Specialties: outdoor activities, drop-in Bible reading classes, volunteer evening teacher,loves to read,walk and go to Heritage Park and the Zoo

Other Roles: CILC Chair of the Board, taught English in Latvia and Cameroon

John & Kathy Malsbury

Just started working with CILC . John is a retired teacher and Kathy a retired nurse.


Specialties: 

Other Roles: 

Isabelle Johnson

Working with CILC since: 2023

Specialties: Isabelle is a valued substitute who fills in where needed.

Other Roles: Current member of the CILC board.

Paul Konyk

Working with CILC since: 2023; enjoys leading a conversation class in our Evening program

Specialties: Speaks English as well as Ukrainian and Russian.

Other Roles: 

Our hosts

CILC is located in the building of Altadore Church. 

For more information about the church and its programs, click here.