Hess Education Canada Team

Gary Bosomworth

Managing Director

Gary has worked for Hess since 1994. He began as a teacher, in the trenches, learning about the heart of our business. It was not long after he started that he was offered the Head Teacher role, which he declined at first, wanting to focus his energy fully on the classroom. His director was not easily deterred, and kept on him until he eventually accepted the Head Teacher position.

Gary enjoyed the challenge of guiding and nurturing the teachers at his two schools, but he still felt more could be done to help ensure Hess teachers were as well equipped as possible for the language classroom. He voiced his concerns at the quarterly Head Teacher meetings and before he knew it he was invited to be a guest speaker at one of the monthly training sessions sponsored by the Hess Head Office.

This experience was all Gary needed to inspire him to take on a new role training full-time, which he felt gave him the opportunity to work with other colleagues to spread a passion for teaching throughout all the Hess branches. Gary continued with his training role for several years, working with both local teachers and Native English Speaking teachers from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. He also enjoyed other responsibilities as a curriculum consultant and writer, program designer, and policy developer.

Eventually, Gary became the first foreign employee to be promoted to a Director position in the company. His role in Human Resources allowed him to take on additional projects with Hess Confidence Camps in Taiwan and Singapore; Hess Overseas Summer Study Tours to New Zealand, the UK, the US and Canada; Hess Publishing Company research in Germany; Hess Publishing set up in Shanghai, China; and the establishment of Hess Education Centre in Singapore.

In 2004, Hess President, Joseph Chu, asked Gary to be the Managing Director of Hess Education Centre in Singapore. Gary worked with the team in Singapore to establish quality English and Mandarin programs and Singapore Confidence Camps until 2008.

Gary took on a new challenge in 2008 that took him out of Asia. He broke new ground setting up Hess Education Canada in Vancouver to recruit teachers for Hess schools in Taiwan and Singapore; to offer TEFL Certification Training to equip teachers with the essential foundation techniques and methodology to teach English as a foreign language all over the world; to offer Mandarin classes and to establish Hess Canada Confidence Camps in Vancouver.

What’s next for Gary? He assures us this is it. He has come full circle and loves being back in Canada. However, he also assures us that he won’t be kicking back and relaxing. He is a strong believer in life-long learning and is determined that Hess Education Centre will be known for its quality programs in Vancouver and beyond.

Stop by for a visit. Gary would be happy to chat with you and share with you more about Hess.

Chris-Anne Stumpf, PhD, CERTESL

TEFL Principal Instructor & Course Designer

Chris-Anne has been teaching ESL for over 22 years. She received her BA and MA from the University of Windsor and her PhD from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Originally a teacher of literature and written communication, along the way she discovered that her real love was teaching ESL. Accordingly she received her CERTESL from the University of Saskatchewan. Chris-Anne has taught ESL at the university, college and high school levels. She has taught in Hong Kong, Ontario, Newfoundland and British Columbia. She has also taught both immigrants and international students of all skill levels. Currently Chris-Anne is involved in teacher training programs and teaching specialized ESL preparation programs.

Greta Borick-Cunningham

TEFL Instructor

Greta received her Bachelor of Teaching (Further Education and Training), and Masters of Education (Teaching Second Languages) from University of Southern Queensland, Australia. She also went on to acquire her Cambridge C.E.L.T.A program in Toronto in 2001. Greta was involved in vocational education and training for 15 years in Australia, Japan and Canada One of Greta’s most unforgettable educational experiences was teaching English to new immigrants to Australia  Since moving to Canada in 2002, Greta taught ESL to adults and taught TOEFL examination preparation

David Cunningham

TEFL Instructor

David Cunningham earned his Bachelor's Degree in Communications at Queen's University and soon made his way into one of his lifelong passions: teaching.  He has been an ESL Instructor for ten years, with 6 years experience as a TESOL Trainer.  Having taught in Japan, Korea and the multi-cultural classrooms of Toronto and Vancouver, David brings enthusiasm, experience and cultural awareness to the class.  His other interests include writing and performing music, writing fiction and the Japanese martial art of Aikido.

Anita Shum

Mandarin Instructor

A native speaker of Chinese, Anita Shum has over 6 years of international experience in language instruction teaching both Mandarin Chinese and ESL to children and adults.  Upon graduating from the University of Idaho with a degree in Music Education, Anita returned to Hong Kong and taught Mandarin, English and Music at a local public school.  In 2001, Anita returned to the United States to obtain her Multiple Subject Credential at the University of Idaho.  She then became the Chinese foreign language teacher for a federally funded program in California in 2003.  The program has earned esteem and recognition throughout the U.S. and the Orange County community.  Anita wrote and revised the academic curriculum based on the National Standards and Continuum for foreign language learners.  The Chinese program has strengthened its academic requirements for non-heritage Chinese learners.   Anita has also presented at the 2005 ACTFL Conference (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) attended by university professors, foreign language teachers, and graduate students.  Anita’s strengths come from her community integration of the Chinese foreign language and the application of the language by her students in community activities.  Anita finished her TESOL Certificate Program at the University of California, Irvine in 2006 before relocating in Taiwan with her husband.  For the past year and a half in Taiwan, Anita has taught several ESL classes including an English conversational course for adults.  Now, Anita is residing in Vancouver with her family, looking forward to using her expertise and diverse cultural experience as a teacher at Hess Educational Centre.

Hess Education Canada team

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