Welcome to the third episode of Season 5 of the WAB podcast. In this episode, Grade 12 student Victoria and Grade 11 student Tano have taken over as hosts to interview Mr. Kirby Boychuk, WAB's new Athletics & Activities Director. During the conversation, Kirby shared his experiences in education, his reason for coming to WAB, and his plan for further developing student leadership this year. 

Drawing from his beginnings in theater and music, Kirby recounted his journey from theater to physical education and then becoming an athletic director. He emphasized how this transition enabled him to cultivate a positive sports culture within the school community. 

He underscored the rich diversity he found at WAB after coming here, highlighting the culture of respect and inclusivity belongs to the school environment. Having resided in various countries around the globe, including Bahrain, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Qatar, Russia, and Saudi Arabia, Kirby expressed how welcomed he feels at WAB, where individuals are encouraged to be themselves without fear of judgment. 

Kirby elaborated on his plans to enhance student leadership development this year, summarized as the Tiger Leadership concept. Under this initiative, he plans to introduce diverse branches such as teaching, community service, event management, etc, wherein students will have authentic opportunities to engage and gain real-world experiences. 

An example he provided was the backstage management aspect. He would expect students could know how to use the lightboard and professionally lead the project in other related aspects. He believes such hands-on experiences would equip students with valuable skills and competitive advantages for future employment opportunities.  

For further insights, tune in to this engaging student-led dialogue with WAB's new Athletics and Activities Director.