Karen Hedquist, B.A. (University of Victoria), M.A. (Heriot-Watt University, U.K.)

After graduating from the University of Victoria with an undergraduate degree in English and History and no knowledge of what to do with her adult life, Karen Hedquist moved to Japan, where she spent three fun-filled years teaching English, trying to learn Japanese, and cycling around Japan and Europe. In 1994, she moved to Edinburgh to earn her Master's degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and to learn more about her grandfather's heritage. Returning to Canada, Ms. Hedquist planned to spend a year or two with her family then move away again. "The best laid schemes" often do go astray, however, and Ms. Hedquist, instead, fell in love with Terry Marshall whom she married. Suddenly, nowhere else was quite as beautiful as her native Vancouver Island. She is ecstatic that working at Brentwood allows her to work in two of her three areas of interest: English and learning assistance. Ms. Hedquist teaches English 9 through 12 and is the administrator for Brentwood's Key programme. She has two daughters.