About Us
Monarch is an educational organization dedicated to supporting effective educational diversity in Canada. We support research into the origins of Christian schools and publish our findings for the general public.
Mission
Conserving the Legacy of Christian Schools
Motto
Celebrating the Enduring Past
Vision
Schools as communities of meaning require clear memories and specific visions anchored in a present place. This foundation nurtures a sustainable community identity for sound learning through generations.
MISSION
Monarch has a mission of conserving the legacy of the Christian schools that formed a national network of elementary, secondary and university level institutions across Canada from 1950 to the present. This legacy contains a Kingdom Vision which constituted the spiritual motivation and institutional architecture of this network of schools. The Hallmarks of this comprehensive educational philosophy were in place by 1980 and were flourishing by 2000. Monarch seeks to preserve the foundations of this tradition for posterity.
Monarch was incorporated in 2008 and received charitable status in 2009. The Board’s focus in 2010 was on encouraging innovation in the Christian schools based in the Dutch Reformed Traditions. It was evident that demographic changes and technological innovations would enable new solutions for smaller school systems serving a wide range of Christian families. The initial research projects concentrated on school amalgamations (2012) and flexible learning schedules (2014). Regretfully the Board was not able to raise the funds required to carry out serious pilot projects.
By 2015 the ideological landscape in education had changed in North America. The classic foundations in the effective model of schooling were eroding in Canada. The Board decided to focus on the enduring past rather than the possible future. The corrosive impact of the radical progressivism in Canadian education on many Christian cultural values and principles was becoming clear. Providing a clear and honest record of the origins of the schools was now necessary for future prosperity. Hence our books. Comprehensive archives are essential in providing a direct and reliable insight into the minds of the previous generation and the institutions it created.
History
Goals
- Encourage mindful reflection on institutional identity and research about schools as communities of meaning.
- Establish and promote credible and available archives about Christian education for the general public.
- Publish information designed to promote the mission, vision and goals of MESI.
First Board Members
Bill Elissen
Board Member
Mr. Bill Elissen lives in Listowel where the family dairy farm has grown into a large enterprise which Bill now ‘visits’ in retirement mode. Extensive experiences in church councils and school boards, the Ontario Milk Marketing Board and the OACS and CSI Boards have persuaded Bill that governance in schools can be improved. He and wife Nel are members of the Listowel CRC and now raise horses and chickens for enjoyment.
Adrian Guldemond
Board Member
Dr. Adrian Guldemond is a recently retired teacher, school administrator, executive director and college instructor who believes strongly that governance and management practices should and can be reformed as leadership is a vital part of flourishing organizations. His long-time research passion – the politics of education: justice for all God’s children- is now a part-time hobby which is shared with his other passions; golf, gardening and grandchildren. He and wife Mary are members of the Ancaster CRC. They live in the hamlet of Lynden, where more flowers are being planted daily.
Coby Jonker
Hans Vanderstoep
Board Member
Mr. Hans Vanderstoep lives in Burlington; Married 49 years to Alice, father of 3, grandfather of 9. Retired. Employment: Executive Director Canadian Christian Business Federation, owned and operated several building supply businesses in Hamilton, Fort Erie and Mississauga, carpentry contractor.
Volunteer involvement: Trinity Christian School, Burlington; Calvin Christian School, Dundas; Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools; President of Canadian Christian Education Foundation; Various positions on church Council and ecclesiastical councils , and extensive travel have given Hans a detailed picture of the Christian community at work.
Lisa Vandenhaak
Board Member
Mrs. Lisa Vandenhaak is a former teacher and principal in both OACS and ACSI schools. She is currently regional manager for Christian Horizons. The family lives in Ridgeville, Ontario.
John VanLoenen
Board Member
Mr. John VanLoenen lives in Tottenham, and is Married to Fena. They have their three children and eight grandchildren. He was chair of the Alliston community Christian school for seven years; served on the Toronto District Christian High Board for three years, served on the OACS transportation committee for three years and served as Chair for the OACS for seven years. He is presently also serving on the CEAF board while being involved in the Alliston CRC.
The reformed vision for Christian education has been an exciting involvement for him, and he wishes to continue serving it to the best of his ability. John is the Eastern Sales manager for Hofmann Canada, a division of Snap-On equipment, and has worked in this area for the last thirty three years.
Linda Williams
Board Member
Dr. Linda Williams lives in Oakville, ON. She has held teaching and administrative positions in public and private Christian educational institutions from grade one to university. Her passion for making schools work well for students and teachers brought her to Monarch. She attends and volunteers at The Meeting House in Oakville. She is wife to Spencer, mother of four, and grandmother to five. Volunteer involvement includes activities for The Meeting House, Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, Stephen Lewis Foundation, neighbor to neighbor, the Canadian Cancer Society, and the Oakville Prayer Breakfast.
The reformed vision for Christian education has been an exciting involvement for him, and he wishes to continue serving it to the best of his ability. John is the Eastern Sales manager for Hofmann Canada, a division of Snap-On equipment, and has worked in this area for the last thirty three years.
Current Board Members
Adrian Guldemond - Chair
Dr. Adrian Guldemond is a recently retired teacher, school administrator, executive director and college instructor who believes strongly that governance and management practices should and can be reformed as leadership is a vital part of flourishing organizations. His long-time research passion – the politics of education: justice for all God’s children- is now a part-time hobby which is shared with his other passions; golf, gardening and grandchildren. He and wife Mary are members of the Ancaster CRC. They live in the hamlet of Lynden, where more flowers are being planted daily.
Herman Proper - Secretary
Mr. Herman Proper is a former Principal of Chatham Christian High School, Secondary Coordinator for the OACS , President of the Ontario School Safety Council and the Chair of the Ontario Independent School Council. He and his wife Dianne attend the Immanuel CRC in Hamilton, while their grandchildren attend Christian schools around Ontario.
Mariette Raybould
Mariette is a retired federal civil servant residing in Ancaster. She is very active in the mission of St. John’s Anglican Church in Ancaster, and a long-time member of its Choir. St. John’s is one of the oldest continuous congregations in Ontario, predating Confederation by 51 years.
John VanLoenen - Vice Chair and Treasurer
Mr. John VanLoenen lives in Tottenham, and is Married to Fena. They have their three children and eight grandchildren. He was chair of the Alliston community Christian school for seven years; served on the Toronto District Christian High Board for three years, served on the OACS transportation committee for three years and served as Chair for the OACS for seven years. He is presently also serving on the CEAF board while being involved in the Alliston CRC.
The reformed vision for Christian education has been an exciting involvement for him, and he wishes to continue serving it to the best of his ability. John is the Eastern Sales manager for Hofmann Canada, a division of Snap-On equipment, and has worked in this area for the last thirty three years.