Our Staff
TJ Stevens earned his Bachelors of Education at the University of New Brunswick before moving to a small Inuit community in northern Quebec where he taught Math, Science, English, and Fitness to secondary students. During his time TJ became Principal as well before moving to Ottawa. TJ has completed his Master of Education degree with the University of Ottawa with a focus on teaching and learning theories. As Headmaster TJ continues to teach Math and Sciences to the Grade 9 students. TJ and his family are parishioners at St. Clement’s Parish.
Benoit Miousse is a graduate of Philosophy from the University of Montreal. Prior to joining Chesterton Academy in 2018, he was the Principal of an independent Catholic school where he also taught French and History for nine years. He attends St. Clement Parish (Ottawa).
Dr. François Allaire earned his Bachelors of Electrical and Computer Engineering and his Master of Applied Sciences in Electrical Engineering at the Royal Military College of Canada, where during four years he taught fourth year courses in: Robotics, Digital Signal Processing, Computer Network and Engineering Design. Through his studies, as Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Dr. François Allaire developed an expertise in real-time path planning for unmanned aircraft vehicles. Through his military experience, Dr. François Allaire has also acquired an expertise on Technical Airworthiness for transport aircrafts and for unmanned aircraft vehicles. Recently Dr. François Allaire managed a team of about 70 engineers that developed hybrid electrical solutions for fishing boats, ferries and drilling ships.
Sheila Jones received a Master’s degree in History from Carleton University after which she worked as a freelance historical researcher and writer. Her background in nursing allowed her to take on the role of family caregiver at which time she decided to apply her history degree and her love of art as a volunteer at the Canadian Museum of History (then the Canadian Museum of Civilization) and the National Art Gallery of Canada. She was a member of the National Gallery’s Volunteer Circle in the School Visits program where she received training in art appreciation and teaching techniques. She was also a member of the Schools’ program at the Canadian Museum of Civilization and later became a volunteer interpreter in the special exhibits for which intensive preparation in the history and artefacts of Ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt was provided by the Museum. She is actively engaged in her local community. Since 2015, she has been the co-ordinator of the Rite of Christian Initiation at Saint Patrick Basilica Parish which gives her the opportunity not only to share but also to deepen her knowledge and love of the Catholic faith.
Richard Bastien spent most of his career working as an economist in the Canadian Ministry of Finance, specializing in intergovernmental and international finance. Throughout the 1990s, he was Canada’s representative in the Paris Club and in the G-7 Group of debt experts. Since his retirement from the public service, he has spent time writing on various economic, social and cultural issues, particularly for the French quarterly journal ÉGARDS. He has also published articles in various magazines such as MercatorNet and Catholic World Report. He is Vice-president of Justin Press, an Ottawa-based publishing house, and director of the Catholic Civil Rights League for the National Capital Area. He is also the author of a book of apologetics titled Cinq défenseurs de la foi et de la raison: J.H.Newman, G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, Peter Kreeft, Alasdair MacIntyre.
Joseph Reany holds a Bachelors of Philosophy and Theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut and a Bachelors of Education from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario. Prior to teaching, Joseph was employed as a mechanical engineering technologist for 18 years within the automotive parts and large custom electric motor industries. Joseph joined Chesterton Academy in 2023 as teacher of English Literature. His philosophy of literature: “Literature study confronts the individual with the human potential for virtue against the mire of personal and cultural debasement. A Christocentric orientation is purposed to inculcate awareness of man’s
innate desire for truth and beauty within the great works of Western Literature.”
innate desire for truth and beauty within the great works of Western Literature.”
Fr. Julio was ordained a priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei in 2010 and has served in various Canadian dioceses – Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa. Previously he studied law at UOttawa and practiced law in Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto. He holds a doctorate in canon law from Santa Croce University in Rome.
Amanda Burns graduated from Algonquin College as a Registered Nurse. She worked at the Perley Hospital, Rideau Veterans Home and retired early from the Ottawa General hospital to take care of her father who had Alzheimer’s and recently passed away. She is happy to join the Chesterton Academy School as the biology teacher.
Luc Gagnon is a native of Quebec City. He is a graduate from the Collège Saint-Charles-Garnier (Québec) and the Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf (Montréal).
He studied medicine, philosophy, theology, languages and literature at various universities and institutes in Canada, Germany, Italy and France, particularly at Laval University, McGill University (B.A. honours in French studies and M.A. in French literature), the Centre Sèvres (Paris) and Université Paris IV-Sorbonne (M.A. II in French and comparative literature).
He devoted many years to the journal Égards (Montréal) as editor and collaborator.
He has been widely published, including in Égards, L’Homme nouveau (France), The Interim (Canada) and Chronicles (USA).
He has been teaching, mainly Latin and French, for many years in different Catholic schools and language schools in Ottawa.
Deacon Mulcair spent his professional career as an officer of the Canadian Armed Forces. He served as an air force pilot and was appointed commanding officer of operational flying units in both Canada and the Afghanistan theatre. Among his many other postings, he served as Canada’s Deputy Military Representative to NATO in Brussels. Deacon Mulcair holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the Royal Military College and a Master of Adult and Higher Education from the University of Oklahoma. He began reading and studying the Bible in 2009 and has presented salvation history courses to more than 200 Catholic adults. Deacon Mulcair was ordained on September 21st, 2024, the Feast of St. Matthew, and serves at Blessed Sacrament Parish, Ottawa.
Dr. Knight’s MSc and Phd degrees from Toronto and Ottawa are in brain science and neuronal biophysics, followed by nano-scale optical and electronic material properties. In his studies he taught many large and small classes both as class tutor and instructor. Between degrees he co-led software engineers in developing search-engine technology, taught high-school math and sciences, privately tutored college students, and wrote for a pro-Life Canadian Senator. At Victoria college (Toronto) he launched a philosophy of science club with his minor in this subject, and has written commentaries in various media on related topics. His interests range from modern cosmology, through modal logic and Gödel’s proofs, to theology and personalist philosophy. He is an RCIA catechist, a 3rd order Augustinian interested in St. Anselm of Canterbury, and past member of the Chesterton Society in Ottawa. He embraces the opportunity to mentor young minds in all their budding interests within the charisms given them by the Holy Spirit.
John Wallner received his Master’s Degree in Canadian Studies from Carleton University. He worked for the House of Commons of Canada for 35 years, primarily in the Index and Reference Branch, where he gained an in-depth knowledge of parliamentary procedure. He volunteered at the Canadian War Museum for 10 years as a volunteer interpreter. History, in general, and Canadian history, in particular, have been a life-long interest and he has devoted much time to reading and deepening his knowledge in these areas. His Master’s thesis concerned academics and athletics at St. Michael’s College in relation to the Thomistic view of Catholic education of the whole person, body, mind and soul. Playing hockey is another of his life-time passions.
Jenna Henry previously worked for several years as Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College’s Administrative Coordinator (and occasional drama director), taught Literature 9 and 12 here at Chesterton, and currently works in administration at one of Ottawa’s largest long-term care homes. Jenna holds a B.A. in Philosophy and has a particular interest in Beauty and the dignity of the human person. It has been a joy for her to lead and join the students in exploring the human experience, whether through some of the most significant works of Western Literature or by directing the students in their annual theatre productions.
Victoria Collins was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, and has always had an interest and passion for the visual arts. She studied graphic design at Javeriana University and earned her Masters Degree in Fine Arts at the Escuela de Artes y Oficios in Madrid, Spain. As an educator in the arts, she believes that art is an important and fundamental part of education for children. A group of researchers have conducted studies showing that art education enriches the lives of students by opening their minds to a variety of human experiences.
Christina Debusschere hails from northeast Alberta, where she took piano and voice lessons from a young age. She holds a B.A. in Music and a B.Ed. After-Degree from Concordia University of Edmonton. During university, Christina studied solo piano and voice, chamber music, church music, conducting, and choral singing. She sang in multiple choirs in Edmonton, as well as Alberta Youth Choir, National Youth Choir, and as an intern with the professional choir Pro Coro Canada. In 2021, she and her family moved to Ottawa when her husband began graduate studies in Theology. In October 2023, she began teaching music at Chesterton Academy and has found it delightful to work with the students there. She currently resides in Gatineau with her husband and their three children.
- Francois Allaire
- Viki Alles-Crouch
- Michael Collins
- Barbara Gay
- John Gay
- Maria Medina
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