BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2019-2020



David Bucklow,

Miramichi West, NB

2012-present - Membership
 David Bucklow
Dave started martial arts training back in 1970, with Shotokan Karate and Jiu-Jitsu while working in Germany, and continued in England under Master Kanazawa and Master Hanoyda. Moving to Sarnia, Ontario, with no Shotokan to be found, he studied Kung fu with Sifu Jorge DeGuzman, Karate for a year in London, Ontario, with Master Gary Legacy, then back to Sarnia, and Kung Fu.
It was at this time (1985) that Sifu DeGuzman convinced the Chinese community, lead by Dr. Tom Cheung, to come out and teach Tai Chi and QiGong. That was the start of Dave’s journey, as he fell in love with the intricacies of the art. Three years later, Dr. Tom moved to London, and made Dave promise to keep the school going.
This he did for several years before moving to New Brunswick, where he studied Tae Kwon Do under Master Chung Won Kap, and Aikido with Master Maurice Lavigne, before one of the students insisted Dave teach him Tai Chi to help with his migraine headaches. He has been teaching Tai Chi and QiGong on the Miramichi River ever since, keeping his promise to Dr. Tom.

Steve Holbert 
London ON  

2016 - PRESENT:  PRESIDENT
2007 - 2016:  TREASURER
 Steve Holbert Steven Holbert has been a T’ai Chi player since 1985.  He started with Gloria Jenner at the London Y, then studied with other teachers for several years.  In 1998, he returned to Gloria’s teaching at the Phoenix T’ai Chi Centre.  He was certified as a teacher with the Phoenix T’ai Chi Centre in 2007, and holds a Level II certification with the Canadian Taijiquan Federation.  Steve has been a member of the Canadian Taijiquan Federation since 2005.  He held the position of Treasurer from 2007 until 2016, and now sits as President.  When Gloria retired from the Phoenix T'ai Chi Centre, Steven stepped in to continue the Centre's presence in London.  He continues to teach a variety of classes in London, and seeks educational opportunities to expand his understanding of Tai Chi, QiGong and martial arts.

Malcolm MacQuarrie

St. Catharines ON 

2015 - present: Board MembeR
2020- Present: Vice President
 Malcolm MacQuarrie

Sifu Malcolm MacQuarrie is presently teaching three classes weekly; Seated Tai Chi and Qigong, Tai Chi and
Qigong for Adults (Novice level) and Intermediate Tai Chi and Qigong, for the City of St. Catharines, at the
Kiwanis Aquatic Center, Niagara and Carlton Streets, St. Catharines, Ontario.

Affiliations: Threads of Gold Tai Chi and Qigong Institute of St. Catharines, ON / Founder & Sifu
:Canadian Taijiquan Federation / Board Member / Certification Committee Member
Qualifications:
• Certified Level 3 Instructor, Senior Instructor with Canadian Taijiquan Federation

Achievements:
• College Graduate - Diploma with Highest Honours in Fitness and Nutrition
• Member Board of Directors, Canadian Taijiquan Federation
• Over 30 years professional teaching experience
• Has taught Tai Chi and/or Self Defense classes for The City of St. Catharines Department Recre of
Recreation, YMCA Fort Erie, Fultons Fitness Fort Erie, YWCA St Catharines, Boys and Girls Club Niagara
Falls, Port Colborne Board of Education, Skyline Fitness Club Toronto, and privately at several locations
throughout the Greater Niagara Region

Biography:  

• 50 years martial arts experience.

• Began with Quai Wong Karate/Kung Fu Society, Toronto 1966

• Trained several years in full-contact Tae Kwon Do under June Tae Kim

• Left hard styles in 1980, to return to his Kung-Fu roots and devote himself to study and training of Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan and QiGong

• Began teaching Tai Chi at YMCA Fort Erie in 1985 and became a member of the Canadian Taijiquan Federation shortly after                                            

• Opened his first private school of Tai Chi in 1987 

• Was asked to sit on Board of Directors, Canadian Taijquan Federation, June 2015

Carol O’Connor

Waterloo ON  

2012-PRESENT:  SECRETARY
2007-2010:  PRESIDENT
2007:  VICE-PRESIDENT
 Carole O'Connor

Carol has been a Taiji player since 2000 with a background in Karate. Sifu Steve Higgins, Cold Mountain Internal Arts, has been her Taiji mentor and an enormous influence and support. Carol is an RMT in Waterloo, Ontario.

Daniel Smith

Waterloo ON 

2018 - Present : Treasurer      
 
Daniel's first exposure to tai chi was in 2013  at Steve Higgin's Cold Mountain Internal Arts. Formerly training in Japanese Ju Jitsu and currently practicing in freestyle wrestling, Daniel has become an avid Taiji player with a focus in Chen style and push hands.

    

Nina Roy

London ON

2019 - Present : Board Member    
 
 Nina has played Easy Tai Chi for the past 25 years. Between 2012 and 2019, she has worked toward and
achieved all eight levels of certification offered by Easy Tai Chi, including Certified Master Instructor
(2016) and Symposium Master Trainer (2019).
Nina teaches Easy Tai Chi in the Senior Satellite Program, run by the City of London and in the East
London Library which offers courses to the general public. She is also continuing her Tai Chi studies by
working on Yang style Tai Chi and other workshops – fan, sword and dagger.

                                                                                            

We salute and offer our heartfelt thanks to former Board members

(PICTURED BELOW)

Many continue to serve the CTF in other capacities.  

We appreciate both the time away from the training floor, and the thoughtful energy that you gave to the CTF and Board over these years. 


Michael Kirwin 

Orangeville ON

2016 - 2019:  Vice-President,
2014 - 2019:  PEDAGOGY

 Kirwin Michael was a student of tai chi who started 1993.  He was a member of the Taoist Tai Chi Society until 1998.  He then studied with a Chinese wushu master, Ting Seng Hung, with focus on Yang style, including short and long forms, spear, sword, and push hands. Formerly the head instructor at Headwaters School of Tai Chi in Orangeville, ON.
 

Tanya Korovkin

Waterloo ON  

2014-2016 History Project,
2011-2013 Membership
 Tanya Korovkin

Tanya Korovkin has been practicing taiji since 2000. She has studied mostly the Yang and Wudang styles. Over the years, Tanya’s teachers have been Jaime Orejuela, Steve Higgins (Cold Mountain Internal Arts), Sam Masich, and Ron Williamson (Atado School of Defensive Arts). She received three medals for her form performances at the 2009 Open Taijiquan Championships in Toronto: Yang style empty-hand (silver), sabre (bronze), and sword (bronze). Tanya lives in Waterloo, Ontario.

JILL HEATH 

OAKVILLE ON

2012 - PRESENT, TONGREN CO-EDITOR
 Jill Heath Jill Heath has been studying the internal arts since 1990 and has taught Taiji and Qigong in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. since 1995, both in seminar and weekly class settings. She made her competition debut in 1999 (A Taste of China, Winchester VA, Pat Rice, organizer), with her personal best in 2001 of 3 gold and 3 bronze medals at a single tournament for form, weapons and push hands (Kung Fu Championships, Dunedin FL, Nick Scrima, organizer).  In April 2008, at the National Canadian Kung Fu Fellowship tournament, she received 3 gold and 2 bronze medals in 5 events (form, weapons, moving and fixed step push hands, shuijiao). Instructor Certifications, chronologically:  Associate Healing Tao (Mantak Chia, 2000), Tai Chi for Arthritis (Dr. Paul Lam, 2003), Senior Level instructor (Canadian Taijiquan Federation), 5 Section Taijiquan Curriculum (Sam Masich, 2007), Wu Yi Jie He (Sifu Helen Wu, 2012), and is a Past President (2000-2003) and Director (1999-2003, 2012-2016), Elder, and Editor of the Canadian Taijiquan Federation newsletter, TongRen (1999-2003, 2012-present).  She continues her studies of the internal arts and considers herself fortunate to have studied with numerous masters over the years; however, she cites Sifus Helen Wu, Nick Gracenin, and Sam Masich, as the three who have most influenced her development and added to her understanding of these arts.  She is enjoying her return to TongRen as co-editor.

Patricia Beretta

Kitchener ON

Past Board Member (2012-2015)
 Patricia Beretta Patricia came across Tai-Chi in the mid-90’s and learned from various instructors in Europe.  After coming to Canada she began her study with sifu Steve Higgins in 2001 at Cold Mountain Internal Arts, Kitchener, Ontario.  She also regularly attends Sam Masich’s seminars. Gradually, Tai Chi became a spring board for self-care, personal growth and professional development.  In 2006, Patricia shifted from her Biomedical career into Shiatsu and Acupuncture therapies, and teaching Tai Chi.  With therapies and practices based on balancing Qi flow, she found an elegant clinical system and way of life.  She has an original and creative approach to Tai Chi curriculum and pedagogy, based upon a background combining advanced Western medical knowledge, Traditional Chinese Medicine skills, and exercises promoting strong and free-flowing Qi. 

Pam Boyde

Whitehorse, Yukon

Past Board Member (2011-2015)
 Pam Boyde Pam has been a Taiji player for over 20 years and sharing her love of the art for over 18 years.  She has been a student of the traditional Yang family style Taijiquan for the past 13 years.  Over the years her teachers have been Chantal Fafard, Sam Masich, John Camp, Grand Master Yang Zhenduo and Master Yang Jun.  Pam has attained her 5th level ranking and instructor certification with the International Yang Family Tai Chi Chuan Association.  She and her husband, Jim, live in the Ibex Valley just outside of Whitehorse, Yukon with their 20+ dogs.

Bill Marsh

Hamilton ON:  

Past Board Member (2011-2015), 
Past/Acting President (2012-2015)
 Bill Marsh From a martial arts and yoga background, in 1968-69 Bill Marsh began studying T'ai Chi from Edward Maisel's book.  Around 1975 he started the first T'ai Chi club in Hamilton, Ontario, participating in the formation of the Taoist T'ai Chi Society as representative of the Hamilton T'ai Chi Association.  Bill was previously a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Taijiquan Federation in its early formative years. He is an Elder and the current President of the CTF.

 

And, as always, we salute and thank our Elders for their insight over the years.

CTF Elders:

Loong Wong

John Lee

Ed Cooper

Bill Marsh

Steve Higgins

Gloria Jenner

Deborah Baumanis (deceased)

Jill Heath

Jonathan Krehm

Michelle McMillan

FIND A TAI CHI SCHOOL

Find a CTF instructor in the school directory.

INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION

The CTF provides certification for instructors of Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan). READ MORE.

NEWSLETTER

"TONGREN" is the quarterly journal of the CTF.  TongRen has been published and distributed to the CTF membership since 1994, changing to digital format in August 2010. LEARN MORE

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