Blair Mercer

Planning 10 and English Language Adapted Teacher, West Vancouver Secondary School

Blair Mercer is a Planning 10 and English Language Adapted teacher at West Vancouver Secondary School. He sponsors a number of school clubs such as Reach for the Top and ROAR – raising money and awareness of local SPCAs and a Young Writer’s Guild. He ran his own fitness consulting company for two years, worked in small theatre productions, and had a decade-long association with the Rebound Dance Collective. He has completed dozens of triathlons and many more 10km runs – placing first in his category during 1986’s Vancouver International Triathlon. Graduating from UBC’s Education (PE, Sports Injuries, and English Lit) program in 1992, Blair went on to run the Junior Drama department at Rockridge Secondary School and spent 12 years there. Most recently he has been teaching at West Vancouver Secondary School.

Award-winning choreographer, instructor, performer, and competitive judge
Founder, SexyStilettos Dance®
Direction, PUR Movement.

Born and raised in Richmond, BC, Stephanie Sy began honing her dance skills in ballet, jazz, hip hop, street jazz, contemporary, and modern at age six. Her passion, talent, and drive earned her scholarships at world-renowned dance schools. Stephanie garnered dance techniques from masters at the prestigious and largest ballet troupe in Canada, The National Ballet of Canada; Royal Winnipeg Ballet; and the most significant scholarship to date from Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles. Stephanie also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Kinetics from the University of British Columbia and is also a certified Personal Trainer and Kinesiologist. Stephanie has over fifteen years international experience in the dance and performance arts industry and is currently working as an award-winning choreographer, instructor, performer, and competitive judge. Her extensive body of work includes television, film, and live performance – having worked on a Campbell’s Soup Commercial, Slice Network’s Instant Beauty Pageant, CW Network’s Smallville, 20th Century Fox’s John Tucker Must Die (2006), Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010), Warner Bros. Picture’s Sucker Punch (2011), the Nickelodeon movie Rags (2012), and a recurring role on CW Network’s hit TV series Hellcats. In 2006 she founded a unique dance program aimed at empowering women she branded SexyStilettos Dance®. Stephanie’s creativity and budding entertainment empire has attracted media attention from FMA Weekly, local newspapers, internet lifestyle magazines, and numerous featured interviews. In between performing, filming, and adjudicating at dance competitions, Stephanie is working on the launch of her new instructional dance-fitness DVD line, a teaching certification program for SSD, a launch of her professional dance group (Le Chaleur), and has recently opened the first dance, fitness, and Power Plate® studio (PUR Movement). Stephanie strives to share her passion for dance and creative expression through instruction and performance with the world. For more information please visit www.StephanieSy.com and www.PURmovement.com.

Owner and Operator, StayFitAnywhere
Head Lacrosse Coach, Delta School Board

Josh Neumann is the owner/operator of the personal training company StayFitAnywhere and is involved in coaching and physical education as Head Lacrosse Coach for the Delta School Board. After finishing his BHKIN (Physical Education) degree in 2006, Josh decided to pursue a career in the health and fitness industry instead of pursuing an education degree. In just under two years he started his own business and has been running my company since 2008. During that time, he continued to be involved in youth athletics as a lacrosse coach. He was the coach of U19 Team BC Lacrosse for two years wish one National Championship and one Finalist for National Championship. It was through his volunteer experience that he was able to become the Head Coach of the first ever Lacrosse Academy in Lower Mainland.

Events, Officials and Schools Program Coordinator, Field Hockey BC
On-Call Fitness Centre Worker, City of Vancouver
AquaFit Teacher, City of New Westminster

Nancy Plechaty works full-time at Field Hockey BC as Events, Officials and Schools Program Coordinator. She has more than eighteen years experience working in the Fitness, Sport and Recreation field in various positions throughout the Lower Mainland. Her self-contracted fitness work includes: BCPRA/CFES; teaching courses, mentorship, and workshops to weight/personal trainers; conducting exams for candidates in all modules (Aquafit, Group Fitness, Etc.). She is an on-call Fitness Centre Worker for the City of Vancouver and teaches AquaFit for the City of New Westminster. Her interests and expertise include: BCRPA Supervisor of Fitness Leaders Aquafit, Group Fitness, Weight Training, Personal Training, Third Age, Osteofit, CFES, BHkin, ACE, and coached/played many sports and physical activities (mostly outdoor activities such as swimming, snowboarding, hiking, biking, softball, rowing, yoga, etc.).

Fitness Model and Host, Kinesiology, Self-Employed

Stephanie Manou is a self-employed Kinesiologist working in health and fitness. She has experience as a Fitness Model and Host working in print, television, and film. She actively works for the Vancouver-based company Urban Recreation. Following her 2008 graduation from Kinesiology and Health Sciences, Stephanie pursued an advanced certificate in athletic therapy. She then applied with the BCAK to become a practicing Kinesiologist. As a fitness model, she has worked with several fitness and rehabilitation products as well as fitness magazines and websites. She has worked as a youth camp coordinator with Douglas College as well as a Youth Programs Coordinator for Volleyball BC. With a desire to help people more than organize them, Stephanie opened her own business. As a Kinesiologist, she has worked with ICBC rehab patients as well as professional athletes and currently focuses on teaching others how to live a healthy lifestyle. In addition to personal training, she has also worked with a Vancouver-based company called Urban Rec. She continues to be a fitness model and aspires to one day write for the magazines that she models in.