Meet the Team: Mr. Jon Hamlin, Director of Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

What made you want to be part of the GNS community?

From an early age, I have been passionate about technology. Some of my fondest elementary school memories involve the flickering green displays of the Apple II computer lab—dying from cholera while playing Oregon Trail and creating elaborate designs in an ancient software program called LOGO. In LOGO, I had to give directions to a little turtle on the screen to create patterns and geometric sequences. I was fascinated by how simple instructions could generate mesmerizing, intricate designs, sparking my earliest interest in digital design.

Ever since moving to Victoria in 2017, I have heard wonderful stories about GNS and its strong sense of community. When I saw the job posting in December 2022, I immediately knew it was the perfect opportunity for me and I haven’t been disappointed. I come to work every day, incredibly grateful for the opportunity and for the amazing things I get to do each day.

How did you choose teaching as the right path for you?

I like to say that I didn’t choose teaching—teaching chose me. Before becoming an educator, I explored a variety of careers. I worked in technology, ran my own tech company for a short time, worked for Hewlett-Packard in Ireland, and eventually opened a small design agency specializing in branding and digital design. In my early days in the tech industry, I even did some exciting work for CSIS (though I probably shouldn’t mention that).

Through all of these experiences, I always felt like there was something more I was meant to do. I spent nearly eight years slowly working my way through an undergraduate degree while searching for my true calling. Eventually, volunteering with a youth outdoor education program in Vancouver helped me realize that teaching was the right path for me. Once I made that decision, I never looked back.

Teaching has been the most rewarding and creatively fulfilling career. I love learning and pushing myself to try new things, and teaching is full of opportunities for growth and exploration—making it the perfect fit. I truly love working with youth, and nothing gives me more joy than seeing the same creative spark and innovative passion in my students that I remember feeling as a kid, sitting in front of the old Apple IIGS computer.

 What are some of your interests outside of school?

I have loads of interests that keep my brain buzzing well beyond the school day. I think I just have a natural curiosity that extends to many different facets of the world around me. One of my favourite TV shows is How It’s Made, which probably tells you something about how my brain works.

Lately, I’ve been especially fascinated by this beautiful island we are so fortunate to call home. Since moving here in 2017, I’ve been determined to explore as much of it as possible, packing in adventures during summer and spring breaks. I love researching off-road locations and even purchased a 4×4 to reach some of the more remote areas. I also enjoy kayaking, ocean exploring and sailing. One day, I dream of owning my own sailboat to explore the more secluded regions of the Broughton Archipelago and Desolation Sound.

One of my favourite books is The Curve of Time, a collection of stories by M. Wylie Blanchet recounting trips she took with her five children throughout the inland waterways between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia in the 1920s and 1930s. I am also a passionate advocate for Indigenous reconciliation and spend a considerable amount of time reading and learning about the First Nations’ history of this area and beyond. Fun fact: Did you know that archaeologists consider South Vancouver Island to be one of—if not the most—archaeologically rich areas in North America? Victoria has been home to First Nations people and has been a major trading destination for countless Indigenous peoples from across North America for thousands of years, or for time immemorial as they say.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

Some people do know this, but for the first 10+ years of my teaching career, I also was a touring and moderately successful DJ. I had several European tours and played in notable venues across Europe and North America. I’ve worked with musical acts like Maestro Fresh Wes, Nelly, The Black Eyed Peas, Deadmau5 and Steve Aoki. I even had a Billboard dance hit in the mid-2000s. Somehow I had the stamina for this in my earlier days but since I had kids of my own, maintaining the day/night schedule just became too grueling and I have mostly left this part of my life behind.

The one thing that I guarantee nobody knows about me is that I also had a very brief stint as a professional wrestler (yes, like the WWE kind!) back in the late 90s. I wasn’t a particularly athletic kid growing up, so this was a really unique way to explore athleticism and performance in a kind of wacky and goofy way.

What do you like about living and working in Victoria?

One of the things I love most about Victoria is how wonderfully compact and accessible it is. I can get almost anywhere I need to go in about 20 minutes, which still feels like a luxury after living in the Lower Mainland, where a 60-90 minute commute was the norm for so many of my former colleagues. There’s something special about the pace of life here—it’s efficient without feeling rushed, and that balance makes daily life feel less stressful and more intentional.

Beyond convenience, Victoria has truly become home for me. Most of my immediate family has moved here as well, which means we’re all just five to ten minutes apart rather than having to embark on a major journey just to catch up. That proximity has brought a richness to my personal life that I didn’t realize I was missing before.

What is your favourite course to teach and why? 

I love teaching Design and Technology—it has been the one constant thread in my life from my youth to now. No matter what careers or pathways I’ve explored, that passion has remained unwavering.

That being said, I simply love teaching, regardless of the subject. I thrive on working with youth—their energy, their evolving culture, and the new and innovative ways they navigate the world. I enjoy learning from them and observing the intriguing cultural norms they develop along the way.

I’m also deeply fascinated by the science of teaching and learning. With a Master’s degree in Curriculum Design, I find the process of crafting engaging, meaningful lessons endlessly intriguing. One of my favourite aspects of my previous role as a district administrator in SD61 was collaborating with teachers across a wide range of subjects—many far outside my areas of expertise—to help redesign and refine their curricula. It was a fascinating glimpse into diverse teaching disciplines and absolutely fed my natural curiosity and eagerness to learn new things.

Thank you Mr. Hamlin for taking the time to answer these questions, and for continuing to inspire students with the magic of design, innovation and technology.