Meet the Team: Ms. Christine Morris

Ms. Morris has already been with us for two years, joining the Mathematics Department at GNS when she moved here from Montreal in 2023. 

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

When I was first looking for positions on the West Coast I knew very little about Victoria and GNS. My interview with the math team and administration was a really positive experience (one might almost say fun!) and when I discovered that the school’s team mascot was a Gryphon, just like the school I came from in Montreal, well, I knew it was just meant to be! 

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

I didn’t really. I just kept pursuing things I loved. I really enjoyed my math classes in high school; they were challenging and if I put the time in, I managed to be successful. So I studied more math. And more math. And I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do with the math I studied and I knew I liked working with kids, so I studied Education as an option for how to use my math degree and it just turned out to be a perfect fit! 

What are some of your interests outside of school? 

I have a lot of hobbies: I run, swim and box. I like to knit and sew especially in the cooler months when I’m indoors more. I love to read and do paint by numbers (mostly because my painting skills are limited but I enjoy it so much!), and I love to write. 

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

I was Valedictorian of my high school. Not because I had the highest grades though; it was a lengthy application process and you had to have good grades and represent the school well. Then it was ultimately student and faculty voted. But the speech was in front of about 2000 people and I was surprisingly calm throughout. Usually I get nervous talking in front of a crowd! 

What do you like about living and working in Victoria? 

I love the weather for sure, and the deer. When I walk to work I pass by the Craigdarroch Castle and I just marvel over how beautiful this whole city is. I feel very lucky to live and work here. 

What made you become a Math teacher?

I’ve always been a big nerd about math; really passionate about sharing what I learn with others. It just felt natural to do that in a setting with teenagers given I had spent a good chunk of my life working with kids and teenagers in day camps and tutoring, etc. But it’s not as simple as that; you need to find the right setting where you feel like you’re a part of a community, and I’ve found that in my teaching. 

Thank you Ms. Morris for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer these questions!