Justin Borsato is committed to teaching. He is a Grade 7 teacher in one of the toughest elementary schools in Vancouver, British Columbia, yet Justin remains passionate about his students.
Combining his love for the game of hockey and his work with at risk youth in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, British Columbia, Justin volunteers with Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (HEROS) as a Mentor. Each week Justin spends valuable time outside of his classroom with many of the same students he teaches on a daily basis. At HEROS he uses ice hockey to teach life skills like respect, teamwork and dedication.
His commute may be the shortest for all of our volunteers, as the arena is literally steps away from his Grade 7 classroom at Britannia Elementary School; however it may take the longest as he stops to chat and check in with many of his past, present, and future students along the way.
Justin’s dedication to all of his students includes fundraising to ensure his students learning needs are met in and outside of the classroom. Last year, he was presented the UBC Faculty of Education award to recognize his efforts. “Despite working in an inner-city school with a high number of ‘at risk’ youth, Borsato’s classroom is filled with enthusiastic students. He asks them to work hard and challenges them with demanding but engaging projects such as filmmaking, putting together newspapers, and creating their own civilizations. At Britannia Elementary, Borsato coaches sport teams, works with students to create films to combat discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, brings UBC mentors into the school during reading-week, and has developed a partnership with the DARE arts charity program based in Toronto.”