Nadine Partrtridge

I grew up in Northern Ontario, as far as you can drive on Hwy 11. My dad worked for the Ministry of Natural Resources and my mom stayed home to look after my brother and I. We moved quite allot and by the time I graduated high school I had attended seven different schools (3 grade schools, 4 high schools). My parents divorced when I was twelve, but that really did not phase me as I am an extremely independent and self-sufficient individual.

I was fortunate to have all four of my grandparents growing up and even a great grandma for a time. As a child, we spent most weekends with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. My mom’s half of my family is French Canadian, so there were hordes of us, always someone to play with and always trouble to get into.

I moved south to Thunder Bay to attend senior high school. I also joined the Navy Reserve at the age of 17 and became a Diesel Engineer before graduating. I started at Lakehead University in 1987 and was promoted from the ranks to become a Navigations Officer in the Navy. At University, I majored in Phys Ed, but switched to Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism / Biology mid way through my first year. After all, growing up in Northern Ontario I was used to spending most of my time outdoors. I love it and if someone wanted to seriously pay me to work outdoors this is what I wanted to do with myself.

I worked hard at school and in the reserves. I gained a variety of experiences through work and study both. I worked summers with Forestry Canada, Provincial and National Parks, Old Fort William, Tree Lifting, and Research Project Slave.  During the school year, I also worked; bar tending at a curling club, teaching canoeing at the Canada Games Complex, being a teaching assistant, and training with the Reserves. With the Reserves, I spent many weekends and most school breaks training on either the east or the west coast and sometimes on Lake Superior.

I met my husband at University through a friend. He had released from the Regular army to attend Lakehead. We were married in 1991 and have been married for 20 years.

After graduation, I headed off to work with the Navy on the West Coast while my husband headed east to work with the Army Reserve. I was offered an extended contract on the west coast and so Roger headed west, picking up our stuff and dogs in Thunder Bay. We lived in Victoria for almost 2 years before I left the Navy and we moved to Sooke, a small fishing village on the west coast of Vancouver Island where I became the first Community Recreation Coordinator for the Sooke Electoral Area Parks and Recreation Commission (SEAPARC). This is where I started my career in recreation. I spent over 10 years with that department, growing, learning, and developing my skills in the profession.  I was co-president of the BCRPA Vancouver Island advisory board and volunteered with many other groups and organisations. I furthered my education at the University of Victoria, enhancing my background in Business Administration and Management.

My son, Rhys was born on October 31, 2000 on the day we at SEAPARC opened its Aquatics Complex. 

In 2003 we all (including the dogs)moved back to Ontario, so as to be closer to our family.  We moved to Keswick where I worked with the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority as the Land Management Coordinator, moved to Renfrew where I worked as the Recreation Program Developer for the town for 6 years , started working on an MBA because I was bored .... And moved to Odessa in June 2010.

I worked as the Manager, Recreation Program Services for the City of Kingston, Recreation and Leisure Services Departmentona one year contract   .

I started teaching at Loyalist College last January, so this is in effect my first anniversary. Last year I taught Group Dynamics and Intro to Program Design and last term I taught Outdoor Programming. It has been an awesome experience, being able to take what I have learned in the profession and translate it into teaching.

I also love to travel and have introduced my son to over 15 different countries since he was six and to numerous canoeing and camping adventures in Ontario and on the east coast of Canada.

Incidentally, I also teach two - six Zumba classes a week for Goodlife Fitness and love the energy of my students.

I work only to earn enough money to live well and to play hard.