Alumni Profiles

Josh Bernier ‘07, lives in Ottawa, Ontario with his wife, Tari, and three sons. He has worked for the Government of Canada in various roles – and various locations – since 2010. He and Tari lived in four provinces together (including Alberta and Quebec) by their fourth wedding anniversary in 2019! Josh graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a Political Science degree in 2013 and is an immigration advisor with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. He provides guidance to immigration officers on one hand and gives advice on developing/improving Canada’s immigration programs on the other. His favourite high school subject was World Issues and his favourite classes in university were about public administration, so he feels lucky to apply both of those disciplines in his work every day.

Josh’s favourite hobby/obsession is geocaching. He has found more than 10,000 of them since 2012 across all 10 Canadian provinces and half the US states. His other hobbies include hiking, kayaking, and exploring eastern North America, all with his young family. He also hopes to one day visit all the provincial/territorial/state/federal legislatures in Canada and the United States (currently at 29 of 65).

Josh remains grateful for his 13 years at LCS, which continue to influence his life, relationships, and decisions. His eldest son attends a private Christian school in Ottawa, and he remains in the LCS “orbit” through his niece in grade 1, the “Epic Journey” mug he still uses on occasion, and by attending Grant Memorial Church on visits home.

Damon Hart ‘10 is the Service Engineering Manager for the Helicopters Business Unit at StandardAero, one of the world’s largest maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) providers in the world. Damon has worked at StandardAero for nearly nine years, and joined the Helicopters Business Unit in 2023. He and his engineering teams support customers who rely on the Rolls-Royce M250/RR300, Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6T and PW200, and the Safran Arriel 1 & 2 engine lines.

Damon enjoys learning and education; he graduated with a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Manitoba in 2016, obtained his Professional Engineer designation in 2020, and began the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at the University of Manitoba in 2023. He enjoys aligning concepts between classroom lessons and workplace experiences, and pursuing excellence with his teams.

Damon played trombone with the Open Sky Orchestra (2011-2019), raising over $50,000 for cancer research, and performed with the Grant Memorial Baptist Church worship team, Chapel Brass, Missionfest Manitoba ensembles, and Linden Christian School pit bands.

Damon loves to spend time with family, including his wife Anna, and children Julian (3) and Scarlett (1). Damon and Anna share a love of travel and have visited various countries together, including St. Lucia, Iceland, Italy, and France.

Damon wants to continue gaining experience as an engineer and leader, and is excited for the

future. StandardAero is a worldwide company and the aerospace sector is strong in Manitoba –Damon hopes to make a positive impact with those he interacts with both inside and outside of the workplace.

Jacqueline Keena ’10 is the Managing Director of EMILI, the newly created Premier’s Business and Jobs Council in Manitoba. In this role, she is able to advocate for the future of AGtech in the province and share her passion for innovation.

Jacqueline is enthusiastic about working with a talented group of business leaders to shape Manitoba’s economic strategy. “I look forward to collaborating with this diverse council and helping our province thrive,” she said. Jacqueline is committed to embracing new technologies to drive growth and sustainability in the agriculture sector..

In order to position Manitoba as a global leader in food production, her focus will be on digital agriculture, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. She believes that the province plays a vital role in Canada’s agricultural future, which supports 1 in 9 jobs nationwide.

We’re proud to see her making such impactful contributions to the community and beyond!

Mark MacKinnon ’13 – Mark is the Lead Strength Coach at Focus Fitness, the official training facility of the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose. He assists in program design and implements training programs for all ages, from elementary school-aged kids to professional-level athletes. He would like to be part of a professional team one day or take over his own high-level strength facility.

Mark attended Briercrest College and Seminary, graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a minor in Kinesiology. During this time, he played 5 years of college hockey for Briercrest in the ACAC (Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference) and sits fifth in all-time games played for the league. Following his tenure at Briercrest, he pursued hockey and played in Sweden. In 2020, Mark earned his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) qualification, and he is currently enrolled in the University of Western Pennsylvania’s Masters of Exercise Science program with concentrations in applied sports science and nutrition.

Mark stays active by being part of an adult recreational team, which includes many LCS alumni, helping him stay in touch with his former classmates. He is enthusiastic about helping aspiring athletes reach their goals while also seeking out new physical challenges for himself. He also aims to create opportunities and support current Linden Christian athletes in achieving their future sports objective. In the summer, he enjoys playing golf.

Mark’s time at Linden was greatly influenced by the lasting friendships he formed through his classes and participation in high school sports. Most notably, he was part of the inaugural hockey team season in 2012-2013, in which the team made it to the league finals and Mark was named league MVP. He valued the support he received from the school’s outstanding staff and teachers, who were instrumental in helping him reach his potential and providing constant encouragement. He believes no other school in the province provides such an exceptional level of care.

Kara Alvaro ’15 is a proud graduate of the University of Winnipeg, where she earned her degree in geography and math, followed by an education degree specializing in K-8 teaching. After completing her studies, Kara moved to Langley, British Columbia, to pursue her calling in vocational ministry with Village Church. She is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership (‘26) at Trinity Western University

Now serving as a Youth Pastor at Village Church, Kara leads the Village Youth program, where she writes curriculum, teaches, and builds relationships with students and their families. Her leadership impacts over 300 students and families, fostering an environment for meaningful conversations about faith, culture, and life. Kara is constantly amazed by the deep curiosity today’s youth show in their questions about faith and the world.

Kara’s passion for public speaking has led to numerous opportunities to share her voice and story. From being a guest speaker at summer camps to leading sessions at the Youth Worker Community Conference and speaking on Sundays at Village Church locations, Kara has used her gift of storytelling to influence and shape others. She feels privileged to have the chance to speak into the lives of many, and she considers it an incredible honour to be part of their spiritual journeys.

Kara, recently married to Ralph, head of marketing and communications at Langley Christian School, is passionate about developing future leaders and fostering a love for the Canadian church. She enjoys visiting family in Winnipeg, long-distance running, hosting dinner parties, playing with her nieces, traveling, and reading. Her creativity, thoughtfulness, and love for people shape her personal and professional life.

Kara is grateful for the foundation Linden Christian School gave her during 13 years as a student, shaping her faith and career through intentional education, community, and Gospel-centered values. She looks forward to seeing how God works in the lives of LCS graduates and the school’s future impact.

Kara is dedicated to furthering her knowledge and skills in curriculum development and leadership. She remains passionate about creating high-quality educational programs, especially within the church, as she continues to grow and serve in ministry.

MacKenzie (Sarvis) Wilke ’15 graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Genetics from the University of Manitoba in 2020. Her honours focused on analyzing family genomic data related to Autism Spectrum Disorder to explore potential genetic causes. Following this, she earned her MSc in Computational Biology in 2022, where her research focused on utilizing genomics to predict and prevent adverse drug reactions associated with chemotherapy.

Currently, MacKenzie works as a computational biologist at the National Microbiology Lab, part of the Public Health Agency of Canada. Her primary research involves predicting antimicrobial resistance through whole-genome sequencing and machine learning methods across various bacterial organisms which are of concern in hospitals across Canada.  MacKenzie also works on identifying and reporting antifungal resistance trends in samples from across the country.

In addition to her professional pursuits, MacKenzie actively mentors high school girls interested in STEM and bioinformatics. She is passionate about volunteering, having held various roles with nonprofits, academic institutions, government bodies, and church organizations. MacKenzie attends Grant Memorial Church with her husband and values her connection to LCS.