People

Stephen Mitchell

Board Chair

Stephen has lived in Northern Ontario for more than half his life. He moved to Thunder Bay to attend Lakehead University, where he completed a master's degree in sociology. He is married and has a son, and he and his family love outdoor activities, including Nordic and alpine skiing. At Tapiola, he and his son Campbell have been grooming the trails for skiing and assisting with trail maintenance throughout the year. Stephen and his wife Dawn also love to walk their dog Duke at the trails in the summer. In his day job, Stephen works for the province in Corrections.

Liisa Hymander

Pre-school Co-op, Parent & Infant, Parent &Toddler, Homeschool Nature Program

Growing with the Northern Lights School since the beginnings, Liisa adventurously carried the blended kindergarten to Grade 2 class in the early years. Now after a maternity leave in 2022/2023 she will be joining us as the pedagogical lead and program co-ordinator. Completing Waldorf Foundation Studies, Liisa started her first year of Waldorf teacher studies at the Rudolf Steiner Centre Toronto in the summer of 2019 and completed her teacher training by 2021. An Honours Child and Youth Worker graduate, she has a spirit for creating space for others to learn, grow and connect. Liisa is a mother of four children who values curiosity and child centered learning. Her second daughter has been a student at Northern Lights since 2017. A passion for whole foods, circus arts, sewing and the outdoors keeps her smiling. Liisa looks forward to future adventures with students, families, and community.

Tamara Eyre (Tamarack)

Mentor, Creator, Nature Lover, Summer Camp

Tamara is a certified teacher who believes in getting children outside. Tamara has a joyful passion for the outdoors, and all the wonders nature has to explore. She came from Southern Ontario to join the Outdoor Recreation program at Lakehead University and fell in love with the storied landscape, making the edge of Lake Superior her home. Tamara is excited to build community and foster a love of learning in herself and all who join her.

Arlene Thorn

Arlene and her husband Joe moved in 2012 to Thunder Bay from Toronto. In 2017, she started the Northern Lights School. In September 2020, they purchased the Tapiola property to build the school there and maintain it as a recreation and ski site. they were excited for it to become a home for the school but it was not meant to be.

No door closes, but another opens, and in November 2021 Tapiola Association, a not-for-profit corporation, was created as a Nature and Ski Centre offering outdoor education, recreation and skiing.

As of March 1, 2023 Tapiola was sold to a new owner. We hope that you will continue to enjoy Tapiola as one of the gems Thunder Bay has to offer.