The Bearded Tech Teacher

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Andrew Wesley

Hello! My name is Andrew Wesley, and I’m a teacher and a proud father of two incredible boys. I love photography, philosophy, history, motorcycles, and blues guitar among other things. My passion for photography while I was serving within the Canadian Armed Forces led to me transitioning to a career shift from being an infantryman to being an imagery technician, and from that (in a roundabout way) sprung Bend the Sun. I hope you find something here that serves your needs as an educator or in some manner. If you’re looking for some resources/supports for yourself or a student, please consider checking out the Community Programs page. For the record, I receive no personal remuneration from any of the links on those pages, they’re just organizations which I felt provided a pretty solid direction for anyone to support kids.

Wedding Photography

When I started Bend the Sun it was originally a wedding photography business. I was working as an infantryman with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and photography was something I was really into, so I started shooting weddings on the side as people started to ask me to here and there. Long story short, I started to shoot more as the years went by - particularly after shifting into becoming an imagery technician. Personally, I love both the beauty of the day, and the challenge of the job. There are few types of photography that call you to apply your technical mastery in as many styles (portrait, landscape, event, etc.) on the fly and in such demanding no-fail situations - and that includes many military situations.

Education / Background

Military (2007-2019)

DP1 Infantry (3rd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment)

Journeyman Qualified (QL5) Imagery Technician (Top Candidate) - Combat Camera, Directorate of Army Public Affairs, CFSU(O)

Post Secondary

  • Advanced Diploma - Operations Management, Durham College - 2007

  • Canadian Armed Forces Officer Professional Military Education (OPME) Certificate - 2014

  • Bachelor of Military Arts and Science, Royal Military College of Canada (First Class Distinction) - 2018

  • Bachelor of Education, Queen’s University - 2020

Teaching Qualifications

  • Communications Tech, Grades 9 and 10

  • Communications Tech, Grades 11 and 12

  • Philosophy - Senior Division

  • History - Intermediate Division

  • History - Senior Division

  • Business Studies - Intermediate Division

  • Special Education, Part 1

  • Outdoor Experiential Education

  • Visual Arts, Part 1

  • Co-operative Education, Part 1

  • Technological Design, Grades 9 and 10

  • Junior Division (Grades 4-6)

  • Religious Education in Catholic Schools, Part 1

  • Student Assessment and Evaluation

  • Classroom Management