New head of school sees similarities between Calgary and his French home
Frederic Canadas joins team at Lycee Louis Pasteur
Frederic Canadas, 54, is the new head of school at Lycee Louis Pasteur in Calgary. He holds a bachelor’s degree in science of education, a master’s degree in education and a post-graduate diploma in using multimedia for language learning.
An educator for more than three decades, including 22 years in administration, Canadas has worked in Honduras, India, Madagascar, France, Finland, the United States and Canada. He came to Calgary in 2017 as vice-principal at Lycee Louis Pasteur, and became the school’s head of school this past August.
Originally from Grenoble, France, Canadas finds Calgary’s climate and surroundings similar to his hometown. “You can go skiing in the Alps half an hour from downtown Grenoble,” says Canadas, who is looking forward to exploring the Rockies as a skier and hiker.
A non-denominational private bilingual day school for students from preschool to Grade 12, Lycee Louis Pasteur is a member of a network of nearly 500 schools in 137 countries, and is the only school in Calgary to teach the curricula of both the French Ministry of Education and Alberta Education.
Canadas’ wife, Odile, teaches Grade 3 at Lycee Louis Pasteur. The couple’s son Nathan, 20, is in political science and international studies at Columbia University in New York City, and their daughter Ociane, 23, is starting a master’s degree in business administration at Concordia University in Montreal.
Q. How would your best friend describe you?
A. I think they would say I have a hard-to-win friendship, but I’m very loyal, so when I give my friendship I’m really loyal and it’s usually for a long time, if not forever.
Q. What would your students or staff be surprised to learn you like to do in your personal time or on a day off?
A. I love hiking and I love the mountains. I’m a photographer — I like to take pictures of nature and wildlife. I’m also a pianist — I did 12 years of piano at the conservatory in Grenoble. I gave that passion for music to both of my kids and I’m very proud of that.
I’m a second dan black belt in judo. In France, where judo is a pretty popular sport, I was involved in national competitions. My children are also black belts in judo.
I do yoga now. I love it, because it’s a lot of fun, with stretching, relaxation and meditation, but it’s exercising as well, so you’re maintaining your body and your spirit in good condition, managing stress and being balanced all the times when you interact with people.
Q. What three things could you not live without?
A. I’m a technology geek and I can’t be too far from my iPhone, my iPad and my laptop. Not to mention, of course, my family.
Q. What was your first job?
A. I started as a camp supervisor and teaching school when I was 18, doing my university degree. Q. Who was the most influential teacher you had as a student, or the most influential teacher you have worked with?
A. As a student, I was inspired by my grades 6 and 7 French literature teacher, Monsieur Pons. That was a revelation for me, because before that I was more interested by math and science.
I started teaching at the French American International School in San Francisco in 1992. For two years, I had an American teacher, Harriet Schiffer Scott, as a teaching partner. She taught me a different approach, and again, it was a revelation for me, this time as a teacher.
Q. What most excites you about being a principal at Lycee Louis Pasteur?
A. First, it’s the students — I love to help them succeed and become the best they can be. And of course, the teachers, helping them do the best job they can. I’m really a problem solver, so helping people is both rewarding and fulfilling to me.
Q. What does your school have bragging rights to?
A. We are truly offering a global education.