Tackling new challenges has been the mark of Garry Kiziak’s career in education, particularly in computer education. He tells the story of translating Sheridan College’s microcomputer mathematics course from Commodore Pet to Apple II. It meant rewriting several hundred programs, his payment being two floppy disk drives for his own Apple II computer. He ruefully calls himself “naive” on that project, but it clearly helped lead him forward in using and teaching computer science.
His own academic career includes high school at Huron Park H. S. in Woodstock, then an undergraduate degree in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry at the University of Toronto, followed by a Masters Degree from U. of T. in 1968. One of his favourite U. of T. professors is another Descartes Medallist, Ed Barbeau. Garry began teaching in 1971 at Burlington Central H.S. Over the years he has headed a number of departments at the school and is still there, now head of Mathematics, Science, Business and Computer Science.
A sports enthusiast at a younger age, Garry has traded skates and cleats for woodworking tools and travel brochures.  When he’s not travelling or planning his latest carpentry project, he and his wife Dianne are very involved with their church.