Matthew has been conducting educational workshops for over 25 years and during that time he has visited over 900 schools across Ontario. He started teaching as the founder of the Canadian Improv Showcase and still conducts workshops with them as well as with the Knights in the Classroom.
His formal post-secondary education was in Marketing and Advertising for which he received an Honours Diploma from Georgian College in Barrie. He also has a Technical Certificate in Radio and Television Broadcasting from the National Institute of Broadcasting in Toronto. But it has been suggested on more than one occasion that he must have a degree in history because of his wealth of knowledge and zest for learning and education. Alas, his interest and knowledge of history is greatly due to his marriage to an elementary school teacher. He was actually married in a medieval ceremony and that was just the beginning.
However, upon looking back at his life and upbringing, Matthew has always had a keen interest in history even if it wasn't in the form of reading. Matthew started doing archery at the age of 8 in his backyard in Brampton, learning the art along side his older brother. After moving to Holland Landing when he was 12 Matthew would go on to compete in high school and become the York Region Archery Champion, setting a record that still stands today.
Later, after suffering a horrible accident that almost rendered him unable to walk, he took up Olympic-style epee fencing as a way of proving to himself that he was indeed completely healed. From there he began studying medieval martial arts, gaining experience while training with the Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts in Toronto. He is also an avid sword collector. His collection currently contains more than 50 swords, proudly displayed throughout his home.
His formal post-secondary education was in Marketing and Advertising for which he received an Honours Diploma from Georgian College in Barrie. He also has a Technical Certificate in Radio and Television Broadcasting from the National Institute of Broadcasting in Toronto. But it has been suggested on more than one occasion that he must have a degree in history because of his wealth of knowledge and zest for learning and education. Alas, his interest and knowledge of history is greatly due to his marriage to an elementary school teacher. He was actually married in a medieval ceremony and that was just the beginning.
However, upon looking back at his life and upbringing, Matthew has always had a keen interest in history even if it wasn't in the form of reading. Matthew started doing archery at the age of 8 in his backyard in Brampton, learning the art along side his older brother. After moving to Holland Landing when he was 12 Matthew would go on to compete in high school and become the York Region Archery Champion, setting a record that still stands today.
Later, after suffering a horrible accident that almost rendered him unable to walk, he took up Olympic-style epee fencing as a way of proving to himself that he was indeed completely healed. From there he began studying medieval martial arts, gaining experience while training with the Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts in Toronto. He is also an avid sword collector. His collection currently contains more than 50 swords, proudly displayed throughout his home.