Tina-Marie Meyer
Shares her Passion for Family, Coaching & Building Strong Relationships
By Janine Tasaka
For those of you who grew up in North Vancouver, do you remember the Stoker Farm and their frosty glass bottles of milk? “Stoker Farm at 29th & Lonsdale was my great grandparents’ farm,” says this vibrant woman. “Great- Grandma Marie is part of my namesake!”
Tina-Marie Meyer grew up on the North Shore, moving between North and West Vancouver. She swam competitively as a youth, walked the trails along Capilano River, and regularly skied at both Grouse and Whistler Mountains. Capilano River is still one of her favorite places to spend time. “The Capilano Suspension Bridge is a close second, but nothing beats those Cap River trails.”
As a young adult, Tina-Marie worked in both her grandparents’ family businesses. Her paternal grandfather was Edward A. Newcombe, who owned Newcombe Realty & Insurance - a well-known Vancouver establishment.
“I worked there as a 22-year-old receptionist and obtained my Real Estate License a couple of years later,” she says. “It was a pleasure to learn from my Grandfather and share time exploring the city with him.”
Her maternal Grandmother Wendy B. MacDonald (nee Stoker) was well known in the business world as a powerful female CEO in a male-dominated industry. She stepped into running BC Bearing Engineers Limited when her husband at the time, went off to war. “I like to think that my optimism, and inability to see failure as a bad thing, are qualities derived from both my Mom, Penny Omnes, and my Grandmother,” says Tina-Marie. “Having the opportunity to work alongside them, and other extended family members is an experience I will never forget. It fuels my passion to bring Co-Active Coaching into the workplace.
“People are naturally creative, resourceful, and whole - we are not broken and we don’t need fixing.”
Photo By Sara Paley Photography
Today, Tina-Marie is a personal growth and relationship coach, and her introduction to coaching was quite organic. She immersed herself in her children’s schooling, and this blossomed into extensive volunteer assistance, both in and out of the classroom. “I built trust with the students and teachers, and became known as someone who could hold space, build relationships and enhance learning,” she says. Knowing this, and wanting a career that offered flexibility so she could be with her children, Tina-Marie started exploring the world of Coaching. She knew that she had found her calling the day she attended her first in-person course at CTI - Co-Active Training Institute, in 2005. “After completing Certification, I realized my personal life was benefitting as much as my professional life,” says Tina-Marie.
“I loved the positive impact this was having on all of my relationships, so I continued my studies with CRR Global - a sister company to CTI.”
Then in 2008, another exciting journey began. Tina-Marie and a couple of girlfriends started a non-profit organization called “Joy of Learning Network” to support families whose kids were struggling in the traditional education system. “We ran a weekend conference, presented our workshops to families at Cleveland Elementary School, and participated in the NVSD Teacher’s Professional Development Workshops,” she says.
This was inspired by her own children’s struggles with the standard education system. “After three of my four kids moved in and out of the traditional school system, we discovered alternative learning. This education system blew my mind, opened my heart, and put me on the path to bring coaching into schools.” Tina-Marie was hired as an Academic Life Coach and educators had access to weekly coaching with her - eventually, all the staff became ALC trained. “I enjoy working with educators and youth. Helping people discover their agency is my pleasure,” smiles Tina-Marie.
Today, Tina-Marie is a new faculty member for CTI and her work includes training the next generation of Co-Active Coaches as well as maintaining her private practice, which includes bringing coaching into schools, families, and small businesses.
“Having grown up in family businesses, I was motivated to bring relationship coaching into families and organizations.”
A typical workday for Tina-Marie can include coaching a grandfather who is seeking better familial relationships, an elementary school girl struggling with anxiety, a young man finding his footing in the world, and/or a new mother who is working on being in a healthy relationship with her family, while also embarking on a new career. “I love my job because I work with a range of ages and stages. I am humbled each time a family approaches me to work with them and/or their children,” she says. “I am particularly proud of my ‘Parent as Coach’ workshops which I hold on Zoom now. Parents learn the tools necessary to be in the right relationship with themselves, and then others. They learn to communicate effectively and get curious about their kids, instead of reacting to them.
Tina-Marie also enjoys cooking, sewing, walking her two dogs, dancing with NSAD, thrifting, and working out with her kids. “Lately, my two daughters and I have been going to spin classes and that is a hard workout!” she says. “I love spending time with my adult children, often doing whatever activity they enjoy most.
When asked what she loves about her neighborhood, Tina-Marie says, “I adore Edgemont and love meeting with my clients at the various coffee shops. We enjoy a beverage together and sit-and-chat or grab one to go for a walk-and-talk throughout the neighborhood. It’s so quaint and the perfect spot to raise a family.” Being a single mother in a smaller, family-focused community, meant that safety was never a huge concern and everyone watched out for each other’s kids.
“We loved attending the Friday music nights in the Village, and we love eating our favorite sandwiches from La Galleria or Delany’s.”
Photo By Sarah Moldenhauer, Sarah Jane Photography
With COVID, many of Tina-Marie’s travel plans - both personally and professionally - have been halted, as with many people. This has been a great opportunity for the family to slow down and spend more time together locally. “Since before I was born, my family has been traveling up to our cabin at Halfmoon Bay on the Sunshine Coast. Staying in BC has allowed us to spend more time up there this summer with our extended family and it’s been lovely,” reflects Tina-Marie. “My grandmother, Wendy B. MacDonald, created this magical space for her 10 children, many grandchildren, and even more great-grandchildren, to enjoy for years to come.
Prior to that, the most memorable vacation was when Tina-Marie’s ex-husband, his nephew, and their four children vacationed to Huatulco, Mexico together. “Unintentionally and ironically, we ended up spending what would have been our 25th wedding anniversary together as a family in Mexico,” smiles Tina-Marie. “This may sound like an episode of Modern Family, and that is exactly what we are. Since separating, my ex-husband and I have learned how to communicate and be in a healthy relationship.” The two are on very good terms and will often spend birthdays, holidays, and weekend soccer games together. “In a roundabout way, this has actually brought us closer together as a family,” reflects Tina-Marie. “I owe a lot of that to what I learned from CTI. It has truly changed my life. Not only did it help me raise four beautiful, thoughtful, and responsible now-adult children, it has enhanced my relationship with their father, and has impacted my clients in life-changing ways.”
When asked if she has words that she tries to live by, Tina-Marie says, “People are naturally creative, resourceful and whole - we are not broken and we don’t need fixing. What we need is a safe space to explore what is going on for ourselves, often with a witness, and to come to our own conclusions. This creates internal motivation, which leads to a transformation. This is a statement I work and live by.”
