Our Team
Experience, Excellence, and Passion
Our Commitment to Quality
Ensures Satisfaction
Mission
By integrating human expertise with cutting-edge technology, our suite of safety learning solutions continues to set the standard in the industry.
Vision
The market leader in innovative & collaborative safety learning solutions, getting you and yours home safely.
Values
- Customer Focus
- Professionalism
- Innovation
- Quality
- Teamwork
Family Owned & Operated
Our family is bigger than the four of us. We embrace and thank all of our staff who dedicate themselves to making our roads safer. They are our family too. Without our team we are just four people with obvious competitive problems! Between KnowledgeSurge and DriveWise, we have grown from one facility serving Barrie to a group of companies serving the Road Transportation industry worldwide. Our entire team is extremely proud of our 99.9%+ client recommended programs. Whether you are looking for a high quality trucking school or an approved driving instructor program, we are here for you. We are passionate about everything, including our hockey! Thank you for visiting us and I hope we earn the right to serve you.
– Lesley de Repentigny, President & CEO
Management Team
Our team delivers quality, integrity and professionalism. We embrace a culture of lifelong learning and team collaboration.
Lesley is a highly experienced training Professional with over 30 years in advanced learning. She is a recipient of the Brock University Alumni of Distinction Award and twice been named to the Profit W100 for Canada's top female CEOs. She is a passionate visionary who has dedicated her life to improving workplace safety. Lesley began her career as an officer in the Canadian Forces. Prior to founding her companies, Lesley was Vice President of Adacel, a world leading aerospace training company. She led contracts with NASA, the FAA, United States Air Force, the Canadian Forces and Nav Canada amongst others.
Martin has over 30 years in advanced learning training. He has instructed at the university level and holds a Masters degree in Engineering. Martin is a certified Driving Instructor and has completed Teaching and Training Adults. He is also Kirkpatrick certified in the 4 Levels of Evaluation. Martin is a retired officer from the Canadian Forces.
Katherine has over 15 years experience in Adult Learning and Program Management with KnowledgeSurge Institute and DriveWise. Her passion for road safety and client satisfaction leads us to our 99%+ client recommendation rating. From conceptualization to implementation, she has demonstrated a keen ability to navigate complex business landscapes, identify key opportunities, and develop innovative strategies that align with organizational objectives. Katherine has an MBA from the Smith School of Business at Queen's University. She is Kirkpatrick certified in the 4 Levels of Evaluation and has completed Teaching and Training Adults.
Matt has spent over 15 years in advanced learning solutions. Matt led the development team on our award winning air brake simulator and our new Toolbox simulator. He is an ardent advocate of advanced learning tools and keeps our state of the art environments humming. Matt has completed Teaching and Training Adults.
Rhiannon is an award-winning manager with over 20 years experience in the Training, Learning and Development field. With a proven track record of success, she is a dedicated and results-oriented professional adept at driving business growth. Having honed her expertise across diverse industries, Rhiannon brings a wealth of expertise to the table. Rhiannon excels in fostering collaborative relationships both internally and externally, leveraging strong communication skills to effectively liaise with cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and clients. With meticulous attention to detail, she ensures that programs are executed with precision, on time, and within budget, exceeding expectations at every turn. Driven by a passion for continuous improvement, Rhiannon is constantly seeking new ways to streamline processes, enhance efficiencies, and deliver unparalleled value to clients.
Jaime has over 5 years of experience in Sales, Marketing, and Account management, during which she has consistently demonstrated exceptional skills in building and maintaining client relationships. She enjoys interacting and getting to know clients, and approaches all situations with a friendly and positive attitude.She has a creative mindset and a passion for forming meaningful connections. Jaime holds an Honours Bachelors of Business Administration degree with a focus in Marketing.
OUR INSTRUCTORS
Don brings over 20 years of Transportation industry instruction. He has driven for some of the largest Commercial Trucking firms in Canada and is a licensed driving instructor. Don is qualified to teach all of our programs. Don is a certified Driver Instructor Trainer. In addition to completing BDIC/BCIC, he has completed Teaching & Training Adults as well as our continual training series with Georgian College. Don is a passionate lifelong advocate of Road Safety.
With nearly 50 years behind the wheel and more than 20 years as a truck driving instructor, Dave brings extensive real-world experience to every lesson. Before joining DriveWise, he worked as a long-distance owner-operator, giving him firsthand knowledge of the trucking industry. Dave especially enjoys teaching the Air Brakes program and helping students connect classroom learning with practical skills. When he’s not training future professional drivers, you’ll likely find him enjoying his passion for motorcycles.
With more than 50 years of experience on the road and six years with DriveWise KnowledgeSurge, Jim brings a lifetime of trucking knowledge to his students. Throughout his career, he has gained extensive industry experience that helps future drivers develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Jim enjoys sharing his knowledge and helping prepare the next generation of professional truck drivers. When he’s not teaching or on the road, he loves spending time with his grandkids and relaxing in his pool.
With more than 32 years as a licensed AZ driver and five years as a truck driving instructor, John brings decades of experience to his students. He spent over 22 years hauling fuel, where safety, responsibility, and attention to detail were essential every day. John’s favourite part of teaching is watching students develop their skills, pass their tests, and take the next step toward a trucking career. Away from work, he’s an avid collector of original Star Wars movie memorabilia, with a collection of more than 1,000 pieces!
With more than 30 years in the trucking industry, Dom brings extensive industry knowledge to his role as a truck driving instructor, which he began this year. His career started in dispatch before he moved behind the wheel, giving him a well-rounded understanding of trucking operations. Dom enjoys teaching students and helping them develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to succeed in the industry. He’s excited to share his experience and help the next generation of professional drivers begin their trucking careers.
With over 42 years of experience in the trucking industry and five years in driver training, Lynn brings extensive knowledge and real-world experience to every lesson. Before becoming an instructor, she drove trucks across Canada and into the United States, gaining valuable experience to share with future commercial drivers. Her favourite part of teaching is seeing the “Ah-ha!” moment when everything clicks, and students build their skills and confidence. When she’s not training the next generation of truck drivers, Lynn enjoys gardening.
Testimonials
Don't just take our word for it!
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I had an excellent experience with this truck driving school during my DZ truck driving training and exams! The instructors were absolutely fantastic. … More They were professional, patient, knowledgeable, and supportive throughout the entire process. The air brake training and hands on driving were practical and relevant to landing a real job in the commercial driving field. The equipment and simulator hands on time exceeded what was promised. The equipment and environment is class!
They took the time to explain everything clearly, build my confidence, and make sure I was well prepared for both the practical training and the exams. Their encouragement, experience, and dedication made a huge difference in my learning experience.
I highly recommend this school to anyone looking to get their DZ licence or any commercial driving training. Great instructors, great training, and an overall excellent experience!
Thanks for all your help and support! Five stars well deserved! 🚛
RossB -
The staff and instructors were incredibly helpful, friendly, and professional throughout my experience. The driving instructors I had John, Dom, and Dave … More did an amazing job preparing me for my DZ road test.
They were extremely knowledgeable and made sure I was as prepared as possible to succeed. Every little detail they taught me was helpful, and they took the time to point out any areas where I could improve. Rather than simply telling me what I was doing wrong, they explained how to correct it and helped me build better driving habits.
By the time I took my road test, I felt much more confident in my abilities and prepared for what I was going to face. I’m happy to say that I passed my DZ road test, and I genuinely feel that the training and guidance I received played a huge part in that success.
Thanks to all of the staff that helped train and prepare me to succeed -
When I was looking for a truck driving school I tossed up going with KnowledgeSurge or another school. At the end of it all, I can confidently say that … More I have NO REGRETS and I’m VERY HAPPY that I went with KnowledgeSurge!
The experience was positive from the start. Rhiannon and Chelsey took extremely good care of me at the front desk and I will forever be grateful for their help! The theory and lessons taught by Dave and Don made for a relaxed and easy learning environment and I felt well prepared to go into the main part of my driving hours.
My main driving instructor was John; an amazing teacher and all-round great guy! John ensured that I knew all the technicalities required as well as things that only his many years of experience can teach. It was the perfect blend of formal training embedded in lived experience. To John, I say an even more special thank you! I couldn’t have gotten my AZ licence without you!
Anybody looking for a trucking school, look no further, KnowledgeSurge is the best choice!
