Student Spotlight: Ivan Taranukha of BCS2000  

Biggar Central School 2000 Grade 10 student Ivan Taranukha brings creativity, leadership, and a passion for storytelling to every project he takes on. At 15 years old, Ivan has already built an impressive portfolio of videos, podcasts, and collaborative productions.

Originally from Ukraine, Ivan moved to Canada at age five. He first lived in Esterhazy before relocating to Biggar in 2019.

Ivan’s interest in media production began early and quickly grew into a dedicated pursuit. He has led many creative projects, from hosting in‑game events with friends to directing a crew for short‑film work. Among his achievements, he considers the What Makes Us Biggar video his best work to date. He produced this video as part of his Grade 9 English Language Arts (ELA) class, and it provides an exciting introduction to all the sites around Biggar.  Ivan’s Principal and Grade 9 ELA teacher Sean Lockwood stated: “Ivan is an absolute genius on computers and when it comes to filming and editing. He is making an awesome contribution to the school.” Watch What Makes Us Biggar below.

Editing is one aspect of production that especially inspires him. “I love the opportunity to take something unfinished and polish it, making it truly stand out,” he explained.

Ivan is always looking for opportunities to expand his knowledge of video production and other creative pursuits. He participated in both the March and October Creator Olympics events in 2025 and is currently a member of the Sun West Student Leadership Program. As member of Team Sun West he hopes to use his marketing skills to help promote the upcoming Sun West Student Leadership Program.

Ivan is already looking ahead to future ideas. He is planning a gaming‑genre video as well as a cinematic short film about Remembrance Day, a project he hopes to create with his sister. He also aims to enter a Remembrance Day video contest. He has also contributed to the Spotlight Series podcast. He is even collaborating with friends on an original screenplay for a project that will be something like a musical.

Much of Ivan’s work can be found on his YouTube channel, where he showcases his videos alongside a few collaborations created with friends. View his YouTube channel here. 

Ivan’s enthusiasm, vision, and dedication continue to make a positive impact on the school community and point to a promising creative future. Ivan plans on going to university to get a full-time career but also plans to always have a “side-hustle” as a free-lance videographer and video producer.

What Makes Us Biggar