At Spirit of Excellence, we believe that every person is a diamond possessing tremendous inherent worth. Our goal is to bring out their dazzling potential as we inspire a lifestyle of excellence! Let our team of experts guide you on your journey to instill confidence and growth along the way.

JOHN KOSTI Founder ~ President ~ Drum Teacher ~ Musicianary
John’s passion is to see young people, musicians and creative artists encouraged and developed in their talents and to provide for them the opportunities to create original music, places to activate and grow their strengths and have a means of inspiration from other experienced legends and experts.

John has gracefully retired from his full-time position outside of Spirit of Excellence, to now be free to take up the mantle of leading the Ministry of Role Modeling the Spirit of Excellence and each of the divisions such as the new Rhythm of Grace and Worship Arts Institute. We have great expectations as we move into a NEW SEASON of EXPONENTIAL GROWTH!

COLLEEN KOSTI Beauty Educator ~ Esthetician ~ Personal Stylist
Besides writing curriculum for the ministry programs (most notably the Esther Finishing School, SOE™ program for preteen & teen girls), Colleen is active as the Director of the Spirit of Excellence Creativity Centre, where hundreds of children have attend free after-school programs and taken classes in various arts and skills.

Colleen’s dedication and persistence have enabled her to develop an incredible realm of expertise and experience from which to instruct and coach others in the areas of beauty, dance, poise, personality, and spirituality. She has ministered and taught abroad as far as India, First Nations reserves living on Tyendega Mohawk Reserve, Ecuador, Montreal and USA.

Faculty

VICTORIA FORTIER Makeup Artist Graduate from Kosti Beauty Institute
HILARY EAST Founding Board Member ~ Honourary Founding Member
ASHLEY BRYAN SOELIT Graduate and teen leader at QUEST
ROSE CHARLENE BARBIER Fundraising Development ~Administration and Paralegal
GORD MCCABE International Global Makeup Director KBI and Guest Lecturer
DENNIS SMITH SOE Community Events
PATRICIA WRIGHT Honours Psychology, Master MBA Human Resources & Networking
BELINDA ROBERTSON EA SOE Volunteer of the Year
KATHERINE BURTON Fine Artist
RACHEL STARR THOMSON Writer, Indie Publisher, Editor, Author
CAROLYN JOY CURREY SOE Workship Arts Ballet Instructor
LESLIE LORRAINE MCCURDY Actor/Playwright, Dancer/Choreographer, Singer Finalist Canadian Chalmers Play Award

Our Board

JOHN KOSTI Board Member
COLLEEN KOSTI Board Member
GORD MCCABE Board Member
PATRICIA WRIGHT Honours Psychology, Master MBA Human Resources & Networking

Our Story

John and Colleen Kosti are educators, musicians, artists and ordained ministers. Their desire to work as urban missionaries and creative artists brought them to realize the need for a place where their own daughters, and other creative young people could be accepted and encouraged to discover, develop and express their creativity and talents, and thus the Spirit of Excellence Creativity Training Centre was birthed!

John and Colleen began their life together in full time business in beauty and education, owning a salon and school opening these since her days as an instructor at the college. Through their life journey they graduated from Bible School, took family counseling courses, which led to full time mission work, pastored a children department at a church in Michigan. After returning to Windsor they founded SOE™ and then shortly after miraculously obtained buildings in the historical Ford City Windsor.

At Spirit of Excellence, we believe that every young person is a diamond possessing tremendous inherent worth. Our goal is to bring out their dazzling potential as we inspire a lifestyle of excellence!

A Registered Charity committed to Discovering, Developing & Activating Potential-Releasing Creativity-Relieving Poverty! Training for youth developing leadership & life skills of Excellence through the Arts, Music and a Lifestyle of Excellence!

Within Windsor urban community, we have provided mentoring in the creative arts (including writing, dance, acting, music, drumming, flags, and more) and in personal and professional skills (including image & poise, communication & public speaking, hygiene, cosmetology, computer skills, and working with media).

Today, founders Colleen & John Kosti are going beyond the urban community to take the vision and expertise of SOE™ around the globe.

“Spirit of Excellence™ programs bring in young people from all ethnic, economic, and educational backgrounds. Sponsorship and scholarship programs enable students from underprivileged areas to participate fully. At SOE, we are all on the same team!”

Heaven’s Rehearsal Rogers Centre

Our Training Centre

At Spirit of Excellence, we strive to enable young people to enhance their lives, leading by example and letting them know they are not limited to their surroundings or circumstances they can be resourceful they can achieve that dream!

We work with artists and professionals, locally and globally, to help young people discover their unique, God-given creativity and develop mastery and leadership skills in a creative, safe, confidence-building environment.

Within Windsor urban community, we have provided mentoring in the creative arts (including writing, dance, acting, music, drumming, flags, and more) and in personal and professional skills (including image & poise, communication & public speaking, hygiene, cosmetology, computer skills, and working with media).

Far more than just another after-school program, we train students in the building blocks of life!

The Spirit of Excellence Creativity Training Centre moved in 2015. The new location is at the Water’s Edge, the former Our Lady of the Rosary Church which was re-purposed into the Water’s Edge Centre. We are in the adjoining former Rectory and share the beautiful Ivy Courtyard and ground on Riverside Drive East.