About Me
My name is Alan Colquhoun. I am a web designer, web developer, and technical instructor based in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. As shown in my resume at arcolq.com, I first started off in electronics at the end of 1986, and then completed a degree in Computer Information Systems in 1996. Akin to a long and winding road, after veering into teaching until 2008, I eventually returned to my roots as noted in my personal blog. At the start of April 2026, I did not think that I would be returning to offering Web Design services to local businesses, as well as respective individuals, but yet here I am. By September, the course was clear.
A Return to Offering Online Services
Through WordPress Solutions, I help small businesses and independent professionals make better use of technology to establish or improve their online presence — as well as communicate with their respective audiences.
Use of Old and New Technologies
My work brings together three areas of technology: WordPress, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and YouTube. Each offers different opportunities for business owners, and together they can provide a practical foundation for creating, managing, and promoting content online. My objective is not simply to build websites or introduce people to new technologies. It is to help business owners understand what these tools can do for them, how to use them effectively, and how to maintain greater control over their own online activities.
My Qualifications
As found at arcolq.com, I completed two technology programs at BCIT (Applied Web Development and Web Technologies). Training in instruction started even earlier, prior to my departure to Japan in February 2000 (Provincial Instructor Diploma). As I returned home in October 2002, this program was interrupted part way — and is accounted for in one of my BCIT websites: A Visit To Japan. After completing the final PID courses from November 2002 to March 2003, I finally did my teaching practicum in January 2004. It has indeed been a long winding road, as I graduated from UCFV in September 1996, due to delayed course transfers in accounting.
My Background
My background combines web design and development, computer systems, and technical instruction. I studied Computer Information Systems at the University of the Fraser Valley and subsequently completed web technology and applied web development studies at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). My technical education provided a foundation in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, database management, responsive design, and other aspects of web development. I have also worked with content management systems, website optimization, and the technical requirements involved in building and maintaining websites.
Since establishing ARC Web Design in 2011, I have worked on a variety of web projects, ranging from business websites and content-driven sites to creative and educational projects. My professional experience has also included WordPress website management, PHP development, search engine optimization, social media, as well as testing. As noted by Brenden Kennedy and Camelia Cirjoi, testing was something that I did a lot of while at SAP (March 2016 – November 2017). I, however, did not stop there — as I extended upon my portfolio shortly afterwards while at BCIT; my qualifications also include further work in design and development.
Online Instruction
Alongside my technical background, I also have experience in instruction and curriculum development. This is an important part of how I approach my work today: I want clients to understand the technology they are using, rather than simply receive a finished product without knowing how to manage it. One of my goals is help people maintain their own WordPress website without having to go through a middleman, as accounted for in one of my blogs: Cut Out the Middleman. As taught through ARC Web Instruction, you can also learn how to do things online.
Visit me on YouTube today for ongoing web-based lessons — and take advantage of Artificial Intelligence. Your competition is likely already making use of AI. Let AI do some of your site’s work for you, like maintenance, blogging and social media; with my assistance, let AI help you. Keep one thing in mind, however: You’re the one in control; AI can make mistakes, and so can designers and coders who make use of it. As is the case with WordPress, any use of AI needs to be supervised. It does not need to be used for everything. We can decide that together.
Feel free to read about my approach.