People

A diverse, committed and talented group of dedicated locals, our team is always eager to hear from you. Find their contact info below.

Laurie Edward

Executive Director

Laurie Edward, Executive Director

Laurie is passionate about philanthropy, inclusive community and collaborating to achieve shared aspirations. Laurie brings to her work many years of experience in program innovation, community engagement, and strategic management in many sectors including post-secondary education, national retail, financial services, and public land policy advocacy.

She has held program management roles at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and Mountain Equipment Co-op. Laurie has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from McGill University and an MBA from the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary.

She recharges by getting outside and loves to backcountry ski, run, bike, paddle and climb. Laurie and her partner and young son live in Canmore.

Hear Lauri's Podcast interview with Kristy Wolfe:

Activating Community Potential: A Conversation with the Banff Canmore Foundation

Laurie's Bio

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Jen Feikes, CPA, CGA

Director of Finance

Jen Feikes, CPA, CGA | Director of Finance

As a designated professional account, Jen brings a wealth of experience in finance and accounting, primarily in the not-for-profit and public sectors, to her role at the Foundation. Specific areas of expertise include: planning and budgeting, accounting operations, including endowment, fund, and project-based accounting, financial reporting, performance management, governance, and risk management.

Results-oriented and values-driven, she is passionate about leveraging her finance skills in building capacity of not-for-profits and charities. Jen is excited to be working with such a dedicated team of staff and volunteers at the Foundation in building a stronger and more resilient community.

Jen's Bio

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Jodi Gammad

Foundation Services Coordinator

Jodi Gammad, Foundation Services Coordinator

Jodi brings ten years of professional experience as a development communicator, trainer, editor, and manager in the fields of academics, government, banking, retail, and IT.

Her goal as an advocate of grassroots development has remained the same throughout – to bring about understanding so people and communities can make informed decisions that lead to a better life.

Jodi has a Bachelor of Science in Development Communication from the University of the Philippines and has always been passionate about process optimization, sustainable development, and community building. She’s always dreamed of being a part of a social enterprise and so, joining BCF, in a way, is her homecoming.

On weekends, she explores the beautiful Bow Valley with her husband.

Jodi's Bio

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Daryl Kootenay

Co-lead, Mini Hrpa Program

Daryl Kootenay | Co-lead, Moving Mountains Initiative

A Traditional singer, dancer, artist, father, filmmaker and youth leader from the Stoney Nakoda Nation of Treaty 7 in southern Alberta, Daryl Kootenay is co-lead of Moving Mountains Initiative.

Kootenay has travelled globally to volunteer as a participant, then an intern and employee. In 2022, Daryl led a fourth delegation of youth from his nation and Canada World Youthat the United Nations World Conference of Indigenous Peoples and the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Rights. He attended the Young Global Diplomat Forum in London England in 2019. Kootenay now dedicates much of this time to working locally with Stoney Nakoda youth and youth throughout the Bow Valley. He is a teacher of traditional art and dance, the co-founder of the Stoney Nakoda Youth Council, group leader for the Project Nakoda Outdoor Wilderness Experience (NOWE), and co-convener of the Mni Ki Wakan: World Indigenous Decade of Water Summit.

In 2017, Kootenay had the tremendous honour of being awarded the Governor General’s “Sovereignty’s Medal for Volunteers” for his work. Currently, Kootenay is Co-Lead of the Moving Mountains Initiative, working with the initiative leadership group as an advisor, designer, facilitator and co-convener.

Daryl's Bio

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Jeanie MacPherson

Co-lead, Mini Hrpa Program

Jeanie Macpherson, Co-Lead, Moving Mountains Initiative

Jeanie is a respected leader of social, digital, and business transformation in the third sector. A cultural producer with over 20 years’ experience, Jeanie innovates forward-thinking program design and strategy, inviting intersectional methodologies to her practice. A disruptor, motivator, change-maker and mom, Jean believes we should experience more joy, hope, and play in co-creating solutions to our world’s most pressing challenges, and is steadfast in encouraging nonprofit engagement with, and literacy of, digital culture. Jeanie is currently Lead for the Moving Mountain Initiative, a Bow Valley-wide initiative to strengthen civil society, and maximize the flow of Bow Valley resources to sustain and amplify socially impactful, community led work. Moving Mountains is a partnership between Banff Canmore Foundation, the Town of Banff and the Town of Canmore.

Jeanie's Bio

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Jenny Spurr

Communications Lead

Jenny Spurr | Communications Lead

A communications strategist, community connector, and storyteller, Jenny (she / her) has dedicated her career to building more vibrant and inclusive communities through storytelling. With a keen interest in representation, inclusion, and social impact, Jenny can be found at the epicentre of fund development and communications—weaving authentic connection with audiences through extraordinary storytelling. She’s helped a number of Bow Valley-based non-profits and cultural organizations strengthen their brand messaging, connect with their community, and bring attention to the causes they care about.

Jenny's Bio

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Erin Woods

Vital Signs Research Project Lead

Erin Woods | Vital Signs Research Project Lead

Principled and purposeful, Erin’s work is focused on values-driven program design and values-led facilitation and delivery. She brings extensive experience and education in organizational design, leadership development, systems theory, and cultural communication, with deep practice in arts and culture, sustainable tourism and leading and learning for social change. Erin has joined BCF’s team as part of the Vital Signs research and reporting project, using local knowledge to measure the vitality of a community and support action towards improving collective quality of life.

Erin loves working with clients who are honest about organizational, societal, and systemic barriers, who explore challenges with curiosity and humility and who approach complex problems with openness and ambition. Clients know her for thoughtful questions, her ability to see connections, understand systems and solve problems, and her lighthearted, energetic approach. What she and her clients have in common is a willingness to do serious work without taking themselves too seriously.

Erin's Bio

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Martha de Santiago

Graphic Design Lead

Martha de Santiago | Graphic Design Lead

Martha de Santiago is the graphic designer and illustrator behind Itinerant Creatures, specializing in editorial design and meaningful branding. Originally trained as a filmmaker, she has spent over a decade applying her love of storytelling to colour, shape and detail, both as in-house designer and roaming freelancer.

Martha loves working with clients from her Bow Valley home, and keeps her sense of wonder alive by exploring the mountains in her backyard and working remotely from other corners of the world. She likes to find her inspiration in liminal spaces—mountain towns, windows, the edge of most maps—and a good cup of coffee.

Martha's Bio

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Board of Directors

Banff Canmore Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, representing some of the most innovative and committed change-makers in our community.

BCF is currently recruiting for new volunteers to join our Board and Commitees. Learn more and apply today here.

Fiona Jones

Board Chair

Fiona Jones, Board Chair

Fiona is a sustainability professional with 40 years of experience in private industry in the financial and energy sectors. A graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, Fiona has held roles in financial risk management and governance, compliance and ethics, climate change and energy policy, climate risk disclosure, and, most recently, led the Sustainabilty team for a large integrated oil company. In that role she developed and integrated long-term climate change scenarios and risk assessment into the corporate strategic planning process, producing Canada’s first corporate strategic climate risk disclosure report.

A systems thinker who thrives on complex issues, non-linear concepts and “wicked” challenges, she has participated in multiple alliances and other engagement with ENGO’s and civil society to advance progressive policy and social change. She currently serves as a Board member of Pollution Probe and the Academy for Sustainable Innovation. Now retired in Canmore, Fiona is an active skier, cyclist and white water canoeist.

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Fiona's Bio

Steven Glover

Treasurer

Steven Glover, Treasurer

Steven has served in varied corporate executive roles over his career as a Chartered Accountant. These included the role of Chief Financial Officer for several Calgary based junior oil and gas companies from 2005 to 2018, with the most recent being Clearview Resources Ltd. He also served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta from 1984 to 2005.

His extensive board and governance experience includes chairing the Audit Committees for the Edmonton Community Foundation, the Caritas Health Group, Travel Alberta and Genesis Land Development Corp, and CPA Canada’s Corporate Performance Reporting Board.

Steven is a Fellow of the Alberta Chartered Professional Accountants. He holds a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo and an MBA from the University of Alberta.

Steven’s community involvements have included serving as President of the Edmonton Downtown Rotary Club, Director and executive committee member of the Winspear Foundation, and Director of the Edmonton Community Foundation. He is a current Director of Genesis Land Development Corp and the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada.

Steven's Bio

Osmond Chiu

Director

Osmond Chiu, Direcctor

As a sales and marketing professional and musician, Osmond brings a unique perspective of experience in the arts and culture scene, not-for-profit sector, and the ski industry. A big picture thinker who has a strong desire to break down barriers and expectations, he aims to create a framework where people of any age can be active community participants.

With over 15 years’ experience in the music scene, Osmond works in Sales & Marketing at Sunshine Village Ski Resort during the day curating positive experiences to turn guests into raving fans, and in the evenings he plays the occasional music gig while mentoring and inspiring the next generation of musicians. He is a current board member of Luminous Voices, Calgary’s professional chamber choir, and chairs its Marketing Committee. Osmond has a Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary.

Between winter powder day skiing in the mountains and summer road biking excursions, you can find Osmond regularly performing orchestral music with the Firebird Symphony and Chorus, Calgary Civic Symphony and Symphony of the Kootenays.

Osmond's Bio

Joanna Croston

Director

Joanna Croston, Director

Joanna Croston grew up and went to university in Eastern Canada and moved to the Canadian Rockies permanently in 1998. She has climbed many of the classic 11,000 ft peaks in the area and is an avid backcountry skier.

As a voracious reader of mountain literature and a die-hard film enthusiast, she is the Director for the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival and World Tour. Her writing has appeared in Highline Magazine, Gripped, The Canadian Alpine Journal, The Canadian Rockies Annual, Mountain Life and Alpinist. She is the author of Breaking Trail: The Chic Scott Story and her work is part of the Waymaking anthology, an award winning collection of women’s adventure writing published in Autumn 2018. She serves on the Mountain Culture Committee of the Alpine Club of Canada and is the former North American representative for the International Alliance for Mountain Film.

Joanna's Bio

Hans Helder

Director

Hans Helder, Director

Hans is a social scientist by both inclination and training. His career has been balanced between working in the public and private sectors, with a 17-year career in the Alberta public service, most of it at an executive leadership level and a 15-year career as a business executive. After retiring from paid employment, Hans was elected as a member of Canmore’s Town Council (2010-13). This has given him a unique perspective on governance through working within government, delivering services to government, and being a part of the governing process.

As an active member of the Rotary Club of Canmore, most recently as president, he has had the opportunity to get engaged and involved in a variety of voluntary and fund raising activities. These roles has taught him that while the need is always greater than the ability to meet it, the demonstrable power of collective, collaborative action, as well as the importance of investing in areas of greatest impact can and does make a difference in our community.

Hans's Bio

Kathi Irvine

Director

Kathi Irvine Director

Kathi Irvine is the founding partner of The Watershed Group, an organizational development consulting firm in Canmore that works to engage people and transform organizations. Watershed partners with numerous organizations in Canada and the United States to support business sustainability and employee development.

Kathi has been educated in Canada and the US, she has an undergrad in business, a graduate degree in organizational leadership, and a certificate in dialogue and negotiation. She is an advocate for community involvement and has been a board member of several not-for-profits in Vancouver and here in Alberta. She is also on the artsPlace board in Canmore.

Kathi enjoys hiking, skiing, and cycling in our beautiful Bow Valley.

Kathi's Bio

Sandra Last

Director

Sandra Last, Director

Sandy is an educator with a broad background in public service, having taught in public schools and at the University of Calgary over her professional career of 30 years. Her work as a teacher, consultant and Principal in diverse settings and her experience in program development contribute to her ability to develop and implement strategic priorities.

As a resident of the Bow Valley, she has witnessed the changes and also the stressors that come with community growth over time. She has been a volunteer in a wide variety of capacities in her work as a school administrator, teacher, parent and citizen. Locally she has volunteered with numerous groups, such as the Town of Canmore, Cycling Without Age and Canmore Cycling Culture.

Sandy appreciates the importance of giving time, thought and energy to local initiatives. Personal health and well-being, spending time with family and friends and helping our community flourish are focus points for Sandy each day.

Sandy's Bio

Honourable Ken Hughes, ECA

Director

Honourable Ken Hughes, ECA | Director

Ken Hughes is an entrepreneur and community leader. He is Chair of the Board, Providence Therapeutics, Canada’s messenger RNA company, focused on cancer and infectious disease vaccine development, and is a certified governance professional.

Elected at age 34 to the House of Commons of Canada, he served as Chair of the Aboriginal Affairs Committee, and was Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister. Hughes was the first Chair of the Board of Alberta Health Services, creating Canada’s largest health delivery service, leading through early years of development.

In 2012, Hughes was elected to the Legislature of Alberta, appointed Minister of Energy, and led the creation of the Alberta Energy Regulator. Subsequently, as Minister of Municipal Affairs, he led the resolution of Disaster Recovery Assistance claims for nearly 10,000 Albertan families recovering from the floods of 2013. In September 2014, he returned to private life.

Hughes studied at the University of Guelph, the University of Alberta, B.Sc. (Agriculture) and has an MPA from the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University. He was recognized as Honourary Chief of the Piikani First Nation. (October 2023). Ken lives in Canmore with his wife Denise Savage-Hughes and has completed 10 World Loppet Nordic ski races.

Ken's Bio

Barbara MacNeil

Director

Barbara MacNeil, Director

Barbara is a mediator, facilitator, adjudicator, and adult trainer for dispute resolution. She’s mediated municipal, energy, workplace, stakeholder engagement, and land management issues for thirty plus years.

A pragmatic problem solver and attentive listener with past experience running a ranch, she has a strong connection with Alberta communities and brings a “let’s figure-it-out” attitude to getting things done. A Banff resident, Barbara is strongly committed to her community and values its history and future and the relationships that shape it.

Barbara serves as president of Alberta’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute, a membership association promoting effective and efficient dispute resolution provincially and nationally.

Barbara's Bio

Ian O’Donnell

Director

Ian O’Donnell, Director

As one of the Bow Valley’s newest residents, Ian continues to be an advocate for resilient communities. He has had the pleasure of working both professionally and through his volunteerism on making places more sustainable, inclusive and community minded. Graduating from the University of Alberta (BA’01) he has worked for leading developers, architects, consultants and non-profit organizations supporting business and community development initiatives. In 2013, he was recognized by Avenue Magazine as one Edmonton’s ‘Top 40 under 40’ for his commitment to urban design and community involvement.

When not in the office Ian has volunteered for groups such as the Downtown Edmonton Community League, the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board of Edmonton, Winter City Edmonton and has sat on the Edmonton Federation of Community League’s Planning Committee. He currently sits on the Town of Canmore’s Economic Recovery Taskforce and continues to advocate and partner on initiatives that support environmental stewardship and living local.

An avid traveler, he enjoys discovering new cultures, ideas and sharing in conversation that supports its people and places.

Ian's Bio

Join our Board or Committees

Learn about how you can help us activate community potential and build community wealth in the Bow Valley.

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Donors

A Circle of Community Builders

Our Donors are individuals, organizations, families and businesses interested in building community. Some offer contributions for immediate response to emergencies and others leave long-term legacy endowments that will outlive them. Their contributions come in a wide range of sizes, and they all matter. We deeply value their role in making the Bow Valley such an outstanding place to live. This all only happens because of our donors.

Committees

Committees are a critical part of the Foundation. These are hands-on working committees that offer an excellent way to get to know the Foundation’s work and a great springboard for a board position in the future. If you’re interested in getting involved, learn more here.

Programs

This committee is the Foundation’s backbone. Members oversee BCF programs, including community grants, leadership circles, community assessments, capacity building for community organizations, sector, and community meetings. Committee Members are encouraged to have or be willing to learn about the following areas:

Understand and assess community needs and priorities
Innovative ways that community foundations can address community priorities
Evaluate and adjudicate grant requests within policy and strategy parameters
Assess outcomes and impact, celebrate recipients

Finance, Audit, and Investment

Advises the Board on all matters relating to BCCF’s financial planning and reporting, audit, tax and compliance, internal controls, treasury, investments, and risk management. Committee Members are encouraged to have or be willing to learn about the following areas:

Financial, audit and investment strategy, policy and oversight
All restricted funds are managed as per agreements
Oversight of internal financial performance, Audit, and CRA and Societies requirement

Fund Development and Engagement

Advises the Board on matters relating to BCF’s fundraising, gift acceptance and donor relationship building and stewardship. Provides oversight of communications and engagement activities. Committee Members are encouraged to have or be willing to learn about the following areas:

Fund Development and Communications strategies, policies, and oversight
Fund Development and Communications Plans and products
Identifying, recruiting, and celebrating donors
Engaging board in fund development

Governance

Advises the Board on matters relating to BCF’s governance, structure, by-laws, policies and processes. Provides oversight of Human Resource Policy, Procedure and Executive Director Recruitment and Performance Evaluation. Committee Members are encouraged to have or be willing to learn about the following areas:

BCF strategy, policies, and bylaws
Executive director job description, recruitment, contract, and evaluation
Selection, orientation, management and evaluation of Board Directors
Directors’ professional development and succession plan
HR strategy, policy, and oversight
Risk Management Plan

Our Investment Manager

Jarislowsky, Fraser Limited is a registered investment management firm. Founded in 1955 as a research boutique, Jarislowsky Fraser today manages the portfolios of pension funds, foundations and endowments, corporations and high-net-worth individuals in Canada and internationally — representing more than CA$54 billion in assets under management.

Get Involved

From starting your own donor-advised fund to volunteering on a committee, we would love to hear from you. It can start with a casual coffee chat or a walk along the river - you may just find yourself drawn into our movement. Reach out and let’s connect!

Email The Foundation

People

A diverse, committed and talented group of dedicated locals, our team is always eager to hear from you. Find their contact info below.

Laurie Edward

Laurie Edward, Executive Director

Jen Feikes, CPA, CGA

Jen Feikes, CPA, CGA | Director of Finance

Jodi Gammad

Jodi Gammad, Foundation Services Coordinator

Daryl Kootenay

Daryl Kootenay | Co-lead, Moving Mountains Initiative

Jeanie MacPherson

Jeanie Macpherson, Co-Lead, Moving Mountains Initiative

Jenny Spurr

Jenny Spurr | Communications Lead

Erin Woods

Erin Woods | Vital Signs Research Project Lead

Martha de Santiago

Martha de Santiago | Graphic Design Lead

Board of Directors

Fiona Jones

Fiona Jones, Board Chair

Steven Glover

Steven Glover, Treasurer

Osmond Chiu

Osmond Chiu, Direcctor

Joanna Croston

Joanna Croston, Director

Hans Helder

Hans Helder, Director

Kathi Irvine

Kathi Irvine Director

Sandra Last

Sandra Last, Director

Honourable Ken Hughes, ECA

Honourable Ken Hughes, ECA | Director

Barbara MacNeil

Barbara MacNeil, Director

Ian O’Donnell

Ian O’Donnell, Director

Join our Board or Committees

Donors

A Circle of Community Builders

Committees

Our Investment Manager

Get Involved

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