Nominees & Continuing Directors
Election to Board of Directors, AGM 2015
Edmonton Heritage Council
Nominees (for a 3-year term 2015 – 2018)
The Edmonton Heritage Council (EHC) Board of Directors provides for accountability in governance,
strategic leadership, and the active community and civic participation of EHC in the Edmonton region.
In recruiting for the Board of Directors, the EHC strives to reflect the diversity, vibrancy, and character
of the city and region that we serve. We are pleased to present to the membership the following six (6)
candidates to serve in the 2015 - 2018 term.
There are four (4) vacancies that will be filled by election at this year's Annual General Meeting on
May 27, 2015.
Alex Abboud
Alex Abboud is the Director, Communications & Fund Development for Homeward Trust Edmonton,
where he leads a team responsible for corporate communications, public relations, government
relations, events, and fund development. He was previously a Policy Advisor and Communications
Manager with the organization.
Alex has more than 10 years of leadership experience in communications, government and
stakeholder relations, and public policy. While attending the University of Alberta, he was elected
Vice-President External of the Students' Union, and served as Chair of the Council of Alberta University
Students. He is a National Trustee (Board Member) for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
(CPAWS) and chairs its Engagement Committee. He was previously the Chair of the Board of the
CPAWS Northern Alberta chapter, and on the Executive Council for the Kappa Alpha Society
(international men's fraternity). He is also a marathon runner, blogger, and hobby photographer.
Andy Grabia
Andy Grabia is a former educator who has worked in government relations and community relations at
the University of Alberta. He has also worked in communications for the Edmonton Public Library, and
was a speechwriter for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate of Canada. He currently
works in the Office of Marketing and Communications at the University of Alberta, where among other
responsibilities he manages the central UAlberta social media accounts.
In his free time, Andy likes to write, take photos, and engage in other creative activities. He was a
writer for the popular hockey blog The Battle of Alberta, and is a past member of the Edmonton Journal
Community Advisory Board. Andy also curated and wrote the catalogue for the University of Alberta
Libraries exhibit on the comic book collection of Edmonton arts writer Gilbert Bouchard.
Daniel Rose
Dan Rose was born and raised in Edmonton and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and
Political Science from the University of Alberta. Having lived and worked in some of Edmonton’s finest
historic buildings, Dan has become active in Edmonton’s heritage community advocating for historic
preservation and awareness.
Dan serves on the board of the Old Strathcona Foundation (OSF), on the Civics Committee of the
Oliver Community League, and he is a founding member of both HeritageForward! and the Edmonton
Branch of the Canadian International Council (CIC). He was also previously employed by the Loyal
Edmonton Regiment Military Museum.
Beth Sanders
Beth Sanders is a writer, urbanist, consulting city planner, and President of POPULUS Community
Planning, Inc. She received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Ottawa and a Master of City
Planning from the University of Manitoba. She is a Registered Professional Planner (RRP) and a Full
Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners (MCIP).
For over 20 years, Beth has worked with government, business, community organizations and citizens
striving for cities that serve well. Beth currently serves on the board of the Canadian Institute of Planners
and the Alberta Professional Planners Institute (Past President), and previously sat as an Advisor Board
Member and of the University of Alberta Applied Land Use Planning Program and in several roles on
the Board of the Glenora Community League.
Karen Wall
Karen Wall is a second generation Albertan from an immigrant homesteader family on prairie Cree
lands west of Edmonton. She has experience in graphic arts, illustration, museums and archives
administration, and heritage interpretation.
Currently on faculty at Athabasca University, she writes courses and teaches in Communication Studies
and the Heritage Resources Management Program. Her recent research interests include Edmonton
heritage culture, urban Aboriginal citizenship, the Banff School of Fine Arts history, the visual culture of
an oil economy, and opportunities for local everyday cultural expression in Edmonton. She is involved
in several community groups including artists, gardeners and dog walkers, and tries to forge future
archival records out of everyday experience.
Jesse Watson
Jesse Watson is an urban planner with a background in Economics, Planning and Heritage
Conservation. He has Bachelor degrees in Economics from the University of Lethbridge and in Urban
and Regional Planning from Ryerson University. Originally from Alberta, Jesse spent several years in
Ontario advocating for and residing within a national historic site in Hamilton. His advocacy efforts led
him to work in various roles for both the City of Guelph and the Ontario Heritage Trust. He currently
works for the Government of Alberta as a Planner.
Having always been keen on owning a historic home, he found a charming character-filled house in
the beautiful community of Calder. He is also the Heritage and Special Projects Coordinator of the
Calder Community League and serves as a Member of the Alberta Legislature Grounds Monument
Committee.
May 15, 2015
Approval, Appointment To Serve Second Term (2015-2018) as Director
The Board of the Edmonton Heritage Council recommends and presents the following directors, having
successfully contributed in a first term, to continue serving as EHC directors for a second term:
Eric Gormley
He has lived in Edmonton since 1985 and has a B.A. in Canadian history from University of Victoria
and an M.A. in Western Canadian History from University of Calgary. He has worked as an archivist
and curator for organizations such as the British Columbia Provincial Archives, Glenbow Museum,
Alberta Historic Sites Service City Artifact Centre and University of Alberta Archives. He recently retired
from NorQuest College as an Instructional Assistant tutoring English and Social Studies.
In his first term as an EHC Director, Eric has served as chair of Seed Project Review Panel (Heritage
Community Investment Program) and as chair of the Accountability and Audit Committee. He has been
active in attending a range of community events on behalf of Edmonton Heritage Council, connecting
EHC more broadly to the community.
He has served four years on an Edmonton Advisory Committee on city trails, paths and routes and was
co-planning chair for the Riverdale Community League for seven years. Over the years he has tried to
encourage protection of the river valley against commercial development, and this has led him to carry
out research at different times on the establishment of the river valley park system.
Pauline Urquhart
Pauline operates her own media production and consultancy and has particular interests in social
justice and cultural heritage work. She began her career as a classroom teacher, but has spent the last
25 years working in media creation and communications. Her educational background includes a
double major in History and English, including two summers of study at the British School in Rome
where she pursued her interest in Classical and Renaissance history.
In her first term as a director, Pauline served on the EHC Board’s Heritage Grants Committee to
establish the Heritage Investment Program, and more recently, the Governance and Policy Committee
and Nominations Committee. She has been a strong connector for EHC to a number of communities
and organizations, given the range of her media expertise and related work.
As a filmmaker, she has created many historical documentaries including “One More Mile: The Edson
to Grande Prairie Trail”, a landmark work that mobilized 150 community volunteers to recreate the
pioneering experience of the last great land rush in Canada. May 15, 2015
Directors 2015-2016 (Continuing Terms)
The following directors will continue their terms on the board in the upcoming year.
Greg Bounds
Greg has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta and is a professional accountant
(CMA). He has completed the City of Edmonton (property) Planning Academy program and holds a
certificate in Local Government Administration. He has held senior finance and administration positions
in non-profit and government agencies and also with the provincial government. Throughout his career
and volunteer commitments he has reported to and served on public Boards, providing him with a solid
understanding of Board governance and a commitment to accountability and transparency.
A third generation Edmontonian, Greg is committed to serving the community, particularly in the area
of local history. His published works include a history of St. Francis Xavier High School, a walking tour
of St Albert hill and cemetery and several essays printed in the Edmonton Journal. He was a major
contributor to a significant book published by Edmonton Catholic Schools about the women and men
who taught in the school district.
Lan Chan-Marples
Lan holds a Master’s degree in Education (Anthropology and Education) and a Bachelor of Arts degree
(Anthropology) from the University of Alberta. Lan has been the Research Facilitator, Research Services
Office, at the University of Alberta since 2003. Prior to that she worked for the City of Edmonton,
United Way and ASSIST Community Services Centre for new immigrants. She remains connected to
the immigrant and ethno-cultural communities in different capacities.
As an undergraduate, she worked as a summer student at Alberta Heritage researching the history of
stopping houses in Alberta. After graduation she was hired by the City of Edmonton to do a feasibility
and historical study of four river valley communities in Edmonton. This led to a permanent position as a
Museologist and Historical Researcher at Fort Edmonton Park for several years. As a trained
archeologist, Lan worked at several archeological sites in Alberta and in New Mexico.
She is an active volunteer for a number of committees, boards and events, including Chinese
Benevolent Association, Canadian Multicultural Education Foundation, Alberta Network of Immigrant
Women, Heritage Day – China Pavilion, and Alberta Women's History Mapping Project. Her
involvement with the GWG project on immigrants who worked at the factory, the Edmonton Chinatown
Conference 2013 (and working on another conference for 2015), launch of Mid-Autumn Lantern
Festival in 2014 and Canada Multiculturalism Day in 2015 are some of the other dimensions of her
interest in Edmonton’s history and multicultural heritage. In 2014 she received the Daughter of the
Year Award and a National Philanthropy Award for Community.
Candas Jane Dorsey
Candas Jane Dorsey is an internationally-known writer and editor with an abiding interest in heritage
(story and structure) and community development. Born in Edmonton, she makes Boyle Street
community her home. She is a full-time professional writer/editor, and creative writer of prize-winning
novels and short stories collections. For 35 years she has worked as a freelance writer, editor,
magazine and book publisher, writing teacher, and communications consultant, and has been active in
arts and community advocacy, for which she has received the Alberta Centennial Gold Medal, City of
Edmonton Achievement Award, Todd Janes Pride Award, Edmonton Police Service Human Rights
Citation, and YWCA Woman of the Year award.
May 15, 2015
Satya Das
Satya Brata Das is a co‑founder and Principal of Cambridge Strategies Inc., a strategic advisory for
leaders. Satya has advised on more than 50 major files for the governments of Canada, Alberta, and
municipalities. His private-‑sector advice ranges from start-‑ups to major enterprises. Satya pioneered
mapping public values and social license as it relates to public policy, and is a trusted independent
expert on sustainable development of Alberta’s resource wealth. Deeply experienced in energy and
environment policy, Satya is a frequent commentator and public speaker in both national languages. A
best-‑selling author, his books include Green Oil: Clean Energy for the 21st Century? His volunteer
work is committed to community building on a foundation of human dignity, culture, and the arts.
The City of Edmonton recognized Satya’s lifetime service to culture, heritage and arts with a 2001
Citation Award. His other awards include the Alberta Centennial Medal. He has been a board
member of the Edmonton Heritage Council since its inception in 2009 and served as Secretary in
2011-2012 and Treasurer in 2012-2013.
Judy Half
Judy Half is from the Saddle Lake First Nations Community in Treaty Six, located northeast of
Edmonton. She moved to Edmonton from British Columbia eight years ago, after working with a Treaty
Eight Band on land use issues for eleven years. Judy has worked with the Royal Alberta Museum since
2008 as an Aboriginal Liaison, and has actively participated in heritage sector seminars, museum
conferences, community engagement initiatives, International Council of Monuments and Sites
(ICOMOS) and other relevant events that allow her to share First Nations Heritage and issues.
She earned her degree (Native Studies and Anthropology) from the University of Alberta in 1994, and
did Field School in Archaeology at Bodo (Alberta), and a certificate in Governance shortly thereafter.
Judy is now completing a Masters in Heritage Resource Management that leads to a Masters of Arts in
Integrated Studies, through Athabasca University.
Terry O’Riordan
Terry has worked and researched in heritage for the past fifteen years studying history at the University
of Alberta and the University of Waterloo. His research has concentrated mainly on the history of the
Canadian west. Professionally, his primary interest has been on public history and heritage
interpretation.
Terry has published articles on sports history and the fur trade, he has lectured on archives,
preservation, and heritage, and he has been a resource to several people considering careers in
history and heritage. Terry has been a board member of the Edmonton Heritage Council since its
inception in 2009.
Ana Laura Pauchulo
Ana Laura Paucholo was born in Argentina, raised in Toronto and has called Edmonton home since
2011. Since moving to Edmonton with her family, she has been involved in many community heritage
initiatives including the National Day of Healing and Reconciliation Committee of Edmonton and the
Memoria Viva Society of Edmonton.
As the current Chair of the Community Archive and History Committee of Memoria Viva she is
responsible for leading the community archive project which consists of collecting the oral histories of
immigration from members of Edmonton’s Latin American community and of creating a document
archive of items collected by that community. She has also been involved in community heritage work
May 15, 2015
in Argentina. From these experiences she understands that preserving and documenting local history is
a community endeavor that includes past, present and future generations. Ana Laura was also recently
named to serve on the Edmonton Historical Board, an advisory committee to Edmonton City Council.
Virginia Stephen
Virginia Stephen brings to her practice over 25 years of experience as an arts educator, museum
educator, senior arts administrator and museum director. She has also served as Acting Director of the
Arts and Cultural Management Program at MacEwan where she taught Museum/Gallery Management
for several years, and as Executive Director of Liberal Studies, in the Faculty of Extension, University of
Alberta.
For 15 years she was at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia as Education Curator, Head of Programming
(Exhibitions and Education), and Deputy Director and was Executive Director of the Edmonton Art
Gallery for 3 years. She holds an MA in Visual and Performing Arts Education and undergraduate
degrees in both art history and arts education, and is a graduate of the Getty Museum Leadership
Institute. She served on the Board of the Canadian Museums Association, the Canadian Art Museum
Directors Association (CAMDO), founding member and chair of Canadian Art Gallery/Museum
Educators (CAGE), and the Museum Education Group of the National Art Education Association (US)
and has attended and presented at conferences and museum symposia and workshops across
Canada, in the United States, and Europe. She has curated over 30 exhibitions, published exhibition
catalogues, and contributed articles on museum education, public programming and curatorship in to
anthologies, texts, peer reviewed journals and magazines.
In Edmonton she has been on the board and Chair of the Edmonton Arts Council and chair of the
Edmonton Historical Board, on the Urban Design Review Panel and part of the citizen group that
successfully lobbied for the heritage sensitive design requirements for buildings on 104th Street as a
historical zone. She was on the Edmonton Heritage Council Steering Committee has been a board
member of the Edmonton Heritage Council since its inception in 2009 and served as Chair of the
Board in 2011-2012, and chairs the Museums Strategies Steering Committee.
May 15, 2015