Our Team

Our dedicated team is committed to supporting rural communities to thrive. With varied expertise and a shared passion for positive impact, we collaborate to foster sustainable development and enhance the wellbeing of rural, remote, and Indigenous communities.

Board of Directors

Kevin Shufflebotham

Chair

President & CEO – Medicine Hat College

Dr. Alice Wainwright-Stewart

Vice Chair

President & CEO – Lakeland College

Dr. Brad Donaldson

Treasurer

President & CEO – Lethbridge College

Dr. Glenn Mitchell

Secretary

President & CEO – Northern Lakes College

Dr. Ed Pajor

Director at Large

Professor, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – University of Calgary

Nancy Broadbent

Director at Large

President & CEO – Portage College

Dr. Dena McMartin

Director at Large

Vice-President (Research) – University of Lethbridge

Dr. Sandra Efu

Director at Large

Interim President – Keyano College

Staff

Filter by department.

Lisa Bélanger

Chief Executive Officer

(SHE/HER)

Sandra Di Cesare

Director, Finance

Sydney Stenekes

Director, Homelessness Initiatives

(She/Her)

Kelly Petraschuk

Senior Manager, People & Administration

(SHE/HER)

Joy Vonk

Manager, Operations

(She/Her)

Mary McGuire

Project Manager

(She/Her)

Soheila Homayed

Program Manager, Rural Immigration

(She/Her)

Elaine Flores

Project Manager & Evaluations Coordinator, Rural Immigration

(SHE/HER)

Bryn Taylor

Program Coordinator, Homelessness Initiatives

Emma Wallace

Project Manager, Community Development & Homelessness Estimations

(She/Her)

Kabir Shahani

Manager, Housing Strategy & Research

Jordyn Knickle

Analyst, Planning & Research

Alyce Wickert

Project Manager, Community Planning & Development

Sean Adams

Community Planner

Trisha Hampton

Manager, Community Development

Emele Neufeld

Indigenous Liaison

Members

What We Do

Check out our current projects and initiatives that support Canada’s rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. Need help in your community? We also offer a variety of services to kick-start your own projects.

View Our Work and Programs
View Our Services

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Stay up to date with funding opportunities, upcoming events, and project updates in our Rural Connector Newsletter

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