About

To reach any of the management team members by telephone please call 306-665-6887. To email please use the links below.

Andrea Lafond, Chief Executive Officer

Andrea Ziegler, Director of Operations

Mike Velonas, Manager of Planning and Conservation

Alan Otterbein, Manager of Design and Development

Amy Wall, Manager of Marketing, Fund Development and Public Programming

Development Review

The Development Review Committee is created under The Meewasin Valley Authority Act to provide professional and unbiased recommendations regarding the acceptability of proposed improvements within the Meewasin Valley.

The Act requires that the board consider the recommendation of the committee before making a decision on a development review application. The Act prescribes that the committee shall include, at least:

• Two architects;
• Two planners;
• Two geotechnical engineers; and
• A landscape architect.

Current Committee Members are:

• Mitch Strocen – Chair
• Terry Werbovetski
• Ian Judd-Henrey
• Paul Koopman
• Twyla Bergstrom
• Victoria Yong-Hing

Conservation Advisory

The Conservation Advisory Committee advises the Meewasin board in its work to ensure the health of the Meewasin Valley and the conservation of the natural and cultural assets.

The committee will assist the Board in its work to ensure the health of the Meewasin Valley as follows:
a) advise the Board on policies related to conservation (meaning the identification, assessment, protection and appropriate sustainable use of natural and heritage resources);
b) advise the Board on systems to monitor performance in the area of resource management; and
c) advise the Board on public needs in the area of resource conservation.

Current Committee Members are:

• Board Represenative – TBA
• Peter Goode – Chair
• Bert Weichel
• Luc Delanoy
• Nadia Mori

Design Advisory

The Design Advisory Committee advises the Meewasin board in its work by providing recommendations regarding design policies, standards and art placements.

The Design Advisory Commitee assists the Meewasin Board in its work to ensure “fit” as defined in the “100 Year Conceptual Plan,” of the built environment in the context of the nature valley environment. It can advise the Board on proactive design policies for improvements on public land in accordance with the Meewasin Development Plan; on public needs relative to design standards; and assess the artistic merit of proposed cultural art.

The committee has between 5 and 10 members and consists of one board member and professionals from design fields such as landscape architecture, architecture, urban and environmental design, recreation planning and visual arts.

Current Committee Members are:

• Board Representative – Vacant
• Chair – Marilyn Gould
• Vice-Chair – Tyson McShane
• Luc Delanoy
• Bertrand Bartake
• Jeff Howlett
• Kendra Fisher

Education

The Education Advisory Committee advises the Meewasin board on policy development in education.

Meewasin offers a number of educational programs that focus on conservation of the heritage resources of the valley, facilitate the appropriate use and enjoyment of those resources and allow the public to experience and learn about them. These programs include stewardship and celebration, river festivals, in-services, interpretive canoe tours and partnering with other organizations who have similar goals. Meewasin accomplishes this through our interpretive centre at Beaver Creek Conservation Area, off-site programs, publications, audio-visual resources, a website, media commercials, public service announcements, and appearances at special functions.

Beaver Creek Conservation Area (BCCA) is a microcosm of the Meewasin Valley and contains one of the few remaining Moist-mixed Grass Prairie sites in the Saskatoon region. Visitors can explore any, or all four nature trails and visit the interpretive centre where friendly staff facilitate public programming. Beaver Creek Conservation Area is a four-season destination ideal for a nature hike year round.

Current Committee Members are:

• Board Representative – Sharon Tkachuk
• Vacant – Chair
• Vacant – Vice Chair
• Melanie Elliott
• Janet McVittie
• Angie Caron
• Matt Wolsfield
• Terri Fradette
• Michael Voralia
• Dean Newton
• Courtney Tuck-Goetz
• Bill Delainey

Fund Development

The Fund Development Cabinet actively participates in delivering a fund development plan to generate philanthropic revenue in support of the mission and mandate of the Meewasin Valley Authority.

Conserve, Develop and Educate in the Meewasin Valley

Meewasin reaches out for support from the public and private sector to accomplish its goals around conservation, trail development and education projects. Approximately 35% of Meewasin’s annual revenue comes from generous donors, sponsors from the business community and granting agencies. On average, for every dollar spent by Meewasin over the past 38 years, just 18 cents has come from our founding partners (tax dollars). This means Meewasin attracts 82 cents of every dollar it spends from private or business sources! Not a bad return on investment!

Another way the citizens and business leaders of Saskatoon and area have shown their support for Meewasin is to help attract funding by sharing their time, expertise and community connections with Meewasin.

We thank our current Fund Development Cabinet which is working hard to help Meewasin find supporters for future projects and programs. They are:

• Evan Howlett, Cabinet Chairperson and Individual Gifts committee;
• Trevor Forrest, Business committee;
• Robin Chapman, Green Circle/Planned Gifts/Business committee;
• Peter Goode, Individual Gifts committee;
• Doug Hodson, Business committee;
• John Hyshka, Business committee;
• Susan Lamb, Green Circle/Planned Gifts committee;
• Robin Lumsdon, Business committee;
• Clay Sparks, Business committee; and
• Colin Tennent, Board representative.
• Bev Dubois, Board representative