BOARD OF DIRECTORS
THE RIVER VALLEY ALLIANCE HAS EIGHT MUNICIPAL DIRECTORS APPOINTED BY THE MUNICIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND EIGHT DIRECTORS AT LARGE.
Municipal Directors
Councillor
Ben Gronberg,
Town of Devon
Ben was born and raised in Devon. He was elected to his first term as a Councillor in October 2021. His primary focus has been preparing Devon for the future and fostering a more inclusive community across all generations.
Ben is passionate about trails and actively participates in the RVA. He served on the RVA's Trail Naming Committee and now is Chair of the RVA's Advocacy Committee. Ben's favourite activities include running, walking, and hiking, especially in Devon.
As a member of Council, Ben has been a strong advocate for building stronger relationships with our neighboring municipalities and deeply values the RVA's mission.
Councillor
Sally Kucher Johnson,
Parkland County
Sally Kucher Johnson has lived in Parkland County for 23 years and now serves as the Councillor for Parkland County division 1, an area between Devon and Spruce Grove. Before this role, she served for 8 years as a School Board Trustee for Parkland School Division. Her background previously was with working with youth at risk and special needs in a variety of settings. Her favourite things to do are hiking, canoeing and travelling.
Councillor
Michael Janz,
City of Edmonton
Michael is a father of two, living with his partner in the Garneau neighbourhood. Prior to being elected to Edmonton City Council, Michael served as a three-term, 11 year, Edmonton Public School Board Trustee and as Board Vice-Chair, and Chair.
Michael has an extensive background in neighbourhood and community development helping neighbours turn ideas into action as Marketing Director of the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues.
Michael has also played other leadership roles in the provincial and national non-profit sector supporting the youth mentoring movement.
Councillor
Ashley Salvador,
City of Edmonton
Ashley is an urban planner with experience working across sectors. Born and raised in Edmonton, she holds a BA Honours in Sustainability and Sociology from Dalhousie University and an MA in Planning from the University of Waterloo.
Ashley is passionate about building a healthy, equitable, and climate-resilient Edmonton.
She has been active at the municipal level for close to a decade and has long been an advocate for zoning reforms and sustainable urban development.
Ashley is an avid cyclist in her off time and enjoys hiking and cross-country skiing in Edmonton's River Valley.
Councillor
Robert Parks,
Strathcona County
Robert worked in the financial services industry for almost a decade, starting in the branch network as a Financial Advisor, later as a Branch Manager, and then in Agricultural Lending Practices. After leaving the bank, Robert worked extensively with small, medium, and large organizations, assisting them in building their footprint and growing their business. He is actively involved with the United Way’s Tools for School Program and believes that all children deserve an equal opportunity to achieve their version of success.
Robert’s hobbies include golf in the summer and five-pin bowling in the winter.
Councillor
Dan Derouin,
Sturgeon County
Councillor Dan Derouin was elected to Sturgeon County Council on October 16, 2017.
Dan was raised on the family farm east of Gibbons, which his grandfather settled in 1897 and homesteaded in 1903. He has owned and operated several businesses, the last one being Tim Hortons in Fort Saskatchewan. Dan resides with his wife Susie, and they have three grown daughters and six wonderful grandchildren. Dan has been actively involved in the community and served as a firefighter with the City of Edmonton for over 30 years.
Councillor
Birgit Blizzard,
Fort Saskatchewan
Councillor Birgit Blizzard was first elected as Councillor for the City of Fort Saskatchewan in October 2013. Birgit Blizzard ran in the October 2021 municipal election and was again elected Councillor.
Birgit Blizzard was born in Haltern, Germany, and immigrated to Sarnia, Ontario, with her family at the age of 6. She received a diploma in Process Operations at Lambton College and worked as a Process Operator and 3rd-class Power Engineer at Imperial Oil for 9 years. In 1993, she moved to Fort Saskatchewan. She has been married for 40 years and has 5 children and 3 grandchildren.
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Directors at Large
Nancy Thornton, Board Chair, Strathcona County
Nancy Thornton has over 24 years working in international relations and over 14 years’ experience working in leadership positions in the Canadian Post Secondary Education System. Currently she is the Director of NorQuest International at NorQuest College in Edmonton, Alberta and has been with the college for over 10 years.
Nancy is passionate about connecting newcomers and international students with the Edmonton community and surrounding municipalities, and the river valley trail system is a gem that is always highlighted. Nancy is an avid hiker and kayaker and also loves to bike the trails.
Mother to a teenage daughter, she resides in Sherwood park.
Marilyn Cox,
City of Edmonton
Marilyn Cox is a retired registered nurse with a rich personal and professional life. A mother of four and grandmother of two, Marilyn has been happily married for 40 years, all of which she has spent in Edmonton. Originally from Calgary, she enjoys golfing and gardening in her leisure time.
Anita Cardinal
City of Edmonton
"Anita Cardinal is Nêhiyaw (Cree) and a member of Woodland Cree First Nation situated on Treaty 8 Territory. She is a compassionate and determined advocate who aims to work towards justice, truth and upholding Treaty Rights. Anita returned to university after many years practice as a senior paralegal to obtain her law degree and was called to the Alberta Bar in 2023. Anita is committed to serving clients, in Child, Youth and Family law, Advisory roles, Wills, Indigenous law-making and litigation. She has experience in class actions for First Nation victims such as the Sixties Scoop and Forced Sterilization of Indigenous women in Alberta, of which her mother is the Representative Plaintiff.
Beyond law, is the founder of Indigenous Runner YEG, she is an ultramarathon trail runner and the Race Director and organizer of the Annual Orange Shirt Day Run/Walk held on the National Day For Truth and Reconciliation. She is most passionate about her family, trail running, the Land and providing a strong voice for human rights issues and children in care."
Mark McRae,
City of Edmonton
Mark is a Chartered Accountant, Chartered Business Valuator and has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta. For over 20 years, he has worked in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate restructuring, assisting Canadian businesses in completing debt and equity capital raises, assessing transaction options, and executing merger, acquisition, divestiture, and restructuring transactions.
When not at the office, Mark enjoys running, playing hockey and golf (depending on the season), and spending time with his wife and his young children.
Jonathan Kaida,
Edmonton
Jon was born and raised in Edmonton, and he loves exploring the Edmonton River Valley with his family. A chemical engineer by trade, he has spent the last 10 years working in sustainability and is thrilled to be helping create a continuous pathway in our communities.
Brad Armstrong,
Strathcona County
Brad joined the Board in April 2021. He is a member of the RVA’s Implementation Committee.
Gary Lukawesky, CEC Chair,
Town of Devon
Gary has lived in Devon for over 30 years. With an engineering and fabrication background, Gary managed a company that designs and fabricates natural gas processing equipment. He is currently retired.
He is a father of two and has one grandchild. Gary hikes the trails around Devon daily and can often be seen on the North Saskatchewan River in the cedar strip canoe he fabricated. Gary has had a volunteer role as a 'Natural Area Steward' for more than 30 years, monitoring a Natural Area along the North Saskatchewan River.