Breakout Session Speakers

 Marc Colbourne

Marc Colbourne is Senior Project Coordinator for the Welcoming and Inclusive  Communities Initiative. This initiative is a partnership between the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association and the Alberta Human Rights Commission and Human  Rights and Citizenship branch of Alberta Culture and Community Spirit.

To access Mr. Colbourne's presentation click on the link below:
Welcoming and Inclusive Communities  
 

 Jason Dent, JADA Solutions

Jason Dent has thirteen years in the Occupational Health, Safety and  Environmental fields and is well known to those in the industry in the Edmonton area.

After graduating from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (N.A.I.T.) with a Health Safety and Environmental Technician Diploma (1997), he continued his education at the University of Alberta, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological and Environmental Sciences (2002).

While attending university, he worked at PHH Environmental Ltd., (now PHH ARC Environmental), gaining valuable experience in Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental consulting. After graduating from the University of Alberta, he accepted a position with Jacques Whitford managing the Indoor Environment Group in Edmonton. After two years, he decided to start his own company, Dent Consulting Services Ltd.

Since opening the Dent Consulting doors, the company has slowly been growing and in 2007, Jason merged with his long time colleague David Williamson to form JADA Solutions (HSE) Inc.

Jason Dent has extensive work with Hazardous Materials Management, specifically with Education Institutes, Municipalities and the Health Care Industry. He understands the many different problems faced by these groups and the solutions needed to meet there organizational goals.

To access Mr. Dent's presentation click on the link below:
Hazardous Materials Management Program
 

  Brenda Herchmer, A.C.E. Communities

Brenda Herchmer has a diverse background gained in a variety of business, government, education, and voluntary sector settings. Owner of Grassroots Enterprises, a company specializing in community development and community leadership, she is now serving as the Project Director of ACE Communities for Alberta Recreation and Parks Association. Previously she was  an Instructor in the Recreation and Leisure Services Program at Niagara College in Welland, Ontario and also worked with others to found and then manage the Niagara Centre for Community Leadership (a one stop resource centre for organizational and community capacity building). The Centre was acknowledged by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges as an “exemplary practice in community development” and was a finalist for the prestigious national Peter F. Drucker Innovation Award.  Brenda is an avid writer and blogger and produces a weekly column for the Welland Tribune. She is the author of a textbook entitled "Creating Communities: A Handbook for Recreation Practitioners" and "A Toolkit for Community Leaders". Brenda was acknowledged as a YWCA Woman of Distinction in Training and Education in 2006 and, while not a member of the organization, was the 2006 winner of the District 60 Toastmasters Communication and Leadership Award.  Previously Brenda has been employed by the City of Niagara Falls, the Boys’ and Girls’ Club, the Investors Group, and Bell Canada. She has also owned three retail outlets and with her husband co-owned the Village Gallery -  winner of the 2004 Welland Small Business of the Year Award.  Brenda and her husband Vince raised their blended family of three active sons in Ontario but are now enjoying their adventures in Edmonton as official empty nesters. While Brenda's experience is diverse, there is a common thread throughout...a commitment to, and a belief in, the importance and strength of our communities.

To access Ms. Herchmer's presentation click on the link below:
ACE Active Creative Engaged

 Jim Jackson, Mannville Fire Chief

Learn how we went from one truck and six untrained firefighters to three trucks and sixteen trained firefighters.  See how much dedication it truly takes! 

 Candice McLean, Youth Resiliency Project

I am the Community Youth Worker for the Youth Resiliency Project, which is an initiative of the Vermilion River Regional Healthy Communities Coalition.  I currently live in Kitscoty where I was born and raised.  I attended the Child and Youth Care Program at Lakeland College and graduated from that in 2006.  I believe that youth play a very important role in the future of our communities so we have to get them engaged and make them feel like valued members of the community.

To access Ms. McLean's presentation click on the link below:
Youth Resiliency Project

Jean Vidal, Alberta Employment and Immigration

 To access Ms. Vidal's presentation click on the link below:
Building and Educating Tomorrows Workforce