Board of Directors
The Milk River Watershed Council Canada consists of no less than 9 and no more than 16 Directors. Directors are elected for a two-year term by the membership. Members are encouraged to seek election to the Board of Directors within his or her membership category.
Milk River Watershed Council Canada Board of Directors 2011/2012
Greg Ottway – Provincial Government
Greg was born and raised in Medicine Hat where he lives with his wife and sons. He is the Conservation Officer in-charge at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park. Greg has a Bachelor's degree of Science in Applied Conservation Enforcement. He has worked for Alberta Parks as a Conservation Officer since 2003 and at Writing-on-Stone since 2006. Greg has been a MRWCC Board member since 2008 and feels that collaboration between Alberta Parks, the MRWCC and the local communities is of great importance. Greg enjoys bird watching and spending time with his family.
Warren Cunningham - County/Municipal District - Secretary
Warren was born in High River and grew up in Calgary and Sherwood Park. He has a diploma in Soil and Water Technology and an A Bachelor's degree in Agriculture (Soils and Plant Pathology major). Warren has been actively involved in the 4-H program for 17 years. He was also a member of the Southern Alberta Outdoorsman Association for 4 years as an environmental and promotional chairperson. Warren has spent the last 30+ years ranching and grass seed farming along the Milk River. Warren is also a Councilor for the County of Warner. He has been a MRWCC board member since its inception in 2006 and currently serving as the Secretary on the Executive.
Joan Hughson – County/Municipal District
Joan was born and raised just outside of Calgary on a farm. She moved south of Foremost in 1964 when she was married to Darrell Hughson. She still farms and ranches with her two sons and their families. She has been an active Councilor with the County of Forty Mile since October 2008. Joan has been a member on the MRWCC board of Directors since 2009.
Darlene Sakires - Industry
Darlene Sakires is an Environmental Coordinator for Southern Operations with Canadian Natural Resources Limited, Calgary. She has worked in the Oil and Gas Industry throughout her career, beginning her professional career at Petro-Canada where she worked as a Landman. Darlene is the Co-Chair of the Saskatchewan Petroleum Industry Government Environmental Committee, (SPIGEC) and is a member of two Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) committees. Through both Darlene's work and external commitments she strives to promote and implement environmental compliance throughout Western Canada. Darlene has a Bachelor of Science degree. She has been a member of the MRWCC Board of Directors since April 2011.
Ken Miller – Agriculture – Farmer, Vice Chairman
Ken was born and raised near Milk River and is a 3rd generation farmer. Ken attended school in Milk River and completed his degree at the University of Alberta. He is actively involved in the National Board for the Canadian Seed Trade Association, in various school organizations, and is a member of the Recovery Team for Species at Risk. Ken was a member of the Local Advisory Board for storage on the Milk River. He is an active participant on the Montana-Alberta Water Management Initiative. Ken has been a MRWCC board member since its inception in 2006 and has served as a Vice Chairman on the Executive. He is also the Chairman on the Integrated Watershed Planning Team.
Terrence Lazarus – Provincial Government
Terrence was born in Zimbabwe and grew up in South Africa where he obtained his diploma in Civil Engineering. He began working in the field of water management with the construction of irrigation infrastructure in Malawi, Central Africa. Terrence has been in Southern Alberta with the Alberta Government since 1982. He first worked as a construction inspector and later worked as an operator on the Lethbridge Northern Main Canal and then eventually was put in charge of operations for the Oldman Dam and Lethbridge Northern Main Canal. Currently, Terrence acts as the Oldman Sub-basin Operations Manager where he manages the operations of all government owned structures within the Oldman watershed. He is presently a member of the MRWCC Board of Directors.
Don Welsh - Individual
Don was born in Lethbridge and raised in Milk River where he still resides today. Don is a dryland farmer growing pedigree seed and he also raises cattle. Don attended Odds College and received his diploma in Crop Production. He went to New Zealand on an Agricultural exchange for 6 months in 1973 and, since then, has hosted over 20 students in the same program. Don was a founding director and secretary-Treasurer of the Milk River East Water Co-op for about 17 years. Don is a 3rd generation farmer and was designated a Century Farm in 2008. Don has been a member of the MRWCC Board of Directors since April 2011. Don is also the Chairman of the Water Supply Management Team.
John Ross – Agriculture – Rancher, Chairman
John was raised on the family Ranch east of Milk River and is a 4th generation rancher. John has a diploma in Architectural Technology. He has ranched full-time and has been involved in many local initiatives. He is currently serving as the Chairman of the South Alta. Rural Electrification Association. John was a member of the interim Steering Committee for the Milk River Watershed Council Canada, and has been a member of the MRWCC Board of Directors since its inception in 2006 and currently serving as the Chairman.
Will Lindeman – Water User, Treasurer
Will was raised on a farm south west of Milk River. He has a bachelor's degree in Agriculture and a Doctorate degree in veterinary medicine. He married LaRae and set up his practice west of Milk River. Will and LaRae have three daughters. Will is a member of the Milk River West Water Co-op. He retired from his practice several years ago and continues to ranch south west of Milk River. In his spare time, Will likes to spend time canoeing on the Milk River and on other rivers in southern Alberta and elsewhere. Will has been on the MRWCC Board of Directors since 2010 and currently serves on the Executive as the Treasurer. He is also the Chairman on the Research and Monitoring Team.
Darcy Wills - Recreation
Darcy was born and raised in the Taber area, and owned and operated a mixed irrigated grain and cattle operation there until 1991. For the past 20 years he has owned and operated a ranch on the Northern slope of the Sweetgrass Hills along the Alberta-Montana border. Being right on the border gives him a unique perspective on the international nature of the Milk River Watershed. One of his interests is the recharge area of the Milk River aquifer and the relationship of the aquifers and surface water. Since moving to the area, Darcy has been involved with many different organizations such as Western Stock Growers, Alberta Grazing Leaseholder's Association, and Alberta Fish and Game Association on a provincial basis, and Milk River East Water Coop, and Southern Alberta Outdoorsmen at the local level. He has a strong understanding of both the business and recreation aspects of the area. He can see in the future that we need to deal with issues of landowner rights and recreational access to the Milk River and all water resources in the watershed. Darcy had been a member of the MRWCC Board of Directors since April 2011.
Ed Sloboda - Non-Government Organization (Environmental)
Ed Sloboda has spent his entire life within 9 miles of the Milk River and has always been interested in archaeology. Ed has worked with the Royal Tyrrell Museum since 1987 on various projects in Milk River from the west end just inside the US side to the east end to where the river runs into the US. Ed was also the environmental representative on the Twin River Special Places 2000. He has been a MRWCC board member since 2010. Ed is the chairman of the Community Awareness and Involvement Team.
Lorraine Nicol - Academia
Lorraine holds a Master’s degree in economics and a Master’s degree in agricultural studies. She has worked many years as a policy analyst for a diverse range of federal and provincial government departments including the Economic Council of Canada and Saskatchewan Finance. Upon moving to Lethbridge ten years ago, Lorraine started to study water management policy and issues and has concentrated for several years on irrigation water management. About two years ago Lorraine started a PhD in water management and policy and is now focusing her research on regional water management in studying the complexities and challenges of developing a water sharing agreement within the Calgary Regional Partnership. Lorraine is presently a member of the MRWCC Board of Directors.
Missing information:
Mike Gervais – Health
William Schamber – Urban Municipality
Randy Taylor - County/Municipal District Alternate