Fiscal Year 2024 / 2025

Dr. Al Kryski – Board Chair

Dr. Kryski, originally from Trail, BC, moved to Calgary in 1976 to attend the University of Calgary where he obtained a B.Sc in biochemistry 1980, Ph.D. in medical sciences 1985, and M.D. in 1988. He  trained in Internal Medicine and  Cardiology in Calgary, and has been on staff as a cardiologist with Alberta Health Services since 1995.

Dr. Kryski is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Calgary.  He enjoys clinical cardiology and echocardiography, maintaining a primary interest in patient care and clinical based research.

Fergal Duff – First Vice Chair

Committee Membership: Strategic Planning & Risk Management

Fergal is an Irish-born real estate development professional with over 20 years of international experience in architectural design, project management and development. He settled in Calgary with his family in 2012 and is currently in the role of Senior Vice President for a Calgary-based, family-owned development company with a variety of projects in the US and Canada. Previously, Fergal was the owner and CEO of a successful development management company, which provided extensive consulting services to Bethany Care Society for numerous capital projects.

Fergal has previously served on community association boards, providing direction to development and planning committees.

Louise Redmond – Second Vice Chair

Committee Membership: Community Relations, Governance/CEO Oversight & Nominations

Louise Redmond is a lifelong Calgarian and graduate of the University of Calgary with a degree in both Arts and a Bachelor of Laws. She is recently retired from a mid-size Calgary law firm after a 26-year career in litigation, , mediation of disputes and tribunal decision-making. Louise is an active church volunteer and past Vice-Chair of a building development committee that achieved a goal of $1.7 million church renovation to provide accessible program and amenity spaces for community and arts groups.

Louise’s current volunteer commitments include Church Warden at St. Stephen’s Church with responsibilities for church governance including financial oversight, human resources, property and building management, and parish pandemic planning. She is presently a member of St. Stephen’s Search Committee for the hiring of a new Rector. She has been a past Board Member of the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter and committee member of Turning Points fund-raising gala dinner.

Judy Hanson – Secretary

Committee Membership: Quality, Safety & Ethics

Judy graduated with a Master of Nursing degree from the University of Calgary in 1983. She is currently in her second year of Chairing the Alumni Gold Committee and is a member of the Faculty Engagement Committee. As a nursing administrator and leader, she is instrumental in the transition from standalone hospital-based administration to the Calgary Health Region and brought nurses together to achieve great success amidst a changing landscape.

Her governance experience includes two full terms on two not-for-profit boards, one responsible for health care delivery and the other focused on education and research. Building strong relationships, teamwork and lifelong learning are essential to this Board candidate’s performance. She also completed the Haskayne Not for Profit Governance Essentials program (NFPGEP) in 2014.  In August Judy retired from her faculty position in the U of C Faculty of Nursing undergraduate program after many years of rewarding teaching work. She remains active in both research activities and community projects.

Dale R.C. Ebbert – Board Member

Committee Membership: Governance/CEO Oversight & Nominations

Dale Ebbert has lived and practiced law in the City of Calgary for over 45 years. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts & Science from the University of Lethbridge in 1972 and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta in 1975. He recently retired as Associate General Counsel of a public oil and gas company and continues to provide legal counsel to private corporations and individuals in private practice. He has extensive corporate governance, corporate secretarial and policy development experience.

In semi-retirement, his practice focuses on corporate, real estate and estate planning matters. He has instructed Real Estate Law at the University of Calgary Faculty of Continuing Education and presented on topics of legal interest to community and in-house audiences.

Outside of the office, Dale’s wife, children and family have been his joy and inspiration. He has served on the board of education societies, school councils and coached soccer and hockey for many years. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys travelling, reading, gardening, fishing and golfing. Dale believes that his involvement with Bethany will provide him with an opportunity to help seniors live and age well.

Blake Lowden – Board Member

Committee Membership: Strategic Planning and Risk Management, Community Relations

Blake Lowden is a lifelong resident of Calgary and a financial professional with over 15 years of experience specializing in development financing. Blake has a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance from the University of Calgary, and an MBA from  Athabasca University.

As a Senior Director with MCAP Financial Corporation, Blake has experience in various types of financing facilities (senior debt, junior debt, participating debt and equity) and the management of investment portfolios. Blake’s current and past volunteer commitment include Bethany’s Strategic Planning & Risk Management committee, Calgary Interfaith Food Bank and as a Guest Lecturer at the University of Calgary.

Ray Mack – Board Member

Committee Membership: Finance & Audit and Governance/CEO Oversight & Nominations, Strategic Planning and Risk Management

Ray is one of the four founding members of Kenway Mack Slusarchuk Stewart LLP.  Ray earned his Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia in 1973, his CA designation in 1975 and FCA in 2000.

In addition to the Boards and audit committees of several private and public companies, he has served as a President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta between 2000 – 2001, was managing partner of KMSS from 1986 – 1999, was the President of DFK International between 2005 – 2008 and served as President of DFK Canada from 1995 – 1998. Ray has also served on the Board and several committees of Covenant Health between 2009 – 2018. Ray is now semi-retired from Kenway Mack in January 2011. When not at the office, he is actively pursuing his passions for skiing, biking, photography and travel.

Salimah Pirbhai – Board Member

Committee Membership: Quality, Safety & Ethics

Salimah is a Management Consultant and a Senior Project Manager with 20 years of experience in information technology in the Oil & Gas, Telecommunications and Airline industries. Salimah has completed a diploma in Electronics Telecommunications Engineering from SAIT and holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Management Information Systems from the University of Alberta.

Salimah’s values in volunteering and giving back to the community has been deeply rooted since childhood participating in various activities and special projects, including serving as a Community Member on Bethany’s Strategic Planning and Risk Management Committee since 2012.

Michael Thakkar – Board Member

Committee Membership: Finance & Audit

Michael Thakkar currently works as Vice President, Portfolio Manager and Investment Advisor at TD Wealth Private Investment Advice. He has more than 20 years of experience working at major Canadian banks in investment management and finance. Prior to entering banking, Michael worked in the Canadian Foreign Service including being appointed as Vice-Consul at the Consulate General in Milan, Italy.

Michael has a MBA from the University of British Columbia, a Masters in Theological Studies from Regent College, and a BSc in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Alberta.

Michael has extensive experience volunteering in the sporting community and faith-based organizations including the Canadian Ski Patrol, the Association of Shotokan Karate in Calgary, The Canadian Mental Health Association, and the Anglican Diocese of Calgary.

Lauren Andre – Board Member

Committee Membership: Strategic Planning & Risk Management, Community Relations

Lauren is a financial professional in the energy sector with extensive experience as a political and community volunteer.

Lauren has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Queen’s University, an MBA from the University of Alberta and is a CFA Charter holder.  Lauren has over 20 years of experience in finance, commercial and business development roles within the electricity sector, and is presently working with Enbridge as a Business Development Manager in renewable energy.

Lauren’s volunteer commitments have included numerous board roles with political and community groups as well as having managed campaigns for senior politicians in Calgary. Her community involvement includes having led a small group of neighbours to fundraise, develop and build a local playground.

Lauren is married with two children and remains active as a volunteer in her community.

Ben Kormos – Board Member

Committee Membership: Governance/CEO Oversight & Nominations, Community Relations

Benjamin is a legal and business executive, focused on deep and meaningful relationships. He founded Kormos LLP, a boutique specialist legal services firm, in April, 2024, after establishing and leading a team of estate lawyers recognized province-wide, and in other regions of Canada, for their depth of knowledge and expertise, during his 15 years’ of previous experience at a mid-sized generalist firm.

Benjamin has extensive experience with mental capacity and undue influence issues, at all stages of an estate or business matter. He is recognized for his empathy and understanding, and strategic representation.

Benjamin believes that growing his community is inherently rewarding, and this contribution causes ripple effects that continue beyond the eye’s perception. He leads in a wide variety of community groups and charitable organizations, and he is a philanthropist. He has served as a director of the Canadian Bar Association (Alberta), is a past-president of the Rotary Club of Calgary West, and has led several local charitable organizations including founding Project Inovaçao Foundation, which supports education and seniors care projects in Brazil.

He is committed to growing and improving, in all aspects of his work, including as a member of the Bethany Care Society’s Board of Trustees and its Governance and Community Relations Committees.

Ian Gunn – Board Member

Committee Membership: Finance & Audit

Ian Gunn, CPA, CA CMA, ICD.D, is a former partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) having retired after a 35-year career that started in Mississauga, Ontario, included 2 years in London England and a number of years in London, Ontario before finishing in Calgary, Alberta.  During his time with PwC, Ian led the Assurance services practice in London, Ontario and came to Calgary to lead the Private company services initiative for Alberta.  In his time with PwC, Ian worked with businesses in a variety of industries, in the public and private sectors and Not-for-profit organizations.  Since retiring from PwC, Ian has started working with TEC Canada, a member-based leadership development organization of CEOs and entrepreneurs.

Ian attended the University of Waterloo where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts – honours Accounting and his Master of Accounting and shortly after that was successful in obtaining his Chartered Accounting and Certified Management Accounting designations. He is also part of the Calgary Stampede Foundation Audit Committee.

Brenda Fischer – Board Member

Committee Membership: Quality, Safety & Ethics

Brenda is a retired nurse with over 35 years experience in bedside care, hospital administration and as an independent consultant.  Brenda has a diploma RN (Foothills Hospital School of Nursing), a Bachelor of Nursing (with distinction, University of Calgary) and a Master of Business Administration (Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland).  Key professional roles include bedside nursing in multiple intensive care units; progressive roles in hospital administration culminating in roles as the senior administrator for Children’s, Women’s and Community Health in the Calgary Health Region (including clinical leader for the design, build and move to a new children’s hospital Site).  This was followed by a role in the newly formed Alberta Health Services as the Senior Vice President for EMS services during the transition of these services from the municipalities.  Brenda then had a health care consulting practice until retirement in 2017.

Brenda has a long history of volunteerism dating back to high school and continuing to the present time.  Current volunteer activities include being a construction crew leader with Habitat for Humanity (17 years); Chair, Care Opinion Steering Committee (3 years) which is a key element of Imagine Citizens Network (7 years), and a community member of the Quality Safety and Ethics Community of Bethany Care Society (1 year).