Fiscal Year 2025/2026

Fergal Duff – Board 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 – First Vice Chair

Committee Membership: 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.

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).

Dale R.C. Ebbert – Secretary

Committee Membership: Governance/CEO Oversight & Nominations, Quality, Safety & Ethics

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.

Ben Kormos – Board Member

Committee Membership: Governance/CEO Oversight & Nominations

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.


Blake Lowden – Board Member

Committee Membership: Strategic Planning & Risk Management

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.

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.

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.

Rick Christiaanse – Board Member

Committee Membership: Strategic Planning & Risk Management

Rick Christiaanse is an experienced executive with a strong background in economic development, investment attraction, and stakeholder engagement across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. As CEO of Invest Alberta, he leads efforts to position Alberta as a premier destination for global investment, helping attract nearly $28 billion in investment to the province since joining the organization.

Rick has held leadership roles with startups, multinational corporations, and large enterprises, including Skidmore Group, Glentel Inc., TELUS, and Sport BC. His career has focused on building strategic partnerships and driving business growth across diverse industries such as energy, technology, agriculture, and life sciences.

Dr. Ted Braun – Board Member

Committee Membership: Strategic Planning & Risk Management

Dr. Ted Braun is a retired physician and healthcare leader with more than 25 years of experience in clinical operations, medical affairs, and executive roles. He most recently served as Vice President and Medical Director, Clinical Operations, with Alberta Health Services, retiring from leadership in 2021. His clinical career spanned over 35 years, beginning in Family Medicine with a focus on marginalized populations and people living with HIV/AIDS. He later specialized in Palliative Medicine until his retirement from clinical practice in 2025.

Ted has served on the boards of several community-focused organizations, including Global Village Crafts Society (Villages Calgary), Momentum, the Calgary Drop-In Centre, and both Mosaic and South Calgary Primary Care Networks.

Jennifer Lussier – Board Member

Jennifer Lussier is a senior executive with over 30 years of experience in marketing, brand strategy, technology startups, and nonprofit leadership. With expertise in business development, strategic partnerships, and operational leadership, Jennifer has held key roles in growth, marketing, and community-building initiatives. As Chief Operating Officer of Platform Calgary, she supports the city’s innovation ecosystem by expanding access to resources that help grow the tech sector. Her previous experience includes co-founding a construction-focused tech startup and leading a brand agency serving corporate Calgary.

Jennifer has served on the boards of the Calgary Innovation Coalition, Product Calgary, and the Grand Theatre and volunteered with Technovation, Dementia Advocacy Canada, and the International Women’s Forum. She is also the founder of Eff Academy, a platform that encourages entrepreneurs to embrace failure as part of growth.