Fiscal Year 2021 / 2022

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.

Lauren Andre – 1st Vice Chair

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.

Louise Redmond – 2nd 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

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.

Arlene Weidner – Board Member

Committee Membership: Quality, Safety & Ethics, Community Relations

Arlene has more than 50 years’ experience in a variety of healthcare positions including direct clinical care, education, research, and senior-level administrative positions (before and during Regionalization in Alberta). She has had an active healthcare consulting business for the past 15 years. She did healthcare systems surveys across Canada with the Canadian Council for Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA) for ten years, was a Board member and Finance Committee Chair and member for 10 years with the Alberta Registered Nurses Educational Trust (ARNET) is a Life Member of the Canadian College of Healthcare Leaders (CCHL), has been an active volunteer with the Calgary Stampede for over 50 years, (awarded a Life Member in 2018), and currently serves as a Board member of the local community Board.

She joined the Quality, Safety, and Ethics Committee of the Bethany Care Society as a community member in 2018 and is thoroughly enjoying being part of this impressive organization.

Fergal Duff – Board Member

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.

Ben Kormos – Board Member

Committee Membership: Governance/CEO Oversight & Nominations

Ben is an equity partner at Walsh LLP since 2013 and is the Practice Group Leader of Walsh Law’s Wealth Advancement Team. His legal practice is focused primarily on estate, wills and trust litigation, and commercial litigation. He is also an arbitrator and mediator for parties in those matters.

Ben has served as a Chair of the Canadian Bar Association’s Civil Litigation and Wills & Trusts sections (2020–21). He is also a member of CBA Construction, and a member of CBA Alternative Dispute Resolution. He is a past-president of the Rotary Club of Calgary West and has served on the Calgary Rotary Clubs Foundation’s board of directors.

As a natural advocate for less empowered people, and for ‘bigger picture’ social development, Ben’s commitment to serve others benefits his community and the legal profession. Ben also volunteers for many different organizations, including Rotary, Sport for Calgary Foundation, Canadian Bar Association, Protect Inovacao Foundation, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, along with his work at Bethany Care Society.