Leadership Team
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Chief Executive Officer
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Director of Operations
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Director of Programs & Impact
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Director of Development & Communications
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Accounting and Payroll Manager
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Facility Manager
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Manager of Residential Programs
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Marketing and Communications Manager
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Manager of Community Programs
Ebony Rempel (she/her)
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Ebony Rempel has served as CEO of YWCA Banff since January 2021, bringing energy, vision, and a deep commitment to equity and community. Before arriving in Banff, she led a national gender-equity project, and prior to that, she was Executive Director of the Violence Against Women Shelter in Grande Prairie, Alberta. With the full support of the YWCA Banff team and Board of Directors, Ebony successfully defended her PhD in April 2025.
Ebony is passionate about weaving together community, research, and social impact. She has over a decade of experience working in the field of gender equity, applying trauma-informed, harm-reduction frameworks in both academic and direct service settings.
Under her leadership, YWCA Banff has entered into a transformative partnership with SAIT and the Wim & Nancy Pauw Foundation, securing a $30 million investment to enhance capital infrastructure and launch new hospitality education initiatives right here in Banff. She has also spoken publicly about the challenges and triumphs of nonprofit leadership, especially in times of increased demand and tighter funding.
When she’s not championing change, Ebony loves to travel. She lives in Banff with her partner, Jamie, and their sons, Seth and Bobby. Winter is her favourite season, and on any given weekend she might be found snowboarding, hiking, or scouting a hidden lake to skate on.
Rae Bilodeau (she/her)
Director of Operations
Rae Roberts is grateful to live and work in Banff and finds joy in community engagement, crafting and cooking. In her spare time, she is supporting the re-launch of the Banff Food and Friends program, engages as the secretary of the Banff Curling Club, acts as a Board member with the Banff Housing Corporation and sits as a committee member with the Banff Canmore Community Foundation Program Disbursement Committee. Rae has worked with YWCA Banff for nearly 10 years with a focus in Residential Program(s) design and delivery. She recognizes the unique, rural housing landscape in the Bow valley and is dedicated to connecting Bow valley people to housing solutions and supportive programming.
Reave MacLeod (she/her)
Director of Programs & Impact
Reave joined YWCA Banff in 2016 as the Manager of the Harmony Project—an initiative that aligned perfectly with her passion for gender equity and community development. She holds a Master of Social Work degree with a specialization in Leadership from the University of Calgary and brings an extensive background in human services, including experience in the domestic violence and immigrant settlement sectors, as well as non-profit management. Now serving as the Director of Programs and Impact, Reave is passionate about leadership and primary prevention, she works collaboratively to build capacity and inspire meaningful change. She is grateful to live and work in the Bow Valley as part of YWCA Banff’s leadership team.
Salina McNamara
Director of Development & Communications
Bio coming soon.
Jin Kang (she/her)
Accounting and Payroll Manager
Originally from South Korea, Jin received a degree in Computer Science before moving to Canada where she went on to study Accounting at Bow Valley College. Jin has called the Bow Valley home since 2007 and joined the YWCA team in 2020 as the Accounting and Payroll Manager. As the proud mom of three mountain kids, Jin is passionate about working for an organization that supports women and the Bow Valley community.
In her time away from work, Jin enjoys skiing, hiking, camping, and time spent in her community with her family.
Susann Buchanan (she/her)
Facility Manager
Susann has worked with the YWCA Banff since 2005. Through her work in facilities, Susann leads the housekeeping and maintenance operations across the 90,000 square foot YWCA Campus. Suze is dedicated to the mission and vision of the YWCA and is an integral part of ensuring the YWCA is a safe and welcoming place for everyone.
Ellen Thuringer (she/her)
Manager of Residential Programs
Ellen was born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, lived in Manitoba and then moved to Montreal where she started her Social Work career. Before arriving in the Bow Valley in 2005, Ellen lived and worked in Toronto, Ontario managing wellness and fitness programs at a multi-site hospital. She brings with her a Bachelor of Social Work, a Wellness and Lifestyle Management certificate and a Master of Health Science in Health Promotion. She has been a registered Social Worker with ACSW since 2008.
Ellen previously worked managing Bow Valley Parent Link while chairing the Bow Valley Early Childhood Development Coalition. Most recently she worked at Stoney Health Services in Mini Thni managing Early Years Programming.
Ellen is at her best working alongside and learning from those who envision a better community and is honored to join the YWCA Banff team for a 3rd time.
Outside of work, Ellen spends time on her e-bike, loves thrifting, reading and gardening and hanging out with her loving partner, Rob, and their miniature schnauzer, Beau.
Kendra Nelson (she/her)
Marketing and Communications Manager
Kendra comes to the YWCA Banff with a degree in Communications and a vast 8-year post-secondary career in various fields, such as Philosophy, Fine Art, Creative Writing, and Gender Studies. After working for over 7 years in marketing, she is excited to make the transition to the non-profit world where her work can work towards the betterment of the Bow Valley. She has a deep love for nature, the mountains and her campervan that she spends most of her summers in.
Coming Soon!
Manager of Community Programs
Coming soon!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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President
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Vice President - Governance
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Vice President - Operations
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Treasurer
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Secretary
Kate Boyd (she/her)
President
Kate has been quietly driving change in sport and recreation across Canada. As a leader, manager and director, Kate has leveraged her skills and experiences to lead her teams to sustained performance and excellence. Kate believes in empowering and mentoring her teams to tap into their own excellence, which contributes to the greater team’s success.
Kate has led meaningful change for large programs at the YMCA-YWCA and in sport. Helping to set the tone, guide decisions and create highly effective teams. As a youth and young adult, the experiences at YMCA-YWCA camps helped shape the leader she is today.
Kate is the High-Performance Director (HPD), for Nordiq Canada’s Para Nordic program, Canada’s most successful Paralympic team. In 2020, she was the first female HPD hired at Nordiq Canada. As a member of the staff for the Para Nordic team at the 2018 and 2022 Paralympic Games, she supported athletes and staff in their achievement of thirty medals at the Games. She has helped the team navigate the ups and downs of the pandemic and a major shift in staffing. Under her guidance the team had their best ever performance in the 2022-23 World Cup season, despite such significant challenges.
As a YWCA Banff Board member since 2020, Kate values being able to give back and contribute to the YWCA and the greater Bow Valley community, through an organization that has played such a critical role throughout her entire life.
Danielle Roussy (she/her)
Vice President - Governance
After attending the University of Waterloo for Psychology, Dani moved to the Bow Valley for the summer, like many do. That was in 2009 and she is still in awe of the beauty of Banff. Dani loves to travel (16 countries so far), explore, camp, hike, bike, yoga and spend time outdoors with her partner and her two boys. She’s been a volunteer for multiple organizations throughout the Bow Valley including Banff LIFE, Banff Yoga Festival, Banff Marathon, and Mel’s Road Race. Some programs she’s volunteered for include the Bow Valley Mentor Program (2014-2018) and Roots of Empathy (2018-2019). She has worked at the Banff Mineral Springs Hospital in St. Martha’s Long Term Care unit since 2014, but has recently taken over the role of Seniors Support Coordinator for the Town of Banff where she oversees the programs and services for older adults in Banff. Dani is so proud to be serving on the YWCA Executive Board of Directors since January 2020 and has a huge passion for the safety, equity and empowerment of women and girls.
Heather Sturm (she/her)
Vice President - Operations
A love for the mountains brought Heather to Alberta from Toronto, after completing her Bachelor in Biological Engineering from the University of Guelph in 2007. After many years of spending weekends in the Rockies, Heather moved to Canmore to be with her partner.
Heather is a Professional Engineer and has been working at a small environmental service company since 2009. Her career has provided her with a variety of experiences from operating equipment to technical design and project management. She now also helps manage the organization with a focus on empathetic and open leadership.
With a passion for a compassionate and caring community and world, she has been a Board member with YWCA Banff since January 2020 and a Client Care Volunteer with the Palliative Care Society of the Bow Valley starting August 2022.
When not working or volunteering, Heather can be found skiing, reading, and spending time in nature. She is grateful to live, work, and play on Treaty 7 Territory and for the Indigenous People who have been caretakers of this land since time immemorial.
Karen Shelton (she/her)
Treasurer
Karen joined the YWCA Banff Board of Directors in June 2021, and has served as the Treasurer and Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee since June 2022. Karen was born and raised in Alberta and has enjoyed countless hours in the mountains and the Bow Valley. She graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary, and is a professional accountant, with over 37 years of industry experience and 13 years of Board experience for nonprofit organizations.
She has technical expertise in financial and managerial accounting, budgeting, strategic planning, project management, and organizational change management. Karen is a strong advocate for women’s diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has served as a coach and mentor and has championed various employee-led programs, including the formation of a Women’s Leadership Network and various charitable fundraising programs.
Karen retired from the workplace in 2020. She is an avid traveler and modest golfer and enjoys spending time with her family, especially with her grandchildren.
Karen is grateful to give back to the community and support and empower the women and girls in the Bow Valley.
Karen Thomson (she/her)
Secretary
After completing her degree in Management, Karen moved to Banff in 2019 to hit the hiking trails for what she thought would be a couple of months. Years later, she’s still here enjoying the lakes, trails, and everything else life in the Bow Valley has to offer.
Throughout her life, Karen has been fortunate to have mentored, and been mentored by, many strong women and girls. To continue this trend – and fuelled by a belief in a safer, more equitable society that empowers women – she joined the YWCA Banff Board in 2024.
Karen also works in strategy at Banff & Lake Louise Tourism and is passionate about the sustainable future of tourism in this special part of the world.
Ella Schatzmann (she/her)
Director
Ella has proudly called Canmore home since 2004. She shares her life with her husband Chris and children Cody and Nelly. As a Social Worker, Ella has been a strong advocate for the rights and wellbeing of women and children, working in the areas of Child Protection, hospital Social Work and Community Mental Health. As Program Facilitator with Bow Valley Addiction & Mental Health since 2012, she is honoured to have the opportunity to work in community on initiatives and projects that aim to improve the lives of its citizens, including the Harmony Project, Homeless to Housing Coalition and the Bow Valley Wellness, Recovery & Preparedness Coalition.
Melanie Kwong (she/her)
Director
An opportunity with Parks Canada brought Melanie and her family to the Rockies in 2013. In that role, she quickly came to appreciate the spirit of collaboration in the Bow Valley, especially in challenging times like the historic flood event that year.
A desire to contribute to building a safe and inclusive community that empowers all women led Melanie to join the YWCA board. Melanie currently works for the federal Department of Canadian Heritage. A second-generation Canadian, Melanie was born in Montreal and is thankful to call home this special place on Treaty 7 Territory and the homeland of Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3.
Jessica Wheatley (she/her)
Director
Jessica is a Professional Engineer living and working in the Bow Valley, taking particular pride in working on the projects that make a difference in the lives of people within her community. Away from work, you’ll find her enjoying the mountains mountain biking, hiking, camping, on a paddle board or advocating for active transportation within our communities. Looking to further support the many local initiatives the YWCA is leading, Jessica is thrilled to have joined the board in 2021.
Sarah Freeman (she/her)
Director
Rooted in compassion, grace, and kindness, Sarah (She/Her) is a coach, entrepreneur, endurance and pool swimmer, and community leader passionate about guiding women and girls to lean into their potential and pursue their vision.
As Executive Director of the Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce, she supports and champions businesses across the region while also advancing opportunities for women in business. Sarah is also serving as a Board Director with the YWCA Banff.
For over 15 years, she has led a successful swim squad for all genders, alongside running women’s swim clinics and recently launching Girls Who Rise Together, a dry-land workshop for girls who are swimmers. Sarah also founded Swim It Forward, which sponsors two young women ages 18–30 each year who have faced adversity and are ready to pursue their swim dreams.
In all that she does —whether in the pool, the community, or in business—She is committed to creating spaces where women and girls feel seen, heard, and supported, knowing that each moment of growth creates a ripple effect that extends far beyond the individual.
Sarah Lonz (she/her)
Director
Sarah, originally from Ottawa, Ontario, spent the last 10 years working at Banff Mineral Springs Hospital as a Registered Nurse before advancing into a managerial role. She has since transitioned to Canmore General Hospital, where she currently serves as the Site Manager. With a background in nursing and healthcare leadership, Sarah’s career has been driven by her commitment to improving systems that directly impact the well-being of individuals and families.
Sarah is completing a Master’s in Leadership with a specialization in Healthcare at Royal Roads University. Her research is focused on strengthening inter-organizational collaboration in Banff to enhance the local mental health and addiction care system. Sarah also volunteers as the Board Chair for the Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley. Dedicated to people-centered initiatives, Sarah is committed to developing services and resources that address the diverse needs of the community.
Outside of her professional role, Sarah is an outdoor enthusiast where she spends her weekends hiking and trail running, finding balance in the natural beauty of the Bow Valley. Sarah’s leadership is defined by her commitment to collaboration and community engagement and is excited to bring her experience in leading teams and advocating for systemic change to YWCA Banff.
Anya Knechtel (she/her)
Director
Anya Knechtel joined the Board of the YWCA Banff in 2025, and previously served as a community member volunteer on the YWCA’s Program Committee. Throughout her career, Anya has worked with not-for-profit environmental and international development organizations on gender and environmental issues. Her work has focused on advancing rights-based approaches to climate action and planning; engaging in intersectional gender-based analysis, research, and policy advocacy, and; designing and facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues and capacity building initiatives. Locally, Anya has worked with the Bow Valley Immigration Partnership (covering a parental leave) and volunteers for community-building initiatives such as the Bow Valley College’s Mentorship for Rural Immigrants program. Anya holds a Masters of Arts in Planning from University of British Columbia, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Politics and Development Studies from Queen’s University. Anya grew up in Banff, and now lives in Canmore. Anya is an avid skier and hiker, and finds the greatest joy in spending time in the mountains with family and friends.
Emily Morgan (she/her)
Director
Emily moved to the Bow Valley after completing her degree in Engineering in the UK, and has spent the past seven years working across the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Now as the Founder and Principal of Cascade Collaborative, she partners with organizations and entrepreneurs to strengthen systems and strategies that enable them to deliver meaningful impact in their communities.
Emily also serves as the Executive Director of the Star 6 Ranch Foundation, where she stewards land-based programs that address health and wellness challenges through connection to community and environment.
She is honoured to join YWCA Banff’s Board of Directors, believing deeply in the power of women supporting women, and is excited to contribute to the Y’s mission of creating a safe, equitable community where women can thrive.
When she’s not working, Emily enjoys skiing and exploring the beauty of Treaty 7 with her husband.
Shaping a safe and inclusive Bow Valley that empowers women and their community for a better future.
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