Leadership Team
Ebony Rempel (she/her)
Chief Executive Officer
Ebony Rempel has been working in the field of gender equity since 2010. Ebony has a Master of Science degree specializing in Health Promotion and currently a PhD candidate at Western University. Her doctorate work is focused on understanding the support, information, and service needs of women who access second-stage shelters. Ebony brings a preventive lens to her work through community engagement and has presented at over 30 conferences across the globe. Ebony is embedded into the community and is passionate about creating inclusive spaces. She works hard to bridge academic research with direct service delivery and comes to the work with genuine curiosity. She believes in working from a trauma-informed, harm-reduction approach with clients, community, and employees. Ebony lives in Banff with her partner Jamie and son Seth, where they love to hike, bike, and snowboard.
Stephen Crotty (he/him)
Chief Operating Officer
Stephen joined the YWCA Banff in 2009 as the Director of Operations after a couple of successful decades in the Bow Valley hospitality sector. In this role, he was enabled to actively participate in the growth and sustainability of the YWCA Banff in many facets including the social enterprise hotel, the residence housing programs, and managing the daily operations of the Banff campus. Stephen has strengthened community engagement through iconic events including VINEart and Songs for Shelter, as well as numerous community boards and committees. As Vice Chair of the Town of Banff Housing Study, Stephen recommitted much of his energies and focus on housing in the Bow Valley and the YWCA Banff’s role in supporting this community need.
As Chief Operations Officer from 2019 to 2022, Stephen has dedicated most of his efforts to expanding the YWCA Banff’s housing portfolio with the completion of the organization’s largest capital project, Dr. Priscilla Wilson’s Place. During this time, Stephen has been fortunate to transition the excellent operations management team to their new roles operating the overall YWCA campus. Part of this transition planning has allowed Stephen to take on the new role of Capital Projects Officer, effective as of 2023. Stephen’s focus is on the major capital opportunities that are future focused, such as the Higher Ground purpose-built facility ear-marked for Canmore.
Stephen has resided in Banff/Canmore since 1980 and enjoys spending time playing, recreating and learning all that the mountains offer. Stephen is a (quietly) passionate advocate for the YWCA Banff and the work that is done in the community by the entire team at the Y. He is most proud of actively trying to keep up with his family – Chris, Britt, Landis, Jamie, Mom and Franny.
Tim Binks (he/him)
Director of Finance
Originally from New Zealand, Tim has an interesting professional background that includes management roles in a large international accounting firm, to Chief Financial Officer/Director for a smaller tourism business. Tim works remotely but returns to Banff for a few months each year. While in town, he spends some of his time working up Sunshine Village as a ski patroller. Tim has travelled extensively and volunteered in many parts of the world. He holds an advanced first aid certificate, avalanche operations level two certification and is an experienced rescue worker. He is also a Chartered Accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and a Prince2 Project Management designation.
Rae Roberts (she/her)
Director of Residential Programs
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 Advocacy & Community Programs
Reave moved to the Bow Valley with her family in the summer of 2015 and has been enjoying it ever since! Reave is a professional social worker who brings an extensive background in human services including experience in the domestic violence and settlement sectors as well as experience in non-profit management. Prior to relocating to the Bow Valley, she completed her master’s in social work with a specialization in leadership. In 2016 Reave joined the team as the Harmony Project Manager, an opportunity which fit well with her passion for gender equity and community development. As someone who values collaboration, opportunities for lifelong learning and making a positive contribution to community, Reave is grateful to live in the Bow Valley and be a member of the leadership team at YWCA Banff. |
Neil Atkinson (he/him)
Advocacy and Community Programs Manager
Jin Kang (she/her)
Accounting and Payroll Manager
Emily Sweeney (she/they)
Marketing and Communications Manager
After completing her Bachelor of Commerce degree in June 2020, Emily and her partner packed up their lives and their cat Bilbo and headed across the wide-open prairies to beautiful Canmore, AB. As a lover of all things outdoors Emily still can’t believe she gets to call this beautiful mountain community home. Realizing early on in her marketing career that creating meaningful change within her role was essential, it didn’t take her long to find YWCA Banff. Emily joined the YWCA Banff team as the Marketing and Communications Manager in June 2022 and brings creativity, passion, and a fresh perspective to her work.
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.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kate Boyd (she/her)
President
Salina McNamara (she/her)
Past President
Ella Schatzmann (she/her)
Vice President – Governance
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.
Danielle Roussy (she/her)
Vice President - Operations
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.
Melanie Kwong (she/her)
Secretary
Karen Shelton (she/her)
Treasurer
Dominique Lagloire-Galipeau (she/her)
Director
Yvonne Machuk (she/her)
Director
Yvonne has lived in Banff since 1976. She has been actively volunteering for many years, having served on most community boards in Banff including the Mineral Springs Hospital Board, the Whyte Museum Board and the board of the Banff Canmore Community Foundation. Yvonne holds a BA from the University of Winnipeg, a BEd from the University of Manitoba and an MEd from the University of Calgary. After a career in public education spanning nearly four decades, she returned to university and earned a doctorate in educational leadership at the University of Calgary. Her doctoral work focused on the challenges faced by internationally educated teachers as they transition to the Alberta context. Yvonne has wide-ranging leadership experience both professionally and in the volunteer sector and has facilitated strategic planning sessions and professional learning workshops locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.
Her commitment to empowering women and girls was established through her more than 30 year membership in Soroptimist International, a women’s service organization that works to better the lives of women and girls where she served in several leadership capacities for the organization.
Yvonne and her husband have found retirement an excellent opportunity to revisit favourite spots and explore new destinations.
Heather Sturm (she/her)
Director
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.
Sam Welsh (she/her)
Director
Sam is a counsellor at Banff-Canmore Women’s Counselling, Canadian Perinatal Wellness Collective, and WellMind Counselling. As a trauma-informed therapist and intersectional feminist, she is passionate about advocating for accessible mental health services, de-stigmatizing counselling, and ensuring that folks are connected the resources they need to thrive. Sam holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology as well as certificates in Perinatal Mental Health, Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Emotions Focused Therapy, and others. With an open heart and in the spirit of reciprocity, Sam gratefully acknowledges the privilege of living and raising a family on Treaty 7 Territory. When she’s not working, you can find Sam dancing and teaching at Canmore Dance Corps, volunteering for AHS, and enjoying the beauty of the Bow Valley with her son, husband, and two dogs. Sam has served as YWCA Board Member and co-chair of the Truth & Reconciliation Working Group since 2022.
Cate White (she/her)
Director
Cate is thrilled to be joining the YWCA Banff Board of Directors to continue her passion for women-centred preventive community programming. As a born and raised Albertan, Cate grew up hiking and camping in the Bow Valley with YMCA-YWCA camps. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a law degree (JD), both from the University of Victoria. During her undergraduate degree, Cate focused her time researching with and working alongside Indigenous communities, tackling issues that intersect across women’s reproductive health, environmental justice and access to justice. Prior to attending law school, Cate was a researcher for Constellation Consulting Group, a group of consultants who work with Calgary-based non-profit organizations to build evidence-based programming and evaluation frameworks. She also volunteered for the Victoria Big Brothers Big Sisters “Go Girls!” program that focuses on empowering girls in grades 4-6.
Cate is currently a Calgary-based lawyer with a commercial litigation practice that focuses on anti-bribery, corruption and other national and international criminal and regulatory compliance issues. She still enjoys making her way to the mountains of the Bow Valley on most weekends, whether it’s for hiking, camping, fly-fishing or cross-country skiing.
Shaping a safe and inclusive Bow Valley that empowers women and their community for a better future.
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