Jean-Louis is a former member of the board of the Council for the Advancement of African Canadians (CAAC), where he served on the governance policy committee. He is a founding member of Edmonton Beninese Association, and past vice-president and treasurer. He currently works as a senior compliance officer for the federal government, with 10 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry as a manager, supervisor, and specialist in quality assurance.

Prior to coming to Edmonton, he was a volunteer with Pastoral of Oratory Saint-Joseph (Montréal), working to help the homeless in the downtown streets. He served on the Social Issues committee of the board of Conseil Jeunesse de Montreal (CJM), an advisory council on youth issues for the City of Montreal.

Jessica Burylo is the Outreach Officer for Elk Island National Park, where she collaborates with heritage organizations in the Edmonton area to further the preservation of our history and natural spaces. She has developed her expertise in visitor services, community engagement, and site curation through past positions in municipal committees, heritage foundations, and museum management in Southern Alberta.

A new Edmontonian who is keen to contribute to her community, Jessica holds a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology with post-graduate studies in Heritage Resource Management. She has published work advocating for the use of historical case studies to teach science curriculum to promote science accessibility and literacy. She believes that heritage is a valuable platform for citizens to cultivate their own identity and to explore complicated societal issues.

Geoff is a Professional Engineer with over 25 years’ experience in the power industry. He holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Engineering from the University of Alberta. Geoff currently works in Project Development with EPCOR. For the last 12 years, Geoff has been responsible for the Rossdale Generating Station, a provincially designated historic resource.

Geoff is currently a director for the Edmonton Power Historic Foundation, which operates a museum in Leduc Country and whose mission is to preserve the history of electric power in Alberta. Previous volunteer roles include serving on the board of the Thompson Nicola Cariboo United Way, leading Scouts, and coaching soccer.

Kathryn was born and raised in amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton), with mixed Hong-Kong Cantonese and Irish settler ancestry. With an eye to equity, diversity, and inclusion, Kathryn is especially interested in intangible cultural heritage and has touched on this in the realms of arts and culture, Chinatown placemaking, and urban food systems.

She has worked at the intersections of community-building, engagement, communications, planning, and research. Kathryn’s experience with a diversity of organizations and audiences includes those in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, working with local government, arts, advocacy, Indigenous, multicultural, cultural, faith, and grassroots organizations. She is also the co-creator, along with Kyla Pascal, of Hungry Zine, a community-focused food publication. Kathryn holds an MA in Planning from UBC, and a Bachelor of Environment from the University of Waterloo.

Robert is a professional planner with over 40 years of experience in setting public policy, heritage conservation, and environmental land use planning. He has been active in local government, serving as a City Councillor for the City of Kelowna from 1988-2014 and Chair of the Central Okanagan Regional District from 1993-2014, among other positions. In 2015, Robert moved to Edmonton and in 2016 he was appointed to the City of Edmonton Subdivision and Development Appeal Board.

Robert was awarded the Queens Jubilee Medal for his leadership on municipal, regional and provincial issues. He has focused on reconciling interests between local and regional governments and between municipalities and First Nations.

Mercy practices personal injury law and civil litigation with an Alberta-wide law firm. She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Kwame Nkrumah University in Ghana and a Master of Laws degree from York University in Ontario. Through her current profession and past work in various capacities within the telecommunications and oil and gas industries, she has engaged with individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds. She is familiar with corporate governance, policy review, and negotiations.

Mercy also enjoys volunteering and is dedicated to giving back to her community. She is interested in issues of history, diversity, inclusion, community engagement, and heritage preservation. She is always keen to learn about the unique cultures and identities of various communities. In her free time, Mercy enjoys music, travelling, board games, and sports.

Tim has spent much of his life in the Edmonton area and has deep-rooted family ties to the University of Alberta and various clubs from throughout Edmonton’s history. He has a passion for history, heritage, and architecture and enjoys travel that lets him explore these pursuits throughout cities around the world.

His more than two decades of experience in the accounting sector includes working for home builders and Edmonton area development companies. He is currently a partner at an accounting firm and enjoys the networking and relationship building opportunities the role brings.

James is Cree/Métis and grew up in Treaty 8 Territory, near kapawe’nohk (Grouard) on the shores of the Lesser Slave Lake.

After moving to amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton) to attend the University of Alberta, he worked as a Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School before returning to work in Indigenous education focusing on the links between Indigenous Knowledge and Science. He has extensive experience working with Indigenous nations and organizations in the areas of health, Indigenous knowledge, traditional medicine, education, and Indigenous rights.

He has served as Director of Research and Indigenous Health Sciences Coordinator at the University nistameyimakanak Blue Quills (UnBQ); and as Associate Director of Indigenous Student Services at McMaster University. He currently serves as Director of Innovation and Research with the Indigenous Knowledge and Wisdom Centre.

Adegoke was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. He immigrated to Canada in 2019 and is a Chartered Insurance Professional with over 10 years of experience in the insurance industry. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria and works with Aviva Insurance as a National Property Claims Adjuster, handling property claims across provinces in Canada. Adegoke’s expertise cut across Insurance Operations, Enterprise Risk Management, and Project Management.

His professional designations include The Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP), Canadian Risk Management Designation (CRM), Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), and Project Management Professional (PMP). He is also a community builder and currently volunteers at Edmonton Food Bank & Africa Centre, He is the Facilities Director for The Nigerian Canadian Association of Edmonton (NCAE), and Connector & Mentor at the Edmonton Region Immigrant Employment Council (ERIEC).

Abbey is a born and raised Edmontonian with a significant interest in the heritage and historical integrity of our dynamic and beautiful city. A library and information professional, Abbey works as a community librarian with the Edmonton Public Library and has a decade of experience providing heritage, cultural, and outreach services to communities.

After completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Alberta, she pursued a Master’s in Library and Information Services Management in Sheffield, England. Spending five years abroad fostered her deep appreciation for preserving and advocating for heritage and history in Edmonton. She is also passionate about storytelling and creating opportunities for community connections.

Kyle Schole grew up on a farm near Westlock, AB in Treaty 6 Territory. In his role as Vice-Chair of the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance, he has been leading an initiative to see 718km of the kisiskâciwani-sîpiy (North Saskatchewan River) in Alberta designated under the Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS), which will contribute to the conservation, stewardship, and celebration of the river’s exceptional natural, cultural, and recreational values.

Kyle studied Political Science and Canadian Studies at the University of Calgary before briefly serving on Parliament Hill in the Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. After his time in Ottawa, he worked as a kayak guide in Tofino and the Gulf Islands of BC. Today, he lives in Edmonton and works as a Planning Technician for a rural municipality Northeast of the city (just two days downriver by canoe).

Lauren is a public historian and life-long lover of museums and heritage. Her over two-decade career began after high school at the Canmore Museum’s NWMP Barracks site, a provincially designated historical resource. She is a settler, raised in Canmore, and has resided in Edmonton / amiskwacîwâskahikan since 2008. Lauren is passionate about the important role museums, heritage, and the non-profit sector play in community. She believes a strong heritage sector contributes to the overall health and wellbeing of society and the economy, as attractions for locals and tourists alike.

Lauren is the Strategic Services Director at the Alberta Museums Association, where she has worked since 2013. She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Public History from Carleton University in Ottawa. She is an avid supporter of museums and heritage, trying to instill a love of both in her family with frequent visits to Edmonton’s rich heritage sites.