President

Joni is a retired family physician residing in the Wheatland area. She previously served on the boards of the Strathmore Victim Services Society and Alberta 55Plus Summer Games Society. Memories of love and friendship inspire her vision of community-based hospice services in the Wheatland area.

info@wheatlandhospice.ca

Past President

Keith Clayton was born and raised in the Chestermere/Indus area. As a professional engineer, he worked for Cominco Ltd. and Agrium, then consulted independently for fourteen years. He has volunteered on the Strathmore Minor Hockey Board, the Community Enhancement Regional Board (CERB), and Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games Board, arena building committees, and coached numerous minor sports teams. He and his wife of 49 years, Marilyn, have two children and three grandchildren. Keith is still actively farming in the Strathmore area. Keith serves as the first Society President who came on board with what he thinks is one of the best ideas he’s heard in a long time.

keith@wheatlandhospice.ca

Vice-President

Shelley Harriman is a Chartered Professional Accountant and is a partner with Gregory, Harriman & Associates in Strathmore. Shelley and her husband Earl farm in the Wheatland area. They both enjoyed many years of volunteering and coaching Ringette as their three daughters were active in the Rockyford Minor Hockey and Ringette Association and continue to play today as adults. They now look forward to having the chance to watch their three young grandchildren one day participate in sports in the future. Shelley is currently the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of CPA Insurance Plans West and a past Board member of Chinook Credit Union. Shelley feels that the need for a rural Hospice is very important to the Community and its residents to provide them with a comfortable environment for their end of life care.

sharriman@wheatlandhospice.ca

Treasurer

Shelah Downey is an Accounting Technician who lives in Wheatland County on the family ranch with her husband and two boys. She enjoys reading, scrapbooking and spending time with her family.

Shelah believes that Wheatland County could benefit from hospice care so that people nearing the end of life can be surrounded by family and friends.

shelah@wheatlandhospice.ca

Director

Teri is a highly effective relationship builder with extensive project management, leadership and administrative oversight. She has demonstrated ability to synthesize complex, evolving issues (business advancement, economics and social service) then lead with relevancy, focus and direction.

Teri’s volunteer pursuits involve coordination of cross-functioning sectors: education, community development and agriculture. Teri completed a ten-year term with Calgary Stampede Board of Directors, and holds the esteemed designation of Honorary Life Director. She has served on Valour Canada, Wheatland Crisis Society and two appointments with Crown Corporation, Alberta Agricultural Product Marketing Council. Most recently, Teri led the concept and implementation of “Ship to Shore”, an inquiry-based learning program for elementary schools and our Royal Canadian Navy.

Teri lives with her husband and children at their custom feedlot. She is honoured to join the Board of Wheatland & Area Hospice Society, and contribute to their vision of driving local palliative care in Wheatland County.

teri@wheatlandhospice.ca

Director

Barry Nephin, owner of Aquilla Homes, has been building custom homes in Strathmore and area since 2002. He was born and raised in Calgary where he and his wife Colleen raised their 3 children. Family is very important to Barry and he has devoted many years involved with his children’s sporting activities. Barry started in construction early on with his Uncle while he studied civil engineering in school. He currently serves on two boards in our community, with WAHS as head of the building committee and also is a director of the Wheatland Housing Management Board and member of their building committee.

Barry was a good friend to one of our original board members, Casey Silbernagel and was part of the building committee, working to help him with the building aspects of the society. Barry feels that it is important to give back to the community that has supported his business for all these years.

barry@wheatlandhospice.ca

Director

Sheri Larsen is a Registered Nurse, currently practicing as an Occupational Health Nurse. Her first 20 years of nursing were spent in ER and Acute Care in Drumheller and Strathmore. During that time she worked to compassionately bring new life into the world, as well as assisting her dying patients to leave this life with dignity and all aspects of patient care in between. The last 12+ years have been spent ensuring the health and wellness of workers in a manufacturing facility. In this position, she has learned about policy writing and the challenges of private business. Sheri lives in Standard, AB where she and her husband raised 3 children. She believes that all people with terminal illness should be able to choose how their last days in this world should be spent. She believes that the Wheatland and Area Hospice will give the residents of the county that choice and she is excited to be a part of it.

sheri@wheatlandhospice.ca

Director

Gerry Kroon has lived in the Standard area his entire life. Recently retired from a 36-year career with Agrium, he also farmed and worked with his father in a local business. He and his wife Ruth live on the family farm where they raised their two children. Gerry has served on various community boards over the years including the local school and Co-op boards. He travels extensively, enjoys sports and fishing in remote locations. Gerry is excited to be involved with the Hospice project.

gerry@wheatlandhospice.ca

Director

Glenn has lived in the Rockyford area his entire life. He has been a Wheatland County councillor for twenty years, was previously council reeve, and has been appointed to a variety of county boards and committees during this time. Glenn and his wife Lois continue to live on their family farm, have four children, and five grandchildren. Glenn has extensive experience in legislative action, and is looking forward to the challenges offered by our hospice society.

Director

Darlene has been a Board member since 2018 and is a longtime resident of Strathmore. As Board Secretary, she offers administrative support to the Board and its members. Giving back to the community that has provided so much to her and her family over the years is important to Darlene.

Darlene@wheatlandhospice.ca

Director

Ann is a lifelong resident of Wheatland County, growing up on a mixed farm and actively ranching with her husband Reg. She is well versed in rural life and recently retired from a 40 plus year career in nursing. Ann has been a front line care provider in Acute Care, ER, Long Term Care and Primary Care and has almost 20 years of nursing leadership including Head Nurse and Site Manager positions at Strathmore Hospital. She has capably delivered patient and family focused care, quality assurance projects, programming planning and liaison with other AHS departments, and nursing workforce management. Ann continues to hold registration as an RN and is keenly interested in bringing hospice type care to the community, focused on individual patient and family needs, provided by top quality staff in an environment that brings rest, peace, and comfort to those in need.

Director

Randi Collins is owner and Managing Lawyer of Getz Collins and Associates with offices located in Strathmore and Calgary.  With over a decade of experience in private practice and years served as in-house regional counsel for a global oil and gas service company, Randi has provided guidance on a wide spectrum of business operations and legal matters. Her areas of proficiency include corporate law, employment issues, procurement, real estate, risk management, among others.  In addition to her legal roles, Randi has made significant contributions as an educator and public speaker, imparting knowledge on a range of legal subjects to students, management, employees, and the public.

Coming from a farming family in Standard, Randi returned to Wheatland County in 2019.  Randi is privileged to becoming a member of the Board of the Wheatland & Area Hospice Society, along with her other volunteer roles, to contribute to the community she calls home.

Director

Susan is a highly motivated, results oriented Chartered Accountant and Project Management Professional with 30 years experience in multiple industries and the non-profit sector. She currently works as a Finance Executive in Calgary. Susan and her husband Bruce live near Lyalta and farm in Wheatland County. While their children were growing up she spent many years volunteering for the Lyalta Community Club, Langdon Fire Association, Strathmore and District Playschool, WestmountElementary School and several sports related organizations. When not working she enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.