Staff

Katherine Thompson | Executive Director

Katherine grew up in County Donegal, on the northwest coast of Ireland. She completed in 1991 a Higher Diploma in Applied Languages & Business Studies from the Letterkenny Institute of Technology, Ireland; in 1994 a BA Honors Degree in History of Art & Design from Staffordshire University, England; and in 1996 a Post Graduate Masters in Arts Administration & Business Studies from University College Dublin, Ireland.  She has over twelve years experience of working with arts and non-profit organizations in Canada and internationally. Katherine has a background of demonstrated vision, strategic leadership and team-building skills and experience having been the executive director of two Alberta artist-run centres, the Society of Northern Alberta Print-artists (Edmonton) and TRUCK Gallery (Calgary), curator with The Irish Arts Center, New York City (USA), administrator/ curatorial assistant with The Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast (Northern Ireland), plus positions with art galleries in Australia and New Zealand.

While Katherine has worked extensively for arts non-profits she also has a strong commitment to conservation principles and familiarity with environmental issues in Alberta and the Alberta political landscape.  She has a strong background in fund development, donor development, marketing, media relations & communications, which she brings with her to CPAWS Northern Alberta. Katherine chose to join CPAWS NAB because she has a keen interest in and passion for issues relating to wilderness and wildlife protection.  She is dedicated to helping CPAWS Northern Alberta continue to grow as a strong environmental community voice for the people of Alberta. Katherine enjoys traveling, art, photography, yoga, and getting out into Nature. Email her at kthompson@cpaws.org or phone 780-432-0967.

Helene Walsh | Boreal Campaign Director

Helene Walsh completed her MSc degree in Zoology from the University of Alberta. She has been involved with forestry issues since 1998 when she joined the Canfor/Daishowa-Marubeni Ecological Public Advisory Committee. During this time Helene became aware of forestry issues in Alberta and passionate about the need for protected areas of natural forests large enough that ecological processes, not people, could manage some of the forest. In 1999, Helene founded Albertans for a Wild Chinchaga and began working with CPAWS Northern Alberta to establish a protected area in the Chinchaga region. Since 2000, she has played a lead role in the development of the Forest Stewardship Council Boreal Certification Standards by helping to define and promote the position of the environmental chamber from western Canada. Helene currently serves as Boreal Campaign Director for CPAWS Northern Alberta. Her other interests include growing native prairie plants, canoeing, hiking and walking her dogs, Chaga and Echo.

Kate Charuk | Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator

Kate Charuk grew up in Southern Ontario where paradise is paved on a regular basis for the glory of big box stores and tree-free subdivisions.  Kate attended Mount Allison University in New Brunswick where she acquired a degree in Philosophy and English, as well as a healthy dose of grassroots spirit and a love of cycling.  Kate has been involved in community environmental action from touring Canada with the Climate Change Caravan to running a community garden.  She has served as Director of the Sierra Youth Coalition, and Resource Coordinator for the Youth Environmental Network.  In Alberta, she has worked for both Cityfarm Edmonton and the Edmonton Community Garden Network.  Kate shares her home with Chewy the Cat, and the other loves of her life: Pascal and Etianne.  She has a passion for fabric arts, pottery, and organic gardening.

If volunteering for CPAWS piques your interest,  Kate would love to hear from you.  Contact her at: volunteernab@cpaws.org or 780.432.0967 

George Newton | Parkswatch Program Coordinator

From the very beginning George was instrumental in creating the ParksWatch program with its other two founders: Rebecca Reeves and Neil Darlow. While George was volunteering for the ParksWatch program he was the Coordinator for the Alberta Important Bird Areas program – a global effort to identify, conserve, and monitor a network of sites that provide essential habitat for bird populations. George is transferring his monitoring program development skills to help CPAWS Northern Alberta create Alberta’s first citizen’s based parks monitoring project which will help us keep an eye on the health of Alberta’s Parks.

Jennifer Liu | Administrative Assistant