Alexandra Kryska Grams

Alexandra Kryska Grams is passionate about people and their experiences. After graduating from SAIT and beginning her career in television production, her aptitude in the niche between the creative genius and the consumer became apparent, and she evolved these skills by working in the areas of product and project management.

She has over a decade of experience managing large-scale, complex changes requiring innovative thinking, creative problem-solving skills, and effective “across the aisle” facilitation and communication. She understands how to drive a well-managed change that results in improved understanding and adoption by the people impacted.

Passionate about community involvement, Alexandra has been involved in a wide variety of volunteer efforts since her teens, most recently with local food banks, TV productions, and serving on two Boards focused on community engagement in Calgary.

Issues: Alexandra is passionate about government transparency, thorough public engagement & consultation, and fiscal responsibility.

Alisha Gordon

Alisha Gordon is a student at the University of Calgary pursuing a combined degree in International Indigenous Studies and Urban Studies. Her academic experience at the University of Calgary solidified her love for public policy, urban planning and social justice, which is reflected in her research and advocacy efforts.

Alisha believes that volunteerism is essential to strengthen democracy and our communities. She has volunteered for several on and off campus organizations to address issues like reconciliation, sexual violence and student advocacy.  She is passionate about making Calgary as inclusive and accessible for everyone and believes that this can only be accomplished through meaningful and deliberate public policy changes.

Issues: Alisha is passionate about the inclusion of youth voices in City Council and improving reconciliation efforts throughout Calgary. 

Anna Murphy

Anna Murphy is a former Director of Fund Development, former Director of Business Development, and currently serves as a Committee Member and Volunteer Coordinator for a non-profit organization within the city of Calgary. Through her roles, Anna has advocated for strong positive change within Calgary and throughout the province for LGBTQ2S+ individuals – with a focus on breaking down barriers for transgender and gender diverse individuals.

Along with her volunteer work, Anna has spent more than 9 years in the retail industry building a professional background which has involved sales, marketing, management, and strategic planning. Anna’s range of experience provides her with a diverse and unique outlook on the cultural and economic dynamics within her community.

Issues: Anna is focused on being a strong voice which advocates for progress and change within her community, engaging with Calgarians on the issues which matter most to them including but not limited to the challenges facing small business owners and entrepreneurs. She is passionate towards innovation and diversity, not afraid of rolling up her sleeves and grabbing the bull by the horns and helping steer it in the right direction.

Jennifer Black

Jennifer is an award-winning senior community planner who creates plans and policies to make Calgary easier to navigate by chair, by foot, by bike, by transit, and by vehicle. She is also a passionate community volunteer, serving as the Engagement Director for the Crescent Heights Community Association and President and Founder of the Crescent Heights Village Business Improvement Area. She is currently being recognized as one of the Federation of Calgary Communities’ 2020 Faces of Community for her work.

After 15 years in environmental assessment, project management, and planning, Jennifer understands what local governments can do to better the lives of their citizens. Jennifer holds a Master of Planning degree from the University of Calgary, a diploma in Sustainable Community Development from Simon Fraser University, and a Bachelor of Science (Geology and Geophysics) from the University of British Columbia.

Issues: Jennifer is passionate about building a sustainable, safe, vibrant, and inclusive city that protects Calgary’s most vulnerable residents while being fiscally responsible. She believes in environmental stewardship and providing housing and transportation choices for all Calgarians.

Jennifer Sanford

Jennifer Sanford is a rhetorician who follows the words of Ronald Reagan: Find a challenge. Meet it with joy.

She is a disciplined PR professional who has helped Calgary’s organizations to tell their story, manage risk, and grow their profile.

Currently, Jennifer is responsible for the national storytelling leadership of Canada’s largest wetland conservation agency, Ducks Unlimited. She is also host of the popular podcast In The Reeds: Canada’s Conversation Podcast, where guests of profile talk about barriers to real climate change action. Jennifer believes that through innovation, partnerships, and policy, Albertans don’t need to choose between their economic and environmental interests.

Outside of the environmental space, Jennifer is known as an unrelenting advocate for the expansion of Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying laws, which she believes should be a non- partisan human rights issue. Jennifer holds a Master of Arts in Political Communications from Johns Hopkins University and is currently completing the Public Leadership Credential at Harvard University.

Issues: Environment, MAID, fiscal responsibility.

Jessica Revington

Jessica Revington is an active member of the University of Calgary community and the President of the University of Calgary Students’ Union (2019 – 2020). She is the first woman in a decade to have been elected to her role. Previously, she served as both the Vice President Academic and as a two-term Faculty of Nursing Representative with the Students’ Union. As President, Jessica represents the priorities of over 26,000 undergraduate students to university administration, community stakeholders, and all levels of government.

Jessica has also worked extensively in clinical research focused on pediatric concussions and emergency medical standards of care. She completed her BN at the University of Calgary in 2018 and is currently pursuing a second undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences.

Issues: Jessica is passionate about increasing the accessibility of post-secondary education, improving healthcare access for vulnerable populations, and supporting youth engagement at all levels of government.

Kourtney Branagan

Kourtney Branagan is a cheerful advocate of creating a sense of community through face to face interactions, shared spaces, and supporting local business. Kourtney has been active in her neighbourhood (Haysboro) as board member for the last six years and is currently President in her third year. She has worked as an independent artist, volunteer manager for Beakerhead, and is currently Co-Community Manager of Rainforest Alberta, a movement supporting tech and innovation.

With experience in project management, team building, and collaborative practices, Kourtney’s volunteer and paid work has supported projects such as playground rebuilds, a membership campaign with a 30% increase, effective digital marketing strategies, and event planning. She has participates actively in city-building initiatives like the Great Communities Guidebook and the Established Areas Working Groups. Kourtney believes strongly that investment in the public realm builds the foundation for a dynamic and innovative city.

Issues: Kourtney is passionate about encouraging a sense of neighbourliness in Calgary through community service and a shared vision of an abundant and thriving city.

Lauren Herschel

Lauren Herschel is a senior marketing communications and community engagement professional. She has demonstrated success in a number of industries including banking, not for profit, building and development as well as commercial real estate. Lauren Has resided in Calgary for over a decade and is passionate about the future of her “chosen” city.

Lauren has experience working for a number of small businesses as well as larger corporations. Her skillset includes risk management, communications, organizational effectiveness, media relations, project management and strategic planning.

Lauren is an active volunteer in the Calgary community. She is a mentor with Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Lauren also sits in the board of directors for Heritage Calgary, as well as the Canadian Transplant Association. In 2012, Lauren was named a Top 40 under 40 by Avenue Magazine.

Issues: Balanced City growth, transit, the Calgary economy, community engagement and investment, opportunities for at-risk youth.

Lori Massé

Lori Massé is an accomplished and organized marketing and communications professional with over 20 years of experience. Lori has strong business acumen and she has built her professional path in a variety of marketing and communications roles. Lori is a strategic thinker who has extensive experience developing, planning and managing a wide array of marketing, communications and business plans; she has been the lead on many projects that require different approaches, directions and strategies. She is an out-of-the-box thinker who is flexible and responsive. She believes that managing corporate image is the most important thing any organization can do - from internal communications to any communication with the outside world. Her specialty is Public Perception Management - commonly known as “Brand Management.”

Lori thrives in environments where brainstorming leads to innovative ideas and when those ideas are generated to create action plans. She will always work diligently to design and implement alternate courses of action if things get off course.

ISSUES: Lori is passionate about living in a city where every citizen can thrive and that includes a city where every citizen has a place to sleep so affordable housing options are a priority. In addition, Lori is concerned about fiscal conservatism within the City.

Marilyn North Peigan

Marilyn North Peigan is a specialist in the field of corporate, event, and private security, bringing a background in military training and customer service. She has extensive experience in VIP security with a focus on the Aboriginal entertainment community.

She served with the military medical corps of the Canadian Armed Forces. After an honourable discharge, she earned a BA in psychology and an MA from Athabasca University. Her thesis is one of the first to academically draw out the historical issues leading up to Canada’s current situation with missing and murdered Aboriginal women.

Her contributions to the community include having served as vice-chair of the Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee, which strived to improve the opportunities and quality of life for Aboriginal people living in Calgary. In 2017 Marilyn became the first Aboriginal person appointed to a Police Commission in Canada. In 2012, she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal.

Marta Cyperling

Marta Cyperling is a communications specialist with experience in higher education, and medicine. She’s recognized as an experienced advisor to senior leaders in media relations, crisis communication, social media, and communications planning.

Marta is currently a Senior Communications and Marketing Specialist at the University of Calgary where she develops and implements communications strategies for major institutional projects and initiatives. In her previous role as Media Relations Manager with the university’s medical school, she managed all media related activities around medical and public health research and innovation.

Prior to joining UCalgary, Marta worked as a freelance journalist, and a communications specialist supporting the Canadian Armed Forces. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Ryerson University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. As an active and engaged community member, Marta has served as a board member with the International Association of Business Communicators Calgary and currently volunteers with the City of Calgary off-leash ambassador program.

Issues: Marta is passionate about affordable housing, sustainability and the city’s parks and pathways.

Michelle Owusu

Michelle Owusu is a Digital Change Consultant at IBM Canada Ltd. Michelle began her career in the IBM Sales Program where she sold cloud software to commercial clients. Michelle then made a move into the consulting practice at IBM with a focus on Organizational Change Management. Michelle helps her clients meet their digital transformation goals through effective change management strategies. She utilizes Design Thinking principles to solve complex problems and create human-centric solutions. She currently serves as an Engagement Leader at IBM, helping to foster employee engagement through diversity and inclusion, communication and professional development opportunities.

She graduated from Mount Royal University with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a concentration in General Management and a minor in Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Michelle was a Student Governor within the Student’s Association at MRU. Michelle is active in the community and currently gives back as a volunteer for Start-up Calgary and Bible School Teacher for Calgary Full Gospel.

Issues: Michelle is passionate about eliminating school and workplace bullying, increasing employment through diversification of industries, and creating liveable and sustainable communities for every single person.

If you think you are too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent a night with a mosquito. – African Proverb

Olivia Cullen

Olivia Cullen is a registered social worker and PhD Candidate at the University of Calgary. Olivia has worked in the field of mental health for over 8 years and is an advocate for improving systems and services meant to support vulnerable individuals.

As a mental health professional, Olivia has worked with youth and adults as a counsellor in Yukon, as well as in community organizations within Calgary. Olivia’s research work has focused on mental health, substance use, gender-based violence, and abuse and exploitation of young people. More recently, Olivia decided to pursue a PhD in social work. Her research is centred on community based and participatory methods to understand the experiences of youth. She is dedicated to conducting meaningful research that can have an impact beyond academia.

Issues: Olivia is passionate about creating safer spaces and improving accessibility to address issues of mental health and substance use in our city.

Sarah Lerner

Sarah Lerner is a mom of five, a finance, strategy and communications professional, an aspiring entrepreneur and a passionate member of the Calgary community. Sarah has over a decade of experience in finance, consulting, strategy and communications and has complemented her professional experience with advanced education degrees. She holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation and received her Master of Business Administration from Queen’s University.

Her work experience spans a variety of sectors including the banking, consulting and energy sector, where she currently works for a large pipeline company in their corporate strategy team. Sarah has created financial models and provided commercial advice for large scale infrastructure projects, built and led teams through significant transition and collaborated with others to create and communicate strategy to a variety of stakeholders. In the community, Sarah has coached her children’s soccer teams and she is currently serving on the City of Calgary’s volunteer Financial Task Force.

Issues: Sarah is passionate about bringing community together, creating an environment where diversity serves to create better decisions and ensuring that our City is sustainable and resilient over the long term.

Rebecca Keeler

Rebecca Keeler is a Professional Engineer and has worked in the regulatory and environmental field in the energy industry over the past 6 years. She has worked to improve regulatory and environmental performance at the Alberta Energy Regulator, Imperial Oil and the Canadian Propane Association. She strives to build strong relationships between industry and the regulators to achieve a productive policy and regulatory environment.

Rebecca was born in Calgary and is an avid volunteer in the community. She volunteers with the Girl Guides of Canada, the MEOW Foundation, SAIT Chemical Engineering Curriculum Committee and the Calgary Folk Fest. She is passionate about getting involved in the community and promoting inclusive environments.

Issues: Rebecca is passionate about building sustainable communities and improving infrastructure in the City of Calgary.

Vanesa Ortiz

Vanesa Ortiz is an education professional who teaches and promotes the Spanish Language and Culture in the city of Calgary. Vanesa has collaborated with her community in Mexico and Canada through her work as a social justice activist and as a teacher and in Primary, Junior High, Senior High and University levels, facilitating public speaking workshops, bilingual debate courses and English as a Second Language Programs.

Her experience in the education sector has given Vanesa an understanding of the intersections of gender, class and race in economic inequality as well as the pressing need for social justice and anti-oppression action.

She is a founding member of the Association of Mexicans in Calgary, which promotes and advocates for Community Outreach, Migrant Justice, Human Rights and Anti-Racism initiatives for Latinx newcomers, particularly focusing on the labour rights of Mexican workers under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program in Canada. Vanesa holds an BA from Mexico’s Normal Federal School.

Issues: Vanesa is committed to migrant justice, anti-racism and improving the living conditions for racialized and marginalized communities in Calgary.