Board Member Bios
Board member bios
Lisa Heffernan
Keri Erickson
Meghan Stalker
Derek Wilding
Allan Derbyshire
Katie Romansky
Lori Gray
Jacqui Coward
Cheryl Borecky
Lindsey Wynder
Christine Lynch
Lisa Heffernan - Acting President
When I applied for the Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership program, I truly found my niche. Passionate about nature, sustainability, social-responsibility and healthy-living, I plan on using my degree to pursue guiding, environmental education, humanitarian work, and whatever else the wind blows me to. The ETOL program’s practicum requirements have already allowed me to live some of these dreams; my first position spent volunteering in Uganda, Africa, while the second was spent adventure cave guiding for Canmore Caverns.
When not in class, I have spent many hours working with the Sustainable Mount Royal University club, where I have held various executive positions, chaired meetings, and took part in planning many club events. My hobbies include many outdoor activities, reading, singing and dancing.
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Keri Erickson - Vice President
I graduated from Mount Royal College in 2006 from the Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership program. Currently I am the Program Director for the Company of Adventurers and have been working with them since the summer of 2007. I have enjoyed the outdoors since I was in elementary school, and have been able to travel to 10 different countries and work within my field in 4 of them. I have a passion for teaching in the outdoors and love skiing, hiking, biking and environmental education.
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Meghan Stalker - Secretary
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Derek Wilding - Treasurer
I recently took on the role of Climbing Coordinator at Mount Royal Recreation; however my longstanding passion for the outdoors and my desire to share this passion with others has led to previous employment with Yamnuska Mountain School, The Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and Kananaskis Public Safety. In my spare time I enjoy traveling, fishing and trying to keep up with my twin daughters.
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Allan Derbyshire - Director-at-Large/Faculty Representative
Allan began instructing at Mount Royal University in 1979 and was honoured with a Distinguished Faculty Award in 1992 and a Students' Association Teaching Excellence Award in 2003. He is currently the Coordinator of the Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership Applied Degree; a program that he helped to initiate in 2000
Allan has worked extensively in the outdoor industry in ski and avalanche control, hostelling, and directing his own climbing school business. He is a member of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, a founding member of the Calgary Area Outdoor Council, and he is currently the Environmental and Access Officer for the Calgary Mountain Club.
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Katie Romansky - Director-at-Large/Student Representative
Having lived in Calgary all of my life, I have been lucky to get lots of chances to travel in and out of Canada. To date I’ve explored the practice of outdoor leadership in camp counseling jobs and climbing instruction, and I’m looking forward to seeing where my love and enthusiasm for the outdoors, science, and leadership will take me in the long run.
The Ecotourism program has opened up a great number of career opportunities for me, and I’m hoping for a non-traditional pathway that will take me around the world and to places where I can help make positive things happen.
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Lori Gray - Director-at-Large
I graduated from the ETOL program at Mount Royal College in 2005. Since then I have travelled to Europe and SE Asia for both personal and business interests, worked with Aboriginal youth in Northern Alberta and made my way back to Calgary in 2008. I am currently completing my MA in Environmental Education and Communication and work full time as the Coordinator of Academic Advising and Practicum for the Department of Physical Education and Recreation Studies at Mount Royal University. I have a strong commitment to youth and the natural environment which shows in my involvement with Leave No Trace Canada, Learning for a Sustainable Future and the Annual Mayor's Environmental Expo. I hope to expand on this involvement in the years to come and look forward to working with the ETOL community through this Chapter.
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Jacqui Coward - Director-at-Large
As a graduate of the first ETOL program, I have traveled around working in various locations such as an international school in Switzerland, a resort in Mexico, and different outdoor education centers and touring companies within Canada. I currently work as a Health Marketing & Communications consultant. I am also working on my Masters of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University.
When I am not traveling, I live in Golden, British Columbia where I enjoy my recreational time which usually includes ski touring, climbing, mountain biking, and spending time with my friends.
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Cheryl Borecky - Director-at-Large
I was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where I graduated from high school and immediately fled to the Canadian Rockies. I have resided in the Bow Valley region for the past eleven years, travelling and working overseas intermittently. During this time, my career has advanced through the fields of community development, youth services, recreation and business in both national and international communities; supervising and managing a diverse portfolio of programs, organizations and operations.
In 2004, I graduated from Mount Royal College with a bachelor’s degree with honors in Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership. I thrive on learning new concepts and areas on a regular basis and plans to pursue further post-secondary education in the near future.
In my spare time, I love to be active and am regularly found strength training, doing yoga, mountain biking, cross country and downhill skiing and trying any new activity that is put in front of me. I have a passion for travel, photography, reading and volunteering and love to spend time with family and friends.
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Lindsey Wynder - Director-at-Large
I was very excited when I was accepted into the Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership (ETOL) Program with so many like minded and genuine people (Graduated 2008). The ETOL Program gave me many opportunities, including; working with Aboriginal Youth in Central Alberta, guiding Dog sled tours in Canmore and interpreting ecology to 8th graders on float trips down the Bow River. While at Mount Royal I also played for the women’s varsity Volleyball team for two years and was a Resident Advisor for one year. Currently I work full time at Mount Royal University (because I love it here so much) as an Administrative Assistant and when I can find the time, work as a Lifeguard and Lifesaving Instructor.
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Christine Lynch - Director-at-Large
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