Staff: Who we are

Background  |  Staff: Who we are  
Code of Conduct & Respectful Behaviour  |  Employment opportunities
 

Meet the Recreation team! There are over 100 full, part-time and casual staff at Recreation working to actively encourage your healthy lifestyle through programming courses, providing great customer service and helping you with all your recreation needs.

Take a look below and meet some of our great full-time team! 

Chris Dawe, manager
403.440.6515
cdawe@mtroyal.ca 

Chris began working at Mount Royal in August 1994 as the Intramural Coordinator in the old Campus Recreation department. Over the years, he has taken on a number of roles at Mount Royal including Head Coach of the Cougar Women's Hockey team and Acting Manager of Cougar Athletics. Chris graduated from Idaho State University with a Master of Physical Education in Athletic Administration. He also holds a Bachelor of Physical Education degree with a Minor in Management from the University of Calgary and a Diploma from Mount Royal University in Physical Education and Sports Administration, where he participated as a member of the Cougar Men's Hockey team.

Chris enjoys spending time with his wife Suzana and daughter Sonja and the rest of his large family whenever possible. He continues to participate in numerous sports and physical activities including using the facilities and participating in Mount Royal Recreation courses. Hockey, softball, golf, mountain biking, and racquet sports are also an important part of his healthy, active lifestyle.

Favourite Quote: "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." — Confucius
 

Calvin Aubin, facilities supervisor
403.440.6524
caubin@mtroyal.ca

Calvin began part-time with Recreation in 1991 and full-time in 1997. Presently he is the Recreation Facilities Supervisor. He has a sports and recreation administration diploma from Mount Royal Recreation.

Calvin worked as a lifeguard and swimming instructor at Recreation and was the Canadian National Men’s Volleyball Coach from 1990-1995. His interests include volleyball, basketball, hockey, squash and golf.

Philosophy: BALANCE
 

Jean-Francois Brodeur, technology support analyst
403.440.8810
jbrodeur@mtroyal.ca 

Jean-Francois started working at Mount Royal in October 2008. He has a college diploma in Computer Science. Previously, Jean-Francois worked as the computer technician for Des Sommets School Board in Windsor, Quebec.

Jean-Francois is interested in anything with handlebars (bicycles, motorcycles and snowbikes). He also enjoys rock climbing, being outdoors, playing bass guitar and listening to music.

His favorite quote is: "Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do."  — Bruce Lee
 

Tim Cove, facility operator
403.440.6518
tcove@mtroyal.ca

Tim joined Mount Royal Recreation in July 2002. He previously worked as a site and facility manager, facility maintenance supervisor and operator. Tim has a Bachelor of Science majoring in Geography, a Recreation Facility Maintenance and Operations Certificate and a Leisure Facility Operations Diploma.

Tim enjoys spending time and being active with his family. He is also interested in home building and renovations.
 

Ryan J. Bradshaw, intramural coordinator
403.440.7019
rjbradshaw@mtroyal.ca 

Ryan joined the Recreation team as Intramural Coordinator in July 2010. He spent the previous two years at Southern Illinois University Carbondale working as a Graduate Assistant for Intramural Sports and Sport Clubs and completing his Master’s of Science of Education, specializing in Sport Management. Originally from Toronto, Ryan also holds a Bachelor’s in Finance and Administration from the University of Western Ontario, where he was first introduced to Campus Recreation as an Intramural Hockey official.

Other career stops include organizing youth hockey programs for the Nashville Predators and working game days for the Toronto Blue Jays. Ryan is also a certified official for eight sports: Ice Hockey, Inline Hockey, Basketball, Soccer, Baseball, Softball, Football and Lacrosse. In his time away from Mount Royal, Ryan enjoys officiating, spending time with his girlfriend, and attempting to see games at all 30 NHL (17 down) and MLB (13 down) venues.

Photograph to come soon.

Shelley Fried, customer service supervisor
403.440.7005
sfried@mtroyal.ca

Shelley began working at Recreation in 2001 as the Intramural Coordinator. After seven years in this position, Shelley worked in another university department for a year and returned as the Customer Service Supervisor in May 2008.

Shelley attended the U of C where she worked for Intramurals, children's programming and customer service. While at U of C, Shelley obtained a Bachelor of Physical Education, Bachelor of Education and has recently finished her Masters in Science – Sport Pedagogy.

Shelley is also a learning facilitator of the NCCP theory program, course conductor for the initiation and coach level for ice hockey. Shelley has worked for Hockey Canada, the City of Calgary and has volunteered for the recreation department at the University of Fiji.

She enjoys recreation, all kinds of sports as both coach and a player, teaching games for understanding, teaching, reading, travelling, wine tasting, her dogs and her husband and science fiction movies.

A few of Shelley's favorite quotes: "Do or do not." — Yoda, "There is no try," "No regrets," "You only live once, don't think twice."  — The Bucket List

Ron Griffith, coordinator of special events, sport instruction and clubs
403.440.6519
rgriffith@mtroyal.ca

Ron joined Recreation in December of 2001. He previously worked as an aquatics, education, and communications coordinator. Ron has a Bachelor of Physical Education with a major in Exercise Physiology and a minor in Nutritional Wellness from the University of Alberta.

Complimenting Ron's keen interest in traveling, he spent three years teaching advanced ESL; half of which was spent in Brazil and Argentina. Ron has visited over 29 countries; he claims Brazil as being his absolute favourite. His favourite quote is "The best way to predict your future is to create it." — Author unknown

Dana Heise, marketing & communications coordinator
403.440.7009
dheise@mtroyal.ca

Dana Heise began her career with Recreation in May 2002. She has a BA in Leisure Tourism and Society with a minor in Management and a Public Relations Certificate. As the Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Dana brings years of experience in marketing and event planning. Her interests include spending time with family and friends, exercising at Recreation, enjoying the outdoors, reading, travelling and photography.

Favorite quote — "People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing."
 

Jonathan Kinsey, facility booking administrator
403.440.6976
jckinsey@mtroyal.ca

Jonathan is the Facility Booking Administrator at Recreation. Jonathan has a diploma in Sports Administration from Mount Royal University and has been working with the department since 2002. Jonathan began working at Recreation as a Customer Service Associate. His interests include squash, hockey, cycling and mountain biking.
 

Terry Klan, facility operator
403.440.6518
tklan@mtroyal.ca

Terry has been a long time employee with Recreation. He first joined the team in July of 1993. Terry has a Recreation Facilities Management and Operations Diploma from SAIT.

Terry is an avid sports fan and says he enjoys all sports. Terry's favourite quote is "We must either find a way or make one." — Hannibal
 

Niki Buchanan, group fitness coordinator
403.440.6319
nbuchanan@mtroyal.ca

Niki began at Recreation as a Group Fitness Instructor and worked as a Fitness Assistant for for a few months. She was then promoted to Group Fitness Coordinator in November 2008. She has completed an Exercise Science Diploma, CSEP – CPT (Certified Personal Trainer) and CanFitPro – Fitness Instructor Specialist. 

Niki enjoys dancing, fitness, cooking, movies and socializing.

Niki's favorite quote: "First jump and then build your wings on the way down." — Anonymous

Lori Ostergaard, business coordinator
403.440.6289
lostergaard@mtroyal.ca

Lori is the Office Administrator at Recreation and has been with the department since August 16, 1998. Lori has a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Anthropology and Historic Resource Management. Lori’s interests include art, camping, gardening, hiking and travelling.

Elise Shelley, supervisor of aquatics & first aid
403.440.6702
eshelley@mtroyal.ca

Elise has been with Recreation since September of 2007. She has 16 years of experience in aquatics and is a certified lifesaving instructor as well as an IT for the Life Saving Society and is certified in First Aid and NLS. Elise’s aquatic experiences have led her to work in neighborhood pools and leisure centres, as well as flat water and outdoor pools.

Elise was a professional vocalist for 15 years and she still loves to sing. She also enjoys sewing, camping, skiing and hanging with her kids and husband. Her favorite quote is: “The ultimate measure of a man (or woman) is not where he/she stands in moments of comfort, but where he/she stands at times of challenge and controversy.” — Martin Luther King Junior
 

Shelly Stranaghan, fitness centre coordinator
403.440.6631
sstranaghan@mtroyal.ca

Shelly began working for Recreation on July 29, 2002. As the Fitness Centre Coordinator she brings the following educational background and qualifications to MRR: Bachelor of Physical Education from the University of Alberta with a major in Active Living, Health and Wellbeing, Certified Exercise Physiologist and AFLCA.

Shelly’s previous work experience include working at Red Deer College's Be Fit for Life Centre and Fitness Centre. Shelly enjoys spending time with friends and family, working out, travelling, horseback riding, many outdoor activities and almost any sport.

J'Nan Sturgis, aquatic centre team lead
403.440.7219
jsturgis@mtroyal.ca

J'Nan has been with Recreation since April 2007. She received formal training as both a Computer and Network Engineering Technician and then as a Computer and Network Engineering Technologist.

Before finding a home with Recreation, J'Nan worked for both the city of Vaughan, Ontario and the city of London, Ontario. She boasts a great deal of supervisory experience and has worked in a number of senior staff positions in the past.

In her spare time, J'Nan enjoys a variety of activities including personal fitness, reading, nutrition and the culinary arts. By no means do these encompass all of her hobbies however — J'nan is constantly searching for exciting new activities and experiences.

Jamie Tolan, aquatic centre team lead
403.440.7219
jtolan@mtroyal.ca

Jamie started working at  in October of 2008. He attended Brock University where he aquired a degree in Recreation and Leisure. He has worked in aquatics for eight years. He worked at Camp Akeela (a camp for kids with social disabilities) this past summer as the Aquatic Director. Jamie also won a gold medal at the 2003 Canadian Lifesaving Championships.

Jamie's interested in outdoors, swimming, skiing and competitive lifeguarding.

Jamie's favorite quote: "Freedom is something that dies unless it's used." — Hunter S. Thompson

Katrina Watkins, customer service team lead
403.440.6637
kwatkins@mtroyal.ca

Katrina has been a part of the  Recreation team since September 2005. She has an Associate in Arts: Religion diploma and a bachelor's degree in business and entrepreneurship with a major in sports and recreation. Previously Katrina worked for the Alberta Soccer Association and has also worked for a senior's retirement home where she coordinated all recreational activities.

Katrina loves camping and being outdoors. She is a sports enthusiast who loves playing soccer and watching hockey. Her favorite quote is: "Eighty per cent of success is just showing up." — Woody Allen

Derek Wilding, climbing coordinator
403.440.6348
dwilding@mtroyal.ca

Derek started working at  Recreation in late November 2008. He has an applied degree in Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership from Mount Royal University and possesses both the Level 3 Climbing Gym Instructor and Rock Guide, Association of Canadian Mountain Guide (ACMG) certifications.

When he's not defying gravity, Derek enjoys traveling to remote places and sampling new an unusual foods.

His favorite quote is: "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments in our life that take our breath away." — Anonymous