Who We Are
Clean Calgary is made up of a diverse group of people. The organization has many dedicated staff, volunteers, and members. Clean Calgary would like to thank everyone who gives their time and energy to make this organization a success.
Staff
Executive Director - Natalie Odd
Born in Holland, Natalie immigrated to Canada from England and has lived in Calgary for most of her life. Natalie is an alumnus of the University of Calgary and Royal Roads University where she completed her M.A. in Environment and Management. Natalie became interested in community-based environmental initiatives when living in Ostersund, Sweden. The Swedish tradition of holding town hall meetings that include community members, students, government, and commerce was a turning point for Natalie as she saw challenges met through community inclusion and innovation. This area of interest took Natalie to Ecuador where she volunteered in a mountain community near Quito. Staying involved in environmental and human rights initiatives, Natalie is always happy to return to Calgary and the Rocky Mountains. Natalie is settled here with her own family. They spend lots of time on the bike path and playing soccer.
Natalie has been the Executive Director at Clean Calgary Association since 2003.
Office & Volunteer Manager - Kate van Fraassen
Kate is a born and bred Calgarian who has just returned home after 6 years away from the city. She studied Political Science and Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria, earning her Bachelors of Arts in May 2007. During her studies Kate had the opportunity to study in Orebro Sweden for one year and to work with campus sustainability groups, including the University of Victoria Sustainability Project. Her passion for the environment stems from a childhood spent roaming the Rocky Mountains and Foothills with her family. When she is not working with Clean Calgary Kate likes to eat good food, walk, improve her Spanish and spend as much time outside as she can.
Office and EcoStore Assistant - Jen Freudenthaler
Jennifer is a native Calgarian who is passionate about community and the environment. After many years of volunteering, Jen became involved with the Clean Air Champions program for the Clean Calgary Association. She has also helped out with the Waste Wise Outreach Program in the Dalhousie Community, as well as having led Waste in Our World and Water for Life workshops. Jen graduated from the Master Composter Course, class of 2007. Currently Jennifer helps out where she is needed at Clean Calgary Association - in The EcoStore and on some administrative Projects.
The EcoStore Manager - Paula Blundell
Born and raised in Newfoundland, Paula traded in the Atlantic for the Rockies almost three years ago, and is now the Association’s part time Event Coordinator. While her strong executive assistant and event planning background keeps the Association’s event calendar busy and in order, her entrepreneurial spirit, passion for efficiency, and the help of a business degree has her decluttering homes and offices with her own earth-friendly professional organizing company. Growing up Paula was nicknamed “daughter nature” for her interest in protecting the earth. Soon they’ll be calling her “Master Composter” when she and the rest of the Clean Calgary team earn their course accreditation in March. Outside work, you’ll find Paula networking with Calgary’s Green Drinks group, reading books like Ecoholic, partnering with a local Eco-Coach, adventuring actively in the mountains, dreaming of travel…along with off-setting her carbon emissions of course and discussing sustainable ideas with anyone who’ll listen.
The EcoStore Assistant Manager – Cynthia Clement
Cynthia is one of those rare Calgarians who is not from somewhere else. She has loved the dichotomy of living in the prairies and playing in the mountains all of her life. While obtaining her BSc (Botany) from the University of Calgary, Cynthia discovered that she enjoyed growing plants a lot more than cutting them up and looking at their insides. She consequently spent four years working as a professional gardener and horticulturalist, in greenhouses and outdoors. Cynthia recently settled into a new home with her fiancé and their menagerie of five pets, and can’t wait to get her xeriscaped yard and veggie patches established. If she’s not reading, gardening, or singing, she’s probably playing dodgeball, playing with her dogs, or playing trivial pursuit when she can talk someone into it. Cynthia is excited to be getting married in September, almost as excited as she is to be working with Clean Calgary, helping fellow Calgarians to make the city she loves even better.
Program Staff
Coordinator, Environmental Education - Lindsay Luhnau
Lindsay Luhnau has worked for the Clean Calgary Association for over two years. First, she dealt primarily with non-residential waste in the Calgary Materials program and now she coordinates the Environmental Education program. Being a native Calgarian, she is committed to creating a better Calgary for all of us.
She completed her undergraduate degree in Political Science. Currently, taking her Master of Workplace and Adult Learning at the University of Calgary and she believes education is a key component to solving our environmental problems.
Environmental Educator / School Presenter - Torey McLeish
Torey is the new Environmental Educator at the Clean Calgary Association. He was born during the heat of a Stampede many years ago, and claims to have "pancake breakfast in his blood". He stayed in Calgary for his education, and after working furiously for five years to get both his BSc in Biology (Zoology) and BA in English from the University of Calgary, took the opportunity to travel. He spent two years teaching English, traveling, hiking, and volunteering around East Asia. Now that he is at Clean Calgary, Torey can combine his passions for teaching and conservation. When not working, he can be found in the mountains hiking, trekking, skiing, bouldering, geocaching, running, collecting insects, and teaching anyone he can about the environment.
Coordinator, Waste Wise Community Outreach Program - Ashley Lubyk
Ashley, like many people now living in Calgary, was born and raised in Saskatchewan. Through his involvement in his high school’s outdoor education program, Ashley developed a love for nature and the mountains. Following graduation, at the young age of 17, Ashley moved west where he tree planted before attending Mount Royal College to begin his studies. After two years of studying, Ashley decided to head off on a solo adventure to Central and South America, where he would explore a part of the world that had intrigued him since childhood. This trip inspired him to settle down and finish a BSc in Environmental Science at the University of Calgary, focusing his attention on human-environment interaction. In 2005 Ashley obtained his undergraduate degree and began working with Clean Calgary Association as a program assistant with the Calgary Materials Exchange. It was in this role that he developed Clean Calgary’s Reuse and Recycling Guide, Green Building and Renovation Guide and began writing Ask Ashley for the monthly newsletter.
For seven months leading up to June 2008, Ashley traveled around New Zealand and Western Samoa, where he spent a great deal of time working on organic farms and building earth homes. More optimistic than ever, Ashley has taken on the role of Waste Wise Community Outreach Coordinator. He is confident that the award winning program will continue to flourish and that Dalhousie’s residents will continue working to make their community one of Calgary’s leading environmental communities through composting.
Manager, Calgary Materials Exchange Program - Sarah Begg
Sarah is originally from Burlington, Ontario. She graduated from Brock University in 1999 and received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Geology. Sarah lived in Victoria, BC for a couple of years working as a marine biologist field researcher, finding her niche in the environmental sector. She then moved to Calgary to begin her career in the non-profit sector, where she acquired a position at Clean Calgary Association. Sarah has been the program coordinator of the Calgary Materials Exchange (CMEX) program for the past 4 years. Her work with CMEX has expanded the program to help companies city-wide to change their behaviour and perception of waste and divert waste from landfill. The program has been the recipient of a Calgary Award and an RCA R’s of Excellence Award as well as a twice a finalist for an Emerald Award. Sarah has found her calling with this position as a true ‘dumpster diver’.
Sarah enjoys traveling and has been to Australia, New Zealand and many S.E. Asia countries, with many more on her list. Her interests are mostly athletic-based and include soccer, mountain biking, snowboarding and wakeboarding, but the gym is still a chore. She and her boyfriend recently moved to a condo in Bridgeland, where they enjoy the inner city life in a LEED certified, mixed-use building. Sarah tries to practice what she preaches by using public transit or biking to get to work, and recently started a recycling program for her condo building.
Program Liaison, Calgary Materials Exchange - Bridget O'Connor
Program Liaison, Calgary Materials Exchange - Kate Zago
Kate is one of the newest members of Clean Calgary Association, having started in February 2008. She is working as "Liaison and Researcher" on Calgary's Material Exchange Program, helping to connect businesses to their recycling needs and increase the rate of diversion among Calgary's commercial sector. Kate joined Clean Calgary Association from another environmental non-profit organization located in her hometown of Guelph, Ontario. Kate’s background also includes an Environmental Biology degree from McGill University.
Marketing Coordinator - Helena Artmann
Helena is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications. A mountaineer since 1991, she moved to Calgary in 2005 to be close to the Rockies. Helena recently moved to Banff with her family, which includes little Ian who was born in Calgary in 2007. Passionate about nature and the great outdoors, Helena has more than 15 high altitude expeditions under her belt and has summited some of the highest mountains on Earth, including Denali, in Alaska and Aconcagua, in the Andes. She was also a hot air ballooning navigator for championships around the world. When she was in Brazil preparing her move to Canada, she thought she could 'work with trash' here. She was thinking about reusing materials for craft... now she is 'working with trash' and could not think of a better fit for her lifestyle!
Graphic Designer - Ricardo Barcellos
Board of Directors
Kevin Ablett - President
Kevin Ablett is now serving his second year as President of Clean Calgary. He is a real estate investor, licenced as an agent in Alberta, owning and managing a personal portfolio of properties in Canada, Panama, and Costa Rica.
In addition to his work as a real estate investor, Kevin also serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Archon Energy, a Triple Bottom Line company dedicated to the expansion and capitalization of the growing Wind Energy sector in Canada and Internationally.
Kevin brings with him a wide range of business experience from the Toronto, Victoria, Calgary, and International markets. An entrepreneur at heart, Mr. Ablett has been involved in multiple start-ups, and has a keen eye and a sharp mind for sales, marketing, finance, and investor relations.
He holds a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of Victoria, and is a firm believer in continuous education and sustainable development. Kevin is also a member of the Alberta Real Estate Investment Network, and a frequent contributor to a number of charities.
He is excited to play a leadership role for Clean Calgary now and in the future.
Carolyn Newman -Vice-President
Originally from Saskatchewan, Carolyn has been living in Calgary since 1991. After owning/operating a graphic design business for over ten years, she returned to school, obtaining a BA in Development Studies and is presently working on a Masters of Environmental Design, Environmental Science. Her area-of-interests include green building, corporate social responsibility and environmental management systems. An avid outdoorswoman and extensive world traveler, her experiences have deepened her commitment and resolve towards the responsible development and preservation of the environment.
Jeff Stransky - Treasurer
Jeff has been involved with Clean Calgary for five years, two of which have been spent serving on the Board of Directors. He completed an Environmental Studies degree at the University of Waterloo, has professional experience in urban waste management, and is a graduate of Clean Calgary's Master Composter/Waste Advisor program.
Jeff spends his days as a student services professional at the University of Calgary, and frequently devotes his evenings to environmental initiatives at his condo complex (in particular, a community composting operation). He is also the creator of OneGreenEye (onegreeneye.blogspot.com), an educational weblog devoted to current environmental issues.
A dedicated bike commuter and triathlete, Jeff not only talks about living in an environmentally responsible manner, but actually does it -- and leads by example.
Kimberly King - Secretary
Kimberly is looking forward to another year on the Board in 2008. Not new to Clean Calgary Association she was a 2003 Master Composter graduate and volunteer who really enjoys working her compost and watching her barrels filling up on rainy days. Growing up in Calgary she is passionate to do her part to reduce waste, be aware of how her actions effect the environment, share that knowledge with those around her, encourage change and learn all she can. Her proudest action is being vehicle free for over seven years now.
Elizaveta Smolyaninova
Elizaveta has been a director for more than a year and has been involved with Clean Calgary Association as a volunteer since 2006. She is impressed by the real, practical and effective actions the organization is taking. Elizaveta comes to the Association as an Environmental Economist with over seven years of experience in environmental consulting in regulatory and economic analytical positions and in environmental consulting in the energy industry. She has a PhD in Environmental Economics. Her background includes works in non-profit organizations and at a Russian University. She has participated in international projects as a scientist leader and has organized training programs, environmental conferences and recycling projects.
Elizaveta is looking forward to contributing her knowledge and experience to further developing Clean Calgary Association. She wants to help change the perceptions of Calgarians regarding waste and water and to participate in developing a strategy for handling the rapid growth of the city. Lastly, she would like to continue educating Calgarians and would like to leave a better city for her children.
Theresa Howland
As Vice President, Western Region, Theresa Howland is responsible for leading Bullfrog Power’s operations in Western Canada. Theresa has held progressively more senior positions in marketing and product development since joining the deregulated electricity industry in 1996. Prior to joining Bullfrog Power, Theresa oversaw business development activities for leading wind power developer, Vision Quest Windelectric, an independently operated division of TransAlta. From 2004 to 2005, Theresa served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Wind Energy Association, and from 2002 to 2006, served as a Director. In this capacity, Theresa led and participated in cross-functional industry teams to develop strategies and policy recommendations to support wind energy growth in Canada. Theresa has also severed on the Board of CASA since 2003 and was a participant on the ImagineCalgary Roundtable committee. Earlier in her career, Theresa spearheaded a successful green power program for a major utility. Theresa received a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Calgary.
Robin Galey
Robin is a born and raised Calgarian committed to environmental stewardship in her life and work. She holds a degree in Communications and has provided writing and editing support to local businesses for the past ten years. She also has an extensive volunteer history and has worked with a variety of non-profit groups locally. Robin is an active composter and recycler who is passionate about going beyond recycling to promote reduction and reuse. She is particularly interested in promoting reuse of building materials in urban development, increasing reuse of consumer goods, and improving the reuse and recycling efforts of Calgary businesses, especially retail. Robin joined Clean Calgary as a member in 2007, and became a director in 2008.
Amber Rutledge
Amber moved to Calgary in 2006 and currently works with The City of Calgary as the communications lead for curbside recycling program.
She has more than 10 years experience in marketing communications, having worked in her native Halifax, as well as in France and Germany. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Public Relations and pursues a hodgepodge of other subjects including environmental biology, consumer behavior and Buddhist studies.
Beneath the marketing façade lies a homesteader wannabe. She is most happy digging in the vegetable garden, organizing things, cooking elaborate meals for friends and sewing.