BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The membership of CAREA is represented by 11 individuals elected to the Board of Directors. These members and members of the staff, also sit on various other committees and boards to represent the interest of CAREA's membership.
Bios
- Brian Turnbull
- Dave Wigmore
- Doug Drozd
- Ed Beniuk
- Fred Lyczewski
- Glen Fox
- Jim Towle
- Willie Moran
- Allan Nimmo
- Wanda Okamura
- John Hull
Brian and his wife Marjene live and farm in the Onoway area. They have three children who have left the farm to pursue their careers. They currently have two grandchildren. Brian is a third generation farmer and the farm received the Alberta Century Farm award in 2002. Brian and Marjene received the Lac Ste Anne County/Northlands Farm Family Award in 2004. Brian grew up and attended school in the Onoway area. Marjene is a well known potter.
Brian became a director for the Onoway REA in 1993 and remained a director following its amalgamation to form Yellowhead REA and then served as a director from 2000 to 2004. Brian continued on as a director for Central Alberta REA from 2004 and currently sits on the Energy committee and the Board Development committee.
Brian has been involved with a number of organizations over the years including the Alberta Cattle Commission, Alberta Wheat Pool, Agricore, Lac Ste Anne County Agricultural Service Board, Region 5 Soil Conservation Committee, Co-operators Insurance review panel, UFA advisory committee, and has been a delegate to the UGG annual meeting. He is currently very involved with the Onoway Historical Guild.
Dave and his wife Karen have four children and four grandchildren. Dave was born in Lacombe and raised on the family farm west of Blackfalds. Dave and Karen enjoy motorcycling, river boating and camping, however their priorities are family, friends and neighbors.
Dave has tickets of proficiency in plumbing, gas, steam and pipefitting and onsite wastewater management. In addition, he’s an experienced heavy equipment operator. Dave and Karen have owned and operated a plumbing and heating business (Allison Plumbing & Heating Ltd) for over 35 years and an excavating business (Brothers Trenching Ltd) for 20 years. In addition they also own and operate a farm.
Dave became a director of the Blackfalds REA in 1998 and then continued with Central Alberta REA in 1999 after the amalgamation. His background in owning and operating his own businesses has assisted him in his role as a Director. It has proved invaluable when working on the business plan and setting the strategic goals of Central Alberta REA.
Dave has enjoyed being a part of the Central Alberta REA Board and looks forward to continuing to work on behalf of the membership moving into the future.
Doug has lived on several farms in the Mayerthorpe, Sunnybrook and Barrhead areas and now currently resides south of Barrhead with my wife Illie. Doug and Illie have two sons, Devin and James. Doug attended school in Mayerthorpe and Warburg districts. He then spent time farming with his parents on a dairy farm in Sunnybrook and then a cow-calf farm in Barrhead.
Doug joined the Sion REA board in 2000, and then became interested in an amalgamation with CAREA that was successful in 2005.
Doug has a variety of work experience including the Northern Alberta Dairy Pool Creamery in Barrhead. He may have been one the last people to haul cream cans. Doug is currently employed with the district Coop, and has always tried to play an active role in his community.
Doug has always been a supporter of the cooperative movement and is proud of the work and accomplishments of the pioneers of Alberta. He supports rural community self reliance and also in the spirit of cooperation and working together.
Ed along with his wife Tanya live in the Evansburg area. They have three children, a daughter Ahnastasia and two sons Alekxzander and Auhstin.
Ed has worked in the farming industry all his life and driven a school bus for the past 25 years. Ed became a director of the Entwistle/Magnolia REA in 1992, and remained a director following its amalgamation with 3 other REA’s to form the Yellowhead REA. The Yellowhead REA then amalgamated with Central Alberta REA in 2004 during which time he continued as a director. Ed is also a volunteer for the Parkcourt Community Hall.
Ed’s personality and previous work experience have provided him with the experience and ability to make effective decisions and a good judge of character. Ed’s not afraid to ask questions and prides himself on being able to assess all sides of a situation before drawing any conclusions.
Ed enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, ice fishing, playing games, and attending social functions. His hobbies include repairing machinery and going to auction sales.
Fred has resided on the same farm located 3 miles east of Beiseker all his life. He attended a one room school in the same area and after graduating took several courses at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology which have helped immensely in his mixed farming operation.
Fred and his wife Nelda have been married for 46 years and have 2 children Darryl and Dorothy and 4 grandchildren. Fred and Nelda have farmed for 50 years raising hogs (farrow to finish), laying hens, cereal grain and oil seeds.
Fred has been involved with REA’s for over 20 years as a director, beginning with the Beiseker REA and then Central Alberta REA following amalgamation in 1997. Fred is presently on the scholarship and audit committees with CAREA. Fred has been the secretary treasurer of the Beiseker Medical Building Co-Op Ltd. for the past 18 years, and is currently the chairman of the RockyView Gas Co-op and has sat on its Board for 28 years.
Fred enjoys curling, square dancing and was an active member of the Beiseker Golden Years Town and Country Club for 17 years, of which he was Chairman for 6 years.
Fred has always been a willing worker for the community, the church and volunteer driver for seniors. Now that he has retired from farming Fred and his wife enjoy traveling and meeting new people.
Glen and his wife Daphne reside in the Horseshoe Lake District. Glen is semi-retired and now devotes his time to project management consulting and volunteering in the development of educational facilities in the developing world.
Glen is passionate about rural Alberta and believes that every effort should be put forth in maintaining and enhancing our rural lifestyle. The Central Alberta Rural Electrification Association provides an integral service in the sustainability of rural Alberta. Glen is confident that he will continue to contribute to the fulfillment of the mission and vision of CAREA.
Jim and his wife Phyllis operate a family farm in the Innisfail area with their daughter Jenny and her husband. They milk 140 Holsteins daily and farm 1,000 acres for feed and cash crops. Their daughter Jackie lives in the Red Deer area, and son Brad lives in Innisfail. Jim and Phyllis currently have 9 grandchildren.
Jim graduated in Lacombe and grew up in the area. He worked in the electrical industry for Calgary Power/TransAlta for 28 years as a power lineman providing service to the Innisfail area.
Jim became a director with Central Alberta REA in 1998 and is currently Chairman. Because of past work experience Jim brings a solid understanding of the power industry to the board. Jim has always felt that REA’s are an important part of the rural power distribution history of Alberta.
Jim was an instructor and CO with the Army Cadets in Innisfail for several years. He also served on the Innisfail Agriculture Society Board of Directors and was the chairman for two years. Jim also serves on the UFA advisory committee, is a delegate with Alberta Milk and a director with Innisfail Municipal Seed Plant.
Willie along with his wife Joanne, children Lance and Kelsey operate a mixed farm west of Huxley, with the help of other family members. The farm was originally homesteaded by his grandfather in 1903.
Willie has been a volunteer with several boards in the Community over the years. He served on the Bowden REA Board starting in the early 1980's up until its amalgamation with the Central Alberta REA1992, and has been a director since. Willie has served as past Chairman of both Central Alberta REA and Prairie Power Ltd. He believes that it is important to continue to expand CAREA membership in the future as opportunities come along to help maintain a viable organization.
With his years of experience with REA’s, along with good leadership skills, strategic planning ability and knowledge in the commodity area, Willie feels he has a lot to offer to both Central Alberta REA and Prairie Power Ltd.
Allan and his wife Georgina live in the Oklahoma district, west of Innisfail. Allan was born, raised and educated in central Alberta.
Allan worked in the oil industry for a number of years, owned and operated a retail store in Innisfail and also a Real Estate Brokerage for over 30 years. Allan, along with his wife and sons, owned and operated a cow/calf operation for 20 years. Allan also holds an Alberta Third Class Power Engineering Certificate, and has held an Alberta Real Estate Associate and/or Broker Certificate since 1976.
Allan’s community involvement is extensive and includes the following: Charter member and long term director and Past President of the Innisfail Kinsmen Club, director and Past President of Realty World Alberta Brokers Council and a multi-year director of the Red Deer and District Real Estate Board.
Allan recently semi-retired and was looking for an interesting and worthwhile challenge where his past experiences could be an asset.
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Wanda and her husband Dave live in the Reed Ranch community, east of Olds, where they have built a new home on their quarter section of the (Budd) family farm.
Wanda completed most of her schooling in the local area, with post secondary education at the University of Lethbridge, later completing an MBA (Financial Services) from Dalhousie University.
Wanda joined RBC in 1974 and retired last December with over 33 years of service in the banking industry. Her various postings in Alberta, New Brunswick and Manitoba provided valuable experiences and developed skills in operations, human resource management, project management and general business, which continue to add value to daily life.
Wanda, having been raised in a mixed farm environment, very much enjoys this return to rural life and wishes to be involved, in some way, in the sustainability of the lifestyle. Being part of a team which supports the rural community will be a rewarding experience.
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John moved west from Toronto in 1970 to a quarter section south east of Rimbey, homesteaded by his uncle in 1923. While raising three children on the farm, with his wife Judy, he farmed and ran a home building company. For the last 25 years he has worked as an architect in Red Deer, and the last 12 years he has run his own firm, John Hull Architect.
He remembers the enthusiasm and commitment his uncle Fred had for the co-operative movements in Alberta, and hearing his stories of the early days on the farm before power. John hopes to continue that legacy on the CAREA board.
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