Celebrating Our 2024 Board of Directors
Meet the driving force behind Easter Seals Alberta – our incredible Board of Directors!
Working hard to propel the organization forward, the Easter Seals Alberta board members are essential volunteers who give their time, intellectual capital, passion, strategic resources and dedication to make a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities and medical conditions. Whether you are a client, team member, supporter, or donor, our board volunteers serve on behalf of YOU!
This spring, we’re beyond delighted to celebrate, welcome, and introduce you to our 2024 Board of Directors.
Meet Graeme: Board President & Long Time Supporter
An exciting change to our Board of Directors this year is welcoming our long-time board member, Graeme Auchincloss, into the role of Board President!
Graeme has worked in banking over the course of his career, helping individuals achieve their financial goals. Through volunteering on the board at Easter Seals Alberta, he deeply appreciates the opportunity to extend support to people he would not otherwise see in his role and have a profound impact on the lives of others.
Graeme has been involved with charity and non-profit boards since the 90’s and has been sitting on the Easter Seals Alberta Board of Directors for several years.
Initially introduced to the work Easter Seals Alberta does through involvement with other charities, Graeme’s awareness of the organization and need for supports was heightened by family and friends who were experiencing disability. When approached by a friend, who was already volunteering with the organization, Graeme felt there was an opportunity for him to get more involved and support the Easter Seals Alberta mission.
Reflecting on his time with the board so far, Graeme feels grateful for the opportunity to work with, and learn from, many exceptional people with extensive volunteer experience. By sitting on the Easter Seals Alberta board, he hopes to share some of that knowledge and experience with people who are new to volunteering and hopefully enhance their involvement within Easter Seals Alberta.
As board president, Graeme is currently looking forward to the opportunities on the horizon for the organization.
“Since COVID there has been a significant decline in the number of people volunteering, while the need for support continues to grow within our population.”
Graeme is excited to be working with the team to more effectively engage with families and individuals who need support across the province. The board will soon be starting work on the organization’s five-year strategy to support with this, which Graeme is looking forward to being involved with.
But it’s not all work when it comes to volunteering! Graeme’s favourite memory of sitting on the board? Supporting at our Christmas Camp down at Camp Horizon in 2022! Connecting directly with clients has always been a huge highlight for Graeme.
Encouraging others to give back, Graeme ends with sharing why getting involved is so important for us all:
”Volunteering is a wonderful way to help others… and gives us all a chance to learn more about ourselves and our community. Giving a small amount of time can yield so much to those we help!”
Welcoming Our Newest Members
New faces bring new ideas, resources, and voices to our organization!
We are thrilled to welcome our newest board members: Stacy Finnbogason, physiotherapist with CBE; Cliff Francis, CEO of SPARR Construction; and Wendy Zhu. With their support, passion, and insights, we are looking forward to the opportunities ahead of our organization this year.
Expressing Gratitude
As we say hello to new board members and those moving into new positions, we would like to express our deep gratitude to our board members who are moving on from their roles.
We are grateful to Dan McPhee and Heather Tyminski for their service on the board of directors at Easter Seals Alberta. Their impact on the organization has made a marked difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities and medical conditions.
We want to share a particularly large thank you to Dan McPhee, our former president, who has been instrumental in governing Easter Seals Alberta over the last 12 years – supporting thousands of Albertans! His efforts in advocating for initiatives like the Easter Seals McQueen Home and our innovative virtual programs have enriched countless lives, ensuring that our services evolve with the needs of those we serve. Dan’s dedication and hard work has truly shaped the organization we are today and we cannot thank him enough for his many remarkable years of service!
As we celebrate and welcome our 2024 Board of Directors, Easter Seals Alberta looks forward to another exciting year of growing our supports and growing our impact!
Passionate About Making a Difference?
If you are interested and inspired to give back, and would like to volunteer with Easter Seals Alberta, please visit: easterseals.ab.ca/volunteer