Board of Directors

Public Interest Alberta is governed by a Board of Directors drawn from our member organizations and individuals. The Board is elected by the membership at our Annual General Meeting.

PIA strives to have a Board of Directors that reflects the diversity of Alberta and our membership, with balanced representation from around the province.

The 2012-2013 Board of Directors are:

Larry Booi, President

Larry has long worked to strengthen education and support the public good. He is the former President of the Alberta Teachers’ Association and was a member of the Executive Board of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation. He has been actively involved in curriculum development, has written textbooks used in Alberta schools, and acted as a consultant for publishers and NGOs. Currently, he is on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Council on Learning. Larry has played a central role in the establishment and growth of Public Interest Alberta and is Chair of the Democracy Task Force.

Lori Sigurdson, Vice-President
Alberta College of Social Workers

Lori has been employed as a social worker for over 20 years. She has worked in various fields of practice, including children’s services, mental health, social policy and education. Currently, her work involves membership support for the over 6000 Registered Social Workers in Alberta. Larger systems advocacy to promote progressive social policies, as well as the profession of social work, are also part of her role. Lori received her Master of Social Work Degree from the University of Calgary. She lives in Edmonton with her 3 sons.

Jonathan Teghtmeyer, Treasurer
Alberta Teachers’ Association

Jonathan is the Associate Coordinator, Communications for the Alberta Teachers' Association. His primary responsibilities are in communications, political engagement and advocacy. He is currently working on a Masters in Communication and Technology from the University of Alberta. Prior to coming to the Association, he taught Math and Drama to grade seven through twelve students at Breton High School. He is also on the board of directors for the Friends of Medicare and the Canadian Mental Health Association – Edmonton Region.

Bev Ray, Secretary
Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Edmonton

Bev Ray is the Local President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (730) Edmonton and has been a letter carrier since 2001. Prior to being employed by Canada Post, Bev worked for the Alberta Association for Community Living (AACL) and the Family Centre. During those years Bev was directly involved in providing advocacy support to families with developmental disabilities, as well as being a representative voice during the dismantling of Social Services and the creation of provincial boards. She has been a long-time advocate for human rights and has spent the last 25 years working on social justice issues that impact persons with developmental disabilities.

Heather Smith, Director
United Nurses of Alberta

Heather is the President of the United Nurses of Alberta, a position she has held since 1988. Born and raised in Ontario, she came to Alberta to work as a nurse at the Edmonton General Hospital. She quickly became involved in her union and served as President of her Local for two years. She also sat on the provincial negotiating committee during the 19 day illegal strike in January of 1988. Heather has been a key figure in political action to defend public health care in Alberta including campaigns to oppose Bill 37, Bill 11 and the Third Way.

Elisabeth Ballermann, Director
Health Sciences Association of Alberta

Elisabeth has been President of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta since 1995, becoming the first president elected by the membership. Elisabeth joined HSAA in 1980 when she started her health care career as a physical therapist at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. In 1986, she joined the HSAA Staff Association. In order to enhance her academic background in labour relations, Elisabeth graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta. Her extensive community service was recognized in 2005 with the awarding of the Alberta Centennial Medal.

Marle Roberts, Director
CUPE Alberta Division

Marle is currently President of CUPE Alberta Division. She became involved in the labour movement in 1986 when she started as a Lab Tech at the City of Medicine Hat’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. In 1997 Marle was elected as an officer of CUPE Local 46 and in 2000 became President. In this capacity she sat on various committees within her local as well as at the provincial and national level. CUPE Alberta represents employees of municipalities, hospitals, long term care facilities, schools, libraries, post-secondary institutions, and social service agencies among others and has worked with liked-minded groups in fighting attempts to privatize public health care and other public services.

Alex Shevalier, Director
Calgary & District Labour Council

Alex is the president of the Calgary & District Labour Council and a member of UFCW Local 401. He also represents the labour council on the AFL Executive Council.

Carol Wodak, Director
Seniors’ Action Liaison Team (SALT)

Carol's reputation as a researcher and advocate in the field of eldercare has been increasing steadily over the past ten years. She came to this activity for intensely personal reasons: her mother experienced almost the full range of continuing care options after suffering a series of strokes from 1995 to 2006, and Carol believes very strongly that the system failed her mother. In addition to individual work, Carol is a founding member of Citizen Watch, an active member and Vice-Chair of the Seniors’ Action and Liaison Team (SALT), and a member of several other community advocacy groups. Carol’s employment with the Alberta Human Rights Commission proved to be good preparation for her current activities.

Gerald Wheatley, Director
Arusha Centre

Gerald is the Coordinator of the Arusha Centre's InfoActive Resource Centre, which brings community activists together on a variety of social justice and environmental issues. He is a founding member of Calgary Dollars, a complimentary currency system. Gerald is also the producer of the Hold Your Ground music compilation, which has produced four volumes of songs from Alberta musicians to raise money for community organizations. He has contributed to the creation of Calgary's two car sharing initiatives and is the volunteer organizer of Calgary's first pesticide-free park, New Edinborough in Sunnyside, which has supported the City's move toward eliminating cosmetic pesticides. He has a BA in International Relations and is currently completing a Master's Degree in social research.

Guy Smith, Director
Alberta Union of Provincial Employees

Guy Smith has been President of AUPE, Alberta’s largest union, since 2009. Prior to that Guy was an AUPE vice-president for 8 years and a worksite and Local activist for over 20 years. Guy brings a passion for membership mobilization and democracy into the position of President and is dedicated to building a strong and effective defense of all public services. Guy knows how important it is to build links of solidarity with organizations such as Public Interest Alberta to engage in the struggle for a more just and equal Alberta for all. 

Gil McGowan, Director
Alberta Federation of Labour

 Gil was elected President of the Alberta Federation of Labour in 2005. Prior to that, he worked for 10 years as the AFL’s Communications Director. In addition to his experience in labour, he worked with the Friends of Medicare between 1996 and 2003, where he acted as Communications Coordinator and was a lead organizer for its campaign against Bill 11. Gil currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Parkland Institute and the Friends of Medicare.

Cherie Langlois-Klassen, Director
Individual Member

Cherie Langlois-Klassen is a Labour Relations Officer with the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA), where she advocates for the rights of Alberta's nurses. Cherie is a member of the Law Society of Alberta, and previously practiced union-side labour law as an associate with the law firm of Blair Chahley Seveny in Edmonton. Prior to that, Cherie served for several years as the Executive Director of the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation (ACGC) and the International Panel of Experts on Partnership Programming for the then Federal Minister of International Cooperation. She is active on the AFL's Women's Committee and also serves as co-chair of PIA's Task Force on Childcare.