Dedicated to environmental leadership, the Alberta Recycling Board of Directors has members representing a broad spectrum of stakeholders and each contribute their expertise to guide the organization.
The Board is comprised of six member organizations representing stakeholder interests and each member organization appoints a director to the Board. Two additional directors are appointed by the Minister to represent the public and industry respectively. The Chairs of the Designated Material Industry Councils for each of Electronics, Paint, Tires and Used Oil are also Directors. One non-voting director serves as the Board liaison with the Ministry of Environment and Parks.
Brad Pickering (Chair)
Public-at-Large (appointed by the Minister of Environment and Parks)
Brad Pickering is a retired Government of Alberta Deputy Minister, having served 17 years in various senior leadership roles as Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs, Chief Executive Officer of the Alberta Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Agency, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation, Deputy Solicitor General/Deputy Minister Public Security, and Deputy Minister of Sustainable Resource Development.
He also served on a number of Boards during his tenure with the Government of Alberta including Travel Alberta, Alberta Capital Finance Authority, and the Alberta Bio Diversity Monitoring Institute. Prior to joining the Government of Alberta, Brad spent 20 years in the municipal government sector.
Brad lives in Sherwood Park. He and his wife Ronda have two children and three grandchildren. He enjoys camping, is an avid golfer and enjoys playing pickleball.
John Graham (Retail Council of Canada)
Industry-at-Large (appointed by the Minister of Environment and Parks)
John Graham brings to the board of ARMA over 20 years of senior level retailing experience, representing Safeway’s $5 billion business interests across Western Canada, as Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations.
As part of his duties, John has had exposure to a wide range of sustainability issues, including being part of Safeway’s onboarding team for many EPR programs across the West. In 2017, John joined the Retail Council of Canada (RCC), the voice of retail that represents more than 45,000 store fronts of all retail formats across Canada. As Alberta’s largest private sector employer, more than 250,000 Albertans are currently working in the retail industry.
RCC and its members understand the vital link between a healthy environment and a healthy economy, and currently participate in over a hundred environmental stewardship programs across the country, and invest hundreds of millions of dollars on environmental and sustainable activities every year.
John is married with two children, and is a director on the boards of Multi-Materials Stewardship Manitoba, Winnipeg Harvest and St. Boniface Hospital Foundation.
Chief Jim Boucher
Indigenous Relations (appointed by the Minister of Environment and Parks)
Chief Boucher is the president of the Saa Dene Group of Companies and the former long standing elected Chief of the Fort McKay First Nation, one of the most successful First Nations in Canada.
He is known for his visionary, consensus-based leadership which was built upon a foundation of trust and collaboration, with the transaction serving as a model for how Indigenous groups, energy development companies and governments can work together to achieve mutual long-term benefit – hallmarks of Jim’s business style.
Chief Boucher has received more than a dozen notable awards and accolades throughout his career, such as the Alberta Order of Excellence, Energy Person of the Year, named one of “The Power 50” – The 50 Most Influential Canadian Business Leaders - and received the Commendation from the Governor General for Outstanding Service. Jim also received the Aboriginal Business Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, and Indspire (formerly National Aboriginal Achievement) Award - Business and Commerce.
Chief Boucher lives in Fort McKay and has two children and five grand children. He enjoys spending time with his family and is an avid golfer.
Cathy Heron
Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA)
As the first female Mayor in 20 years, and only the second in the history of St. Albert, Cathy Heron represents the values of our modern community. She is proof that St. Albert has grown beyond the debate of women in politics and is ready to tackle the rights of our LGBTQ+, environmental stewardship, responsible growth, and first nations through respectful engagement within our community.
A graduate of both the University of Alberta and NAIT, Mayor Heron values diverse knowledge, education, and experience in herself and those around her. In addition to her education, Mayor Heron has extensive experience in regional governance, including 2 terms as a city councillor and several years of volunteer work on committees, such as the Community Services Advisory Board.
Mayor Heron understands the value of leading by example. She serves as Vice President (Cities under 500,000) at the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, Director of Alberta Recycling Management Association, 4 years as Director of the Alberta Capital Region Waste Water Commission, Capital Region Growth Plan Task Force and many more. The result is extensive and diverse relationships throughout the region with elected, civil, and business stake holders that she can rely upon to help her further her goal of a stronger and more respected City of St. Albert.
Her personal life focuses on her relationship with her 3 teenaged children. Will, Heather, and Holly have continuously been a source of both strength and pride for Cathy. Sunday family dinners are dear to her, a value she hopes will carry forward into the next generation.
Raised in St. Albert, she is a graduate of Paul Kane high school though she won’t allow us to publish what year she graduated. When it was time to start her own family and instill core values in her children, living in St. Albert was an obvious and non-negotiable choice. It takes a village to raise a child, and she strongly believes St. Albert offers the best values she wants in her own children.
It is her goal, as Mayor of St. Albert, to contribute to a community where her children will choose to raise their children. The strong values of community and diverse respect that drew her parents to raise her here remain the values she hopes St. Albert will continue to instill in future generations.
Joe Kostler, P.Eng
Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA)
As APEGA’s representative, Joe Kostler brings 40 years of wide ranging environmental experience from both government and industry to the Board.His work experiences include:
- some 14 years with Alberta Environment that included work in the Water Quality Control Branch, head of the Air Quality Approvals Branch and head of the Waste Management Branch (which at the time covered programs such as various recycling programs, waste education programs, litter programs, hazardous waste legislation, beverage containers and regional landfill development).
- some 26 years in both the petrochemical industry and electrical industry with the majority of those years with ATCO Power and ATCO Electric.
- Participation in APEGA’s Environmental Committee (both as a member and chair) and currently as member of the Discipline Committee.
- As an industry representative on the CASA Board and various committees; and with the Canadian Electrical Association (CEA) where one of the key works was on the utilities climate change committee.
Joe’s educational background includes a BSc in Chemical Engineering and an M.Eng. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Alberta. He has also completed certificate programs from the U of A in Management Development for Professional Engineers and in Occupational Health and Safety. He has been recognized for his work with APEGA with a designation of FEC and FGC (Hon).Both Joe and his wife – Leola - were born-in, raised-in, educated-in and are long-time residents of Edmonton.Some outside interests include volunteering at one of Edmonton’s Food Bank Depots, their church music ministry, international travel, travel trailering, golf, photography and many other indoor/outdoor physical activities.
Ian Young, P.Tech. (Eng.)
Environmental Services Association of Alberta (ESAA)
Ian Young is a professional technologist with over twenty years of experience in the environmental consulting industry. During this time, he has become an accomplished project coordinator and manager in the assessment, investigation, remediation and reclamation of a varied portfolio of green and brownfield sites across the western provinces and Northwest Territories.
Ian works at SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. as the Technical Discipline Manager for the Alberta Land Quality & Remediation Team and Edmonton Office Manager. Responsibilities include financial performance, recruitment and retention, training, coaching, health and safety leadership and collaborate with SLR’s business sector leaders.
Dave Schaaf, P.Eng.
Recycling Council of Alberta (RCA)
David Schaaf has recently retired from the position of Waste & Recycling Services Manager for the City of Lethbridge. He held this position from 2003 to 2018. He had been with the City of Lethbridge since 1991, working in a variety of areas including Fleet management, Facility management, and Information technology.
Dave graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in Agricultural Engineering. His work experience involved working as a design engineer within the agriculture manufacturing sector prior to employment with the City of Lethbridge. Responsibilities as the Waste & Recycling Manager included:
- the delivery of waste prevention programs,
- commercial & residential recycling programs,
- commercial & residential waste collection programs,
- and management of the Waste & Recycling Centre.
Kara Westerlund
Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA)
Kara was elected as the RMA Vice President in 2017 and is currently a councillor with Brazeau County where she has served for eight years. Kara represents the RMA on several committees including the RMA / AUMA Joint Operating Committee, the Alert Civilian Advisory Committee, and as Vice-Chair of the Interim Alberta Police Advisory Board. Kara also serves as Chair of the RMA’s Resolutions Committee.
Jeff Faber
Electronics Recycling Alberta Industry Council
Jeff Faber began his career as a rental technician in 1985. After earning a broadcasting diploma from Mount Royal College, Jeff was excited to be part of a growing business and even more importantly, a changing and thriving industry. Numerous promotions, advancements and industry accreditation enabled Jeff to lead a management buyout of Apex Audio Visual and the launch of Apex AVSI.
Jeff assumed the role of President and Chief Executive Officer and further growth allowed the company to form a merger with Sharp’s Audio Visual. In 2017 Jeff lead a sale of Sharp's to AVI SPL the world's largest Audio Visual Integrator where he now leads the Canadian Operation for this global company as the Managing Director.
Jeff is reminded frequently of his career path and his beginning as a rental technician. In 1985, Jeff’s focus was attending to the needs of both coworkers and customers. And throughout his career that has remained his focus. Add a heavy dose of diligence, enthusiasm and perseverance, and the seeds for success – in the individual and the organization – are sown.
“I see communications on a global scale where sustainable, repeatable practices are the standard rather than the often ad hoc approach we are challenged to deliver.”
Lis Anderson, SCMP, BCom, MBA
Paint Recycling Alberta Industry Council
Lis Anderson is currently the Global Director, Category Management for Finning International in Edmonton, Alberta. She has thirty years of experience in supply chain management and has carried out substantive work in procurement, category and contract management and materials management in multiple industries, including more than two decades at a major paint and coatings manufacturer. Her focus has been on global buying initiatives with the main objective of reducing costs and stream lining processes across multiple facilities. Additionally, Lis has successfully implemented lean manufacturing techniques, inventory management systems to improve cash flow, procurement policies and procedures and ERP systems.
Lis has demonstrated strong Board Based Competencies through Strategic Vision and Thinking and Interactive Communication. Most recently she held a Director position on the Board of the Supply Chain Management Association Alberta (SCMA-AB). Throughout her career, Lis has been successful at influencing all organizational levels and leading transformational change.
Nelson Tonn
Tire Recycling Alberta Industry Council
Nelson Tonn joined Fountain Tire as an Advertising Coordinator in 1998. He was promoted to Advertising Manager and then to Director of Marketing. In early 2009, he was appointed Vice President, Marketing and Supply Chain and has been part of the Fountain Tire Executive Team forward. In 2015, he became the company’s first Vice President, Sales. Nelson leads the Corporate Sales Team which focuses on Fountain Tire’s largest customers and in 2019, the Fountain Tire Mine Service division was added to his portfolio, which he loves leading.
Since 2015, Nelson has been an active Board Member of the Goodyear Commercial Tire and Service Network, representing all Goodyear dealers in Canada. Additionally he is a Board Member for: Rebman Christian Foundation, Kivalliq Tire Mine Service, Kitikmeot Tire Mine Service and is a Member-at-Large for the Shepherd's Care Foundation, and Alberta Beach Christian Camp.
From 2005 to 2015, he was on the Board of Directors with the Pregnancy Care Centre and also participated as a member of the Retail Council of Canada’s Marketing Committee, Goodyear North America’s Generate Demand Board, and the Transportation and Supply Chain Advisory Committee for the City of Calgary.
Nelson graduated with distinction, earning a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Alberta in 1997, and in 2011 received the 'Alumnus with an Outstanding Career in the Retailing Sector' award from the University of Alberta School of Retailing.
Nelson is responsible for the Director of Commercial Sales, Director of OTR Store Operations, and Directors of Mine Service at Fountain Tire.
Alain Portelance
Used Oil Recycling Alberta Industry Council
Alain Portelance was born and raised in Montreal. He graduated from McGill University with a degree in Economics and Political Science. Alain first moved to Alberta in 1994 where he spent 17 years with Shell in diverse roles including Brand Manager in Lubricants and Marketing Manager for Bitumen in the Americas. He then moved on to Newalta (later Terrapure) to manage Base Oils and Lubricants Sales & Marketing. Since 2015 Alain has been with UFA Co-operative and is currently in the role of Director, Sales & Business Development. Alain is married with twin daughters.
