Introducing... Our Board Members 2007-08

President:          Tracey Gage

Tracey has degrees in Wildlife Biology and Geography from Guelph University and has her teaching degree from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay.

She has been working as a researcher and educator since 1990 and has been in the Canadian Rockies since 1997. Since her move to the Rockies, she has worked as a back country guide, interpretive guide and is currently Resorts Educational Services Manager at Lake Louise Mountain Resort.

As educational service manager she trains and coaches staff in the theory, knowledge and spontaneity of the interpretation field and is continually taking courses to improve her own interpretive skills and knowledge.

Tracey is an MPHIA accredited Professional Interpreter and an ACMG accredited hiking guide. Tracey joined the board of directors of MPHIA to ensure the voices of guides and their employers are represented on the MPHIA Board.

Vice-president:                                                               Jenny Clark

My interest in things natural started with the road allowances and open ditches of Victoria in the 1950’s.  It was a much greener place then than it is now and my childhood freedom and my bicycle got me into close contact with nature.

From there my interest took me to Uvic for a BSc in biology and to my first posting with Parks Canada as a park naturalist in Jasper. 

I have come in and out of the Parks Service as an interpreter since 1972 working in Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho and Waterton. For 6 years in the 1980s, I worked for the NWT Wildlife Service and Alberta Fish and Wildlife as a conservation education officer and the manager of project WILD. 

In 1991, I graduated from the Alberta College of Art with honours in painting.  In 1992, I gave birth to my son and life took a sharp turn out of the work force into an uncharted universe. 

I reside there today, where I daily weave together the threads of art, natural history and motherhood.
My physical place of residence is presently Jasper.

Director at Large:                                                           Michael Vincent

After a year of working as MPHIA's executive director, Mike is moving on to the challenging position of Director of Heritage Programming at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

He is looking forward to working closely with Dave Verhulst to continue to improve and modify our program offerings to meet the needs of the guiding community.

Special Projects :                                                         Ronna Schneberger

With a degree in Recreation Management, Ronna Schneberger has been a professional guide and naturalist for 12 years on the Canadian Rockies.

She has a unique approach to communicating the connections between the natural and cultural history of the Rockies which provokes and inspires her listeners.

Ronna is a certified Hiking and Backpacking guide with the ACMG, has Advanced Wilderness First Aid, is a Nordic ski instructor with CANSI (level II), and is a professional interpreter accredited by MPHIA.

She also teaches Hatha Yoga, and tracking courses, in her free time she enjoys cooking, back country skiing, backpacking, traveling, tracking, and birding.

Director of Finance /Treasurer                                 Sheri Tarrington

Holding her degree in Canadian Politics and History, Sheri Tarrington has lived and played in the Rocky Mountains for close to a decade. Addicted to life-long learning and all things "trail", she credits the Mountain Parks Heritage Interpretation Association (MPHIA) for introducing her to her current life’s work—interpretation!

Earning her MPHIA Professional Interpreter’s accreditation in 2002, Sheri has worked with just about every interpretive outfit in the Bow Valley, from the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies to Discover Banff Tours.

In her current position with Parks Canada, Sheri heads up the team responsible for development and delivery of information and interpretation services to the millions of visitors that Banff National Park welcomes each year. Beginning in beautiful Jasper National Park four years ago, Sheri’s communications career with Parks has taken her from campground theatre stages to Ministerial media scrums and back again!

In addition to her work with Parks Canada, Sheri covets her roles as both a MPHIA Standard/Apprentice course instructor and a Banff’s Best Heritage Orientation Program facilitator.

As both an avid hiker and road cyclist, Sheri takes to the trails of her beloved Banff at every available opportunity.

Jasper Regional Manager:                                                         Heather  Heise

Originally from the Edmonton area, Heather always considered the Canadian Rockies her backyard – making several trips with family and friends each year.

After getting her degree in Animal Biology at the University of Alberta and working in research both in Northern Alberta with the Canadian Forest Service and in Southern Alberta with a wildlife post-doctoral fellow.

Heather made the big move to Jasper just about a year and a half ago.

A relative newbie on the interpretation scene, Heather first discovered her love for this field back in the city when she ran the Summer Nature Centre in St. Albert and has continued on from there with her interpretive work with Parks Canada and tour companies in Jasper.

 Past President:                                                              Alison Iles

Is a non-voting member. She is President of Backroads Canada and is committed to developing an overall vision statement for MPHIA and is interested in participating wherever she can contribute.

She is committed to attending MPHIA meetings during her term as past president.

Banff Park Liaison:                                                                   Ann Morrow

I've been a Banffite since 1981, most of that working for Parks Canada in Communications, and on the MPHIA board since its inception in 1997 as Parks Liaison. I believe strongly in the importance of on-going learning, and have assisted in the development and delivery of all levels of MPHIA courses: Banff's Best, Basic, Standard, and Professional Interpreter.

Director of Communications :                                    Fusako Shimura

Fusako has worked with Japanese tour companies in the Bow Valley for the last 20 years. She is currently a freelance guide working for various DMC's as well as a guide at the Whyte Museum.

She has participated as an MPHIA course instructor and examiner and presents the Japanese version of the Banff's Best Program.

She looks forward to working with the board to strengthen the status of MPHIA with the membership and to be involved in more professional development for accredited guides.

Fusako now teaches Japanese versions of the Banff's Best, MPHIA Basic and Standard/Apprentice courses.  She has also translated the Standard/Apprentice binder into Japanese.

Japanese Liaison:                                                         Konomi Ueda

Information coming soon.

Representative of Mountain Culture (The Banff Centre)   Laurie Harvey

I’ve been living and working in the Bow Valley for the better part of the past 20 years.

Every year, my appreciation for our spectacular environment grows.

My education and work experience is in marketing, fundraising and corporate sponsorship.

Through my position as manager of strategic partnerships in The Banff Centre’s Mountain Culture program area, I am fortunate to combine my passion for our mountain environment with my work.

I appreciate the mission of MPHIA, and look forward to contributing to the team.

Tourism Liaison                                                               Kristi Beetch

You may have seen her on “Canada A.M.” or “CTV Travels”, hiking snow-covered ridge tops
with the shows’ hosts, or read about her in the Calgary Herald “Snow Profiles On Women”. 
Kristi deferred her law school ambitions to become a ski bum in Colorado, only to meet a
Canadian who wooed her to the Great White North where Banff has been her home since 1989.  

She is an accredited Hiking Guide with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and an accredited Professional Interpreter with the Mountain Parks Heritage Interpretation Association.  Kristi guides for White Mountain Adventures and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, and is a Road Warrior with the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour.