SAPAA is run by a volunteer board. We love getting outdoors but also like to learn and innovate. If this sounds like a fun group, see our orientation manual and whether it is a good fit for you!

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SAPAA Executive (with email links)

Directors-at-large

Chris Smith, Tony Blake, David Fielder, Madeline Mayes, Tyler Norris.

Newsletter Editorial Committee

To submit a contribution to the newsletter, please email: newsletter@sapaastewards.com

Newsletter copy deadlines: Please inquire

Website Committee

Frank Potter, Webmaster; Contributors: Hubert Taube, Patsy Cotterill.

Contact Information – Email the Webmaster.

Executive Profiles

David Fielder is a semi-retired botanical chemist and has been an amateur naturalist for many years. He’s been an active steward for the Wagner Natural Area since 2008 and has recently become a board director with the Society. His passion is native orchids (currently writing a field guide to orchids of Alberta), macro-photography and enjoys visiting protected areas throughout the province.

Frank Potter, a native Albertan, has a lifelong passion for the outdoors and its enjoyment and protection.  Since retiring in 2020 he has been working on a guidebook that will help people and families responsibly enjoy protected and natural areas in the Edmonton area. When not outdoors, Frank is active in other professional and personal pursuits.

Hubert Taube, retired instructor of chemistry at the University of Alberta, is an all-round naturalist and a passionate promoter and defender of all of Alberta’s protected areas. He has been a Provincial Steward of Northwest of Bruderheim Natural Area since 1989.  In 2015 he became president of SAPAA and has been the association’s inspiring leader ever since.

Madeline Mayes has lived in Alberta for as long as she can remember! She’s a recent graduate from the University of Alberta with an ongoing passion for government, citizen advocacy and non-profit organizations. If you catch her outdoors, she will probably tell you a lot about horticulture and the importance of beneficial insects and native plants. 

Myrna Peters joined the Volunteer Steward Program in 1999. Since then she has been a steward member of three natural areas: Buck Lake Creek, Modeste Creek and Carnwood Modeste Creek. Myrna is a certified arborist and is a true tree hugger. She enjoys gardening, hiking, fishing, anything outdoors!

Patsy Cotterill, retired, has worked as a botany technician for Alberta Environment and Parks. She has been a steward member of Wagner Natural Area Society (for many years on its board) since its inception in 1982. Her special interests are vascular plants, and conservation and restoration in both provincial and urban natural areas.

Tony Blake is a retired CP Rail conductor (retired, 2009) whose second career keeps him outdoors. His retirement job as a vegetation manager takes him across Alberta and Saskatchewan to assess what is growing where it should not be. He graduate from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in 1976 in the engineering technology program and has been a strong support for SAPAA visiting many of the provincial natural areas.

Tyler Norris recently completed his Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Alberta, with a major in Marketing and a minor in Business Economics & Law. During his studies, he had the opportunity to work with SAPAA in developing a potential partnership with Scouts Canada. Professionally, he has worked as a personal insurance broker with BrokerLink for nearly four years while completing his degree. He is a huge sports fan (Still living out his NHL dreams in beer league), and is a competitive darts player (unofficially 29th in the province). Tyler lived all over the world growing up and can still speak basic mandarin.