About Us & Our Story

We are dedicated to the protection and preservation of lands that possess important heritage and ecological value.

The Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation (GRPF) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park (GRPP) and other lands that possess important heritage and ecological value. Established in 2007 by the Harvie Family, our Mission is to protect and promote Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park through engagement, education, collaboration and conservation. Our Vision is to make Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park one of the most inspiring, accessible and healthy protected urban parks in North America.

We believe strongly in creating stewardship in all those who visit this beautiful and important Park. Our educational programming brings grassland, pond and archaeological programming to nearly 5,000 area children each year. In partnership with Alberta Parks, we maintain the health of the Park’s fragile ecosystem through a robust and effective Vegetation Management Program. Our volunteers and small staff work tirelessly to protect and promote Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. Our Foundation relies solely on grants and donations and does not receive financial support from the Government of Alberta.

Meet Our Team

The Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation (GRPF) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park (GRPP) and other lands that possess important heritage and ecological value.

Board Chairman

Georg Paffrath

Georg is a retired senior executive whose career involved turnarounds and company restructuring, predominantly in the heavy industry sector.

Having held multiple leadership roles he has been recognized for his ability to get multifaceted organizations to work towards common goals and achieve results.

Georg was a member of several boards and community organizations. He also serves as a member of the Cochrane Planning Commission.

Georg intends to use his career and board experience to contribute to the efforts to protect and preserve the unique landscape of the Glenbow Ranch.

Georg is an avid hiker and skier. Along with his wife Louise, they have walked or cycled every path within the Park in all four seasons.

Past Board Chairman

Andy Crooks

Andy has been involved with the Harvie Family from the early visioning for the Park to the opening. Andy led the foundation during the critical buildout phase. The foundation construction over 30 kilometres of trails, a visitor’s information centre, installed all interpretive signage and “opened the park to the public”. More recently Andy has been very active with Rocky View County in developing the Glenbow Ranch area structure plan which will be a unique and world-leading example of urban planning to protect park environments. Andy has also collaborated with the Town of Cochrane and the City of Calgary to ensure full and complete integration at Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park with those two urban settings and their park systems.

As well as practicing law, Andy has been active in many not-for-profit activities including board positions on Simon House Residence Society, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, the Canadian Constitution Foundation, Lakehead University, Alberta Lawyers Assist Program, Charities Intelligence, the Canadian Land Mine Foundation and many others.

Board Member

Cam Crawford

Cam has worked with the Harvie Family for over 30 years on many projects, including the creation of Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park and the Glenbow Ranch Area Structure Plan, and has been on the Glenbow Ranch Park and Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation Boards since inception. He is a partner with the Catalyst Group of Calgary where he currently serves as Chairman of the firm. He has an expertise in a variety of industries with a a focus on strategic projects, corporate finance, and transaction services, providing support in dealing with his clients’ most significant opportunities and challenges. Cam’s dedication to the accounting profession has earned him a Distinguished Service Award and the designation as a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants. Cam has also served many community and non-profit organizations, currently including his role as vice-chair of the National Music Center. He is also on the board of Rocky Mountain Dealerships (TSX.RME).
Board Member

Tim Harvie

Tim grain farms and ranches in the Cochrane area. He is a graduate of the U of Alberta with a degree in Agriculture and was involved with farm organizations for many years.

Along with the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation and Park Board, he serves on the Edge School Foundation and chairs the Cochrane Foundation. He enjoys travelling and regularly plays hockey in the winter and golf in the summer.

Board Member

Doug Marter

Doug is a Senior Professional with over forty years of experience in parks and open space planning, project development and management. Doug has a demonstrated history working in Public Infrastructure Planning and Development with extensive experience in Park Development Planning, Capital Project Development and implementation of public park infrastructure projects. His experience includes infrastructure and Park Design and Development projects throughout Western Canada and the United States.

In his role as a senior manager (retired) with Calgary Parks Doug has managed Parks operations, Urban Conservation, Parks and Open Space planning Program, Water Management and Prior to his retirement Manager of Capital Planning and Infrastructure for Calgary Park management portfolio projects have included the Enmax Legacy Park Program, Ralph Klein Park, Haskayne Park, Nose Hill Park Master Plan development and pathway and trail plan implementation. Doug is also involved at the Provincial Level as a Board Director with the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association as well as the Founding and past president of the Alberta Low Impact Development association. Doug also serves as a member of the Town of Cochrane Parks and Recreation Committee.

Doug is currently President of DS Marter and Associates and is a Major Project Consultant for Parks Foundation Calgary

Board Member

Myrna Dube-Thompson

Myrna, self-describes her life as a wonderful journey, both professionally and personally.
Her professional career began with the Calgary Airport Authority. Over the span of 16 years, she states she had all the “cool” projects from the tourism displays on the luggage carousels, to Spaceport, and to business and land development initiatives including her role as president of the Authority’s sub company for aerospace. A most rewarding endeavour was working with Rotary and the Parks Foundation on the development of Calgary Rotary Challenger Park on airport land.

Myrna joined Parks Foundation Calgary as CEO in 2009 and retired in December of 2016. The Foundation’s mandate to further green the city’s environment as well as provide additional recreational opportunities for the residents of Calgary provided numerous entrepreneurial opportunities. The Rotary/Mattamy Greenway – a 138 km park and pathway network circling the city – resulted, with more than $50 million raised to complete the fundraising for this iconic project. The success is the result of multi public and private partners who shared the vision and contributed to this world-class initiative. Myrna was selected as one of Alberta’s Most Influential People in 2014.

Myrna states most importantly her personal life continues to grow with riches. A beautiful marriage to Gabe for 50 years until his sudden sad passing in July 2014, Myrna is close to her five children, who are all married and her 11 amazing grandchildren. And her beautiful life continues with her marriage to Jack Thompson in December of 2016.

Board Member

Kim Kadatz

Kim Kadatz is a senior fundraising professional, having built a 30-year career in sales and community development. She has earned a stellar reputation for building enduring relationships, bringing innovation to fundraising strategy, and leading teams to deliver results.

Kim served Glenbow Museum as Vice President, Advancement and the University of Calgary as Associate Vice-President, Development. With the University of Calgary, Kim held a number of lead development positions over her 15-year tenure ranging from posts with the Faculty of Kinesiology, the Schulich School of Engineering and the Haskayne School of Business, as well as Principal Gifts for the university as a whole. With Glenbow, Kim led in the development and implementation of the museum’s ground breaking $175 million capital campaign, Glenbow Reimagined. Kim has also held positions with the Mount Royal College Foundation and the United Way of Calgary and Area. She continues to provide fundraising consulting services to organizations in the not-for-profit sector.

A born and raised Albertan, and a long-time resident of Bearspaw, Kim is passionate about securing our natural settings for the enjoyment of our citizens today and for the benefit of future generations.

Board Member

Braden Norman

Braden recently moved his young family back to the Cochrane area to be closer to where he grew up; the Glenbow Ranch. He is motivated and honoured to continue his family's long history of land conservation and stewardship. Braden brings years of experience in recruitment/board and executive search and has worked with non-profit and municipal organizations extensively. Currently he leads business development for Western Canada at CloudMD, a healthcare navigation company.
Board Member

Anton (Tony) Suberlak

A long-standing member of the Calgary legal community, Tony enjoys working with families and businesses alike in his business and real estate practice.
His passion for outdoor pursuits like hiking, snowboarding and mountain biking with his wife and son is his inspiration for becoming part of the GRPF board in support of land conservation and environmental stewardship.
Chief Executive Officer

Jeromy Farkas

Jeromy “Pathfinder” Farkas is a Calgarian mentor, athlete, and community mobilizer with over $10M in successful fundraising in the social, post-secondary and political sectors.

From 2017 to 2021, Jeromy served as Calgary’s youngest City Councillor and the first openly LGBTQ person to hold municipal elected office in the city. Following a term on Council, he ran for mayor of Calgary and received the most donations, ever, of any candidate for municipal office. He lost -- but used that experience the following year as a springboard for a successful 4,300-kilometer solo run from Mexico to Canada.

While on the Pacific Crest Trail, fellow hikers nicknamed him “Pathfinder,” for his leadership following a harrowing journey through the High Sierra’s five legendary passes. All told, Jeromy raised more than a quarter-million dollars of new operating funds for Big Brothers and Big Sisters as part of their most successful fundraising campaign to date. In January 2023, he embarked on a follow-up fundraiser, climbing 25 consecutive peaks over 25 consecutive days in the dead of winter, raising nearly a hundred thousand dollars for medical care for Calgary’s homeless through The Alex Community Health Centre.

He is a certified Wilderness First Responder, Alberta Search and Rescue Association volunteer, and has visited or overnighted in more than 50 national, state, and provincial parks. You can catch him every other Friday on CBC Calgary’s Eyeopener radio show alongside his friend and former Calgary City Council colleague, Naheed Nenshi.

Jeromy currently serves as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation, with a mission to protect and promote one of Alberta’s newest provincial parks through engagement, education, collaboration, and conservation.

Conservation Program Coordinator

Blake Weis

Blake Weis is a graduate of the Environmental Science program at Lakeland College with majors in Restoration Ecology and Wildlife Conservation. Blake has been working with GRPF and Alberta Parks since 2012 fighting the battle against invasive plants. Since 2020 the role has expanded to include a wider variety of conservation projects such as wildlife surveys and ecological restoration. On his free time Blake enjoys many outdoor activities like hiking and birdwatching.
Programs & Event Coordinator

Nick King

Originally from Hertfordshire in the UK, Nick relocated to Canada in 2019.

He studied Countryside Management and Conservation Skills at Capel Manor, London, before moving into facilities and operations management. Nick spent time with the Organizing Committee of the London 2012 Olympic Games working on community engagement across the UK. Since moving to Cochrane, he has served on two boards, and as a keen football (soccer) player, manages the Cochrane Rangers men’s over 35 team. Nick has a diploma in Operations Management and is a Chartered Manager.

Having spent time mountain climbing in Scotland, he is enjoying exploring the Rocky Mountains, and the stunning areas of natural beauty that surround us. He also enjoys snowboarding, biking, and fishing with his family.

As the communities surrounding the park grow, Nick is relishing the opportunity to educate people about the importance of the park, and the incredible work of the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation in preserving this unique and special place.

Visitor Experience Coordinator

Holly Duchscher

Holly has always had a love for the mountains having grown up in Alberta and through years in girl guiding, from a brownie to a leader, developed a passion for camping and being outdoors. Being able to work within these outstanding vistas she feels right at home. She has lived in Cochrane for the past 30+ years, where she met her husband and started her family.
With a background in administrative support and customer service Holly has been an asset in helping run the back end of the foundation. Moving into a new and exciting role will help drive Holly’s passion for helping create an amazing experience for all the visitors to the Park.
Chief Financial Officer

Stephanie Campagna

Stephanie has been with Baker Tilly Catalyst LLP (formerly Catalyst LLP) since 2019 as an Accounting Advisor Manager.
Stephanie brings 15+ years of full-cycle data management and accounting experience in public practice and has experience in a vast array of industries. Stephanie is an app and technology enthusiast who is always looking for a way to create efficiencies in full cycle accounting procedures so that clients can focus on what they do best.

Statement Of Purpose

To help Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park protect, preserve and enhance the diverse natural and human history found in Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park.

Objectives of the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation:

  • To acquire, hold and/or manage ecologically sensitive land within Alberta, in order to protect, preserve and enhance the heritage value of such land and its ability to sustain vegetation, water courses, standing waters and animals.
  • To protect and preserve Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park and other lands which possess important heritage and ecological value.
  • Perform any manner of actions as are incidental or ancillary to the attaining of the abovementioned objects of the Foundation.

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