Glenn Taylor – Leader

Glenn grew up in a Canadian military family with three brothers and a sister, and had the privilege of living abroad while young. In 1982 he moved to Alberta to build a life for himself. After living and skiing in Lake Louise for a few (great) years, he became an occupational health and safety instructor and adult educator. Most recently, he served as the Vice-President of Program Development and Strategic Initiatives for Western Canada Fire and First Aid.

At the provincial level, Glenn has served as a Vice-President for the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, and chaired their Municipal Governance Committee. He served as the Board Chair for the Grande Prairie Alberta Economic Region for 6 years, and as Board Chair for Rural Alberta’s Development Fund. He also served in executive and director positions for the Foothills Research Institute and as a director on the Alberta Utilities Consumer Advocate Advisory Board.

In 2001, Glenn ran for Hinton town council. He won, and in 2004 he ran for Mayor, won, and was re-elected in 2007 and 2010.

As a Safety Advocate, Councillor, and later as Mayor, Glenn has demonstrated his ability to lead, through the cultivation of partnerships and effective working relationships based on common interests. The organizations he’s served and the director positions he’s held have allowed him to gain a province-wide perspective and to effect meaningful change on behalf of all Albertans. Glenn is eager to move forward as leader of the Alberta Party to embrace the opportunities of Alberta’s future.

Brian Thiessen – President

Brian Thiessen was born in Lethbridge, raised in Edmonton, and lives in Calgary with his wife and two children. Brian is the National Co-chair of the Labour & Employment Group at the law firm of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (“Blakes”). Brian is a Labour & Employment and Privacy Law Partner at Blakes, and has been recognized as a leading labour and employment lawyer by The Best Lawyers in Canada 2011. For more than 150 years, Blakes has proudly served many of Canada’s and the world’s leading businesses and organizations. Blakes has more than 550 lawyers in offices in Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, New York, Chicago, London, Bahrain, Beijing and associated offices in Al-Khobar and Shanghai. In 2010, and for the third consecutive year, Blakes was named “Canada’s Law Firm of the Year” by Who’s Who Legal and “Law Firm of the Year: Canada” in the PLC Which Lawyer? Awards. For six consecutive years, Blakes has been named one of Canada’s best employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc.

After being Student President of the Society of Law Students at the University of Calgary, Brian has been an active member of the Calgary Community for the last 16 years. Brian has volunteered in a number of capacities, including previously serving on the Board of Directors of the Children Without Poverty Foundation and assisting with the Calgary Homeless Foundation Government Relations Committee. Brian currently serves as a Director on the Board of Directors of Ronald McDonald House Southern Alberta. In the political realm, Brian has served in the past as the President of a federal party in Alberta where he also sat on the National Executive. Brian was a candidate for Member of Parliament in the 2000 Federal election, and has worked on a number of campaigns and in a number of political organizing roles since that time.

Alberta Party Board of Directors

The Board of Directors consists of the individuals listed below. At the party’s October 2 AGM, these members elected an executive committee, which consists of the President, Secretary, Chief Financial Officer, Vice Presidents, and Officers.

Click here for a details of tasks and duties of the executive positions

• Brian Thiessen, President
• Neil Mather, Vice President
• Amanda Henry, Corporate Secretary
• Michael McLaughlin, Chief Financial Officer
• Dean Taylor, Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer
• Ken McNeill, Vice President, Fundraising
• Liza Sunley, Vice President, Volunteer Engagement & Outreach
• Chima Nkemdirim, Co-Vice President, Strategy & Election Readiness
• Marc Doll, Co-Vice President, Strategy & Election Readiness
• Richard Einarson, Co-Vice President, Communications
• Midge Lambert, Vice President, Membership
• Pamila Crosby, Vice President, Organizational Development
• William Munsey, Vice President, Policy

Directors at large:

• Alfred Wahlstrom
• Michael Brechtel
• Christel Hyshka
• Elaine Hyshka
• Esmé Comfort
• G. Andrew Berdahl
• James Saik
• Jim Long
• Kelly Philipp
• Kurtis Norlen
• Matthew Youens
• Thomas (Alex) Muir