2025 Election

The ACC Calgary Section’s bylaws call for us to carry out our elections online. On-line polling has made elections easier to complete and reach more members. It will take less time than it takes to order a beer and can be completed from anywhere with an internet connection. Because it will be easier, many more members will participate than typically show up to an AGM, and most people will appreciate the abbreviated election part to allow for something more entertaining.

We hope you find on-line elections fast, fair and efficient and hope to see you in the mountains soon.

This year the following positions are due for election. While we do welcome new candidates for positions where the incumbents are running again, we ESPECIALLY need candidates for the first six positions below. Candidates have until Sunday February 9th 2025 @ 11:59PM to apply.

How to Vote

During the voting process, to vote, login credentials to this website are required and are available only to Calgary Section members in good standing at the time of the election. Members select their preferred candidate through an electronic poll. Final results are presented during the club’s Annual General Meeting.

1) When voting begins, go to https://www.acccalgary.ca/wp-login.php 
2) Click on “Lost your password?”, located below the text boxes.
3) Enter your username or email address. For this system, your username is of the form “Firstname.Lastname”. 
4) Once you login, go to: https://www.acccalgary.ca/elections/, scroll down to the candidates names and vote with the provided “Vote” radio buttons.
5) Once you login, go to: https://www.acccalgary.ca/elections/, scroll down to the candidates names and vote with the provided “Vote” radio buttons. 
6) For any questions, please email elections@acccalgary.ca

Nominations

Nominations are open until Sunday February 9, 2025!  Please see the Board Positions page for a role description for the open positions listed below. Please complete the form on this page: ACC Calgary Nomination Form

If you have any questions related to the election or nominations, please email elections@acccalgary.ca. As shown on the nomination form, nominees are required to provide a short “campaign” introduction to themselves in order to be put on the ballot. 


2025 Election 

Chair – Nominations are welcome! 

Laura Flinkfelt

Hi I’m Laura! Some of you may know me as the current Interim Chair/Vice-Chair of our Section.

I’m officially running for the Chair position as I would love to continue to build on the successes of our Section and lead us in our future direction!

I bring a wealth of fresh ideas for possible events/programs (gear workshops, technical sessions, mentorship, trail clean-ups). I also want to hear your ideas and feedback on what you love, what you’d like to see us do better, or anything else! (A member had commented on interest in family activities for example). I would like to strengthen our existing partnerships, expand our community with new members and connections, and to consider what our goals are as part of a larger community!

I’m from Calgary and the Rockies are my second home. I love spending my free time backpacking, hiking, backcountry camping, climbing, x-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Recently, I’ve been building up my mountaineering skills; summiting my first 6000’er in Nepal last spring, and pretending to practice my downhill ski skills enough for a backcountry tour!

I’ve been an ACC member since 2018, frequenting monthly Socials, volunteering as Vice-Chair this past year, attending local events on behalf of the Section, and participating in some ACC courses (Crevasse Rescue, AMP 1– Mt. Athabasca, AST 1, and Remote & Basic First Aid).
 
I also bring experience from my professional life in governance and policy to this role. I currently work in strategic governance, data access/security, and policy development/evaluation in the public sector. I was a University of Calgary Senator for 3 years, and sat on a few academic committees while I worked for U of C. I was Chair of the Graduate Students’ Association’s Governance Committee when I completed my Masters degree in Public Policy, and was Vice-Chair for Ch. 1 Local 052 of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.

Communications Chair – Nominations are welcome! 

Alex MacQueen

I’m a 25-year-old New Zealander who moved to Canada in 2023 to follow my passion for the outdoors. My favourite activities are skiing, hiking, and climbing, and I’m especially keen to develop my backcountry skills to tackle even more epic adventures. I’m driven by the desire to connect with like-minded people, which is what fuels my enthusiasm to manage the club’s Newsletter, Facebook, and Instagram platforms. I’m confident that I can use these tools to continue to engage current members and attract the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts. I’m young, eager, and excited to contribute to the club’s growth and success.

Ski Chair – Nominations are welcome! 

Simon Trudel

I am excited to put my name forward as the next Ski Chair. Since joining the ski committee last summer, I’ve gained valuable insight into how it operates—what’s working well and where we can enhance the member experience. From the success of the BITS program to long waitlists for ski events, it’s clear our members have a strong appetite for more skiing opportunities. My top priority will be increasing the number of ski trip leaders by enhancing mentorship, training, and incentives. As a member of the ACC’s National Safety Committee, I’m also deeply committed to promoting safety in the mountains. I look forward to collaborating with the section’s leadership to deliver even more incredible mountain experiences for our members.

Climbing Chair – Nominations are welcome! 

Jeremy Dixon

I’ve been climbing and mountaineering around the world for about 25 years and in the Bow Valley and Canadian Rockies for about 8 years. I’d like to use my experience to contribute to the community and the sport.

Dave Cumming

I’ve been climbing for 15 plus years and have joined and led several ACC trips. I’m hoping to grow the community and encourage some more inclusive events both for the experienced and beginner level.

Adam Currie

I have been active in the climbing community within the Bow Valley for over 18 years now. I understand the requirements and impacts of our sport environmentally and ethically. I have experience in route development and retro fitting. I am a very active climber and outdoor enthusiast and want to help continue allowing myself and everyone enjoy our amazing sport here in Alberta and beyond. I am willing to learn and take on any roles or tasks required to be a strong representative for our local community.

Alpine Chair – Nominations are welcome! 

NO NOMINATIONS

Webmaster – Nominations are welcome! 

NO NOMINATIONS

 

Member and Leadership Chair 

Oakley Werenka – Our returning Member and Leadership Chair! 

Additional Nominations are welcome! 

Secretary 

Katherine Morianos – Our returning Secretary! 

Additional Nominations are welcome! 

Social Chair

Chuck and Lesley Young – Our returning Social Co-Chairs! 

Additional Nominations are welcome! 

Safety Chair 

Kate Snedeker – Our returning Safety Chair! 

Additional Nominations are welcome! 

Treasurer 

Juergen Schmidt – Our returning Treasurer! 

Additional Nominations are welcome! 

 

2023 Election Results

For more information on the 2023 election, visit: https://www.acccalgary.ca/2021/11/upcoming-election-agm-2023/

Chair

NO NOMINATIONS

Vice Chair

Laura Flinkfelt

Hi I’m Laura and I’m very excited to be your new Vice Chair! 
 
I’m from Calgary and the Rockies are my second (but honestly, preferred) home. I love spending my free time backpacking, hiking, backcountry camping, climbing, x-country skiing and snowshoeing. In recent years, I’ve been building up my mountaineering skills and resume and pretending my downhill ski skills will improve enough for backcountry touring! I’ve been an ACC member since 2018, frequenting the monthly Socials and participating in a few courses/events including Crevasse Rescue, AMP 1 – Mt. Athabasca, AST 1, and Remote & Basic First Aid.
 
I also bring experience from my professional life in governance and policy to this role. I was a University of Calgary Senator for 3 years, and sat on a few academic committees while I worked for U of C. I was Chair of the Graduate Students’ Association’s Governance Committee while I completed my Masters in Public Policy, and was Vice-Chair for Ch. 1 Local 052 of AUPE. I currently work on strategic governance and policy development/evaluation in the public sector.
 
I hope to bring some new ideas and fresh perspectives to fill up our events calendar, support the board and our Chair, hopefully attract some new members, and build some cool new partnerships!

Training Chair

Elizabeth Dupuis

Elisabeth joined the ACC many years ago hoping to find companions with whom to travel on glaciers.  She soon started volunteering by sitting on various committees and coordinating outings. She continues to organize ski trips, climbing trips, scrambles and hikes, and enjoys meeting people who share her love for the mountains.

Julie Morter

Julie is a rock and ice climber, skier, mountain biker and occasional mountaineer. She has been with the Calgary ACC since 2011 and enjoy mentoring others and helping people share the skills and joy that our local bow valley guides bring to their courses.

Communications Chair

NO NOMINATIONS

Climbing Chair

Chelsea Darrach – Incumbent

My name is Chelsea Darrach and I’m putting my name forward for another term as Climbing Chair on the ACC Calgary Section Board! I’ve participated in a lot of courses/events through ACC over the past few years and am so grateful for this organization as it’s allowed me to meet many wonderful people who have become lifelong friends and climbing partners as well, I’ve been able to progress my skills/experience quite quickly.

I moved to Calgary from PEI in 2018. My first hike was Ha-Ling and I was hooked after that! I started getting out hiking every weekend, which transitioned into longer and harder hikes/scrambles. I soon learned about what mountaineering, skimo and alpine climbing were and soon realized that that was what I wanted to do. I started working towards developing the necessary skills for them by teaching myself how to ski at the resort, taking intro courses for rock climbing, ice climbing and mountaineering/glacier travel etc., as well getting out as much as possible, especially with people more experienced than myself. I participated in a handful of the AMP courses with Brent and his crew, a couple of which I was the trip leader. 

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Additional Nominations are welcome! 

Webmaster

Cruz Miraback – Incumbent

I have worked in the tech industry for over a decade but my true passion is being in the mountains. I learned to snowboard at a young age and spent years going to the resorts but it wasn’t until I discovered climbing in 2015 when the mountains became the centrepiece of my life. Since then, I have evolved from a newbie gym climber into an aspiring alpinist with a never-ending tick list. Through ACC Calgary I am able to combine my tech skills with my passion for the mountains to help others get out to the mountains too. Let’s get after it! 

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Additional Nominations are welcome! 

Access and Environment Chair

Steven Little – Incumbent

I served on the Access and Environment Committee for 2 years and have been Co-Chair of the committee with my wife Renee for the past 2 years. We also took leadership of the submission to Parks Canada for the Back of the Lake trail maintenance request. We are both avid climbers and hikers and have a strong sense of stewardship to the environment. We see the impact of climbers and hikers on the mountains and desire to ensure that the environment is preserved while enjoying all the mountains have to offer. We also know that the Ghost is a very important ecological and recreational area and are interested in helping preserve both. 

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Additional Nominations are welcome! 

 


2022 Election Results

Secretary – Seeking a Volunteer to fill this role!  

Social Chair

Chuck and Leslie Young – Our returning Social Co-Chairs!

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Member and Leadership Chair 

Oakley Werenka – Our returning Member and Leadership Chair!

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Safety Chair  

Kate Snedeker – Our new Safety Chair! 

Having moved to Canada from the US by way of Scotland, I have been a member of the ACC since 2013.  I grew up hiking, downhill skiing & cross country skiing, but didn’t start  scrambling, ice climbing, rock climbing or backcountry skiing until I moved to Alberta & took a Yamnuska Intro to Mountaineering course.  I’ve been the coordinator for the Calgary section BITS program for the last four years,  a member of the ski committee & organized ski trips, and I am part of the committee organizing the BIT program for the Rocky Mountain Section.  Since 2019, I’ve been on the board of the Canadian Avalanche Association, where I’ve been involved with Diversity/Inclusion/Equity and Mental Health initiatives, and am on the ACMG’s Public Engagement Committee.  While living in Edmonton I was on the board of the Edmonton Nordic Ski Club, helping to organize the recreational ski group there.  I have taken the Summer TNF course and will be taking the winter course next year.

I would be delighted to serve the section as the Safety Chair as I have an interest/knowledge in risk management and avalanche safety through my professional work as an infectious disease epidemiologist for AHS and my work on the CAA board.   I am keen to foster an awareness of safety, winter & summer, in the section and help to provide resources for trip leader and an understanding of safety as it applies to trip participants and trip leaders.  In addition, I am eager to help organize and promote courses relating to safety – avalanche education,  wilderness first aid, survival and leadership, as well as in helping ensure that leaders understand waiver issues & responsibilities.  In the past, safety in terms of the backcountry has often focused more on avalanche safety.  With new members and an increasingly diverse variety of outdoor activities on the club calendar, there is a need for new ideas and more diversity in how we approach and train for safety in our trips.

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Alpine Chair  

Dom D’Argent – Our new Alpine Chair!

As a born and raised Calgarian, being outside has always been part of my life.  Camping, hiking, skiing and mountain biking typically filled up any free time I had.  In 2010 I was looking for a bigger adventure with mountaineering. I took a two week intro to mountaineering course in Alaska and was hooked.  As soon as I returned, I joined the Alpine Club. Since then I have enjoyed participating in events and training with the Alpine Club, improving my alpinism, ice and rock climbing skills. Because of these experiences, I advanced to becoming a leader, and was so pleased to lead numerous trips for the ACC. 

Through my associations with the ACC, fellow climbers and members encouraged and supported my application to the North Face Leadership Camp. This was an incredible experience, where I further developed my technical and outdoor leadership skills. 

Now I am challenging myself to be a part of the ACC as an Alpine Chair.

Since the AMP Program was developed a few years ago, it has been important to me to contribute by attending classes, sessions and meetings whenever possible. Most importantly, I have been a believer in the learning opportunities and examples provided happily by a certified guide. It’s not only about the learning, but about the experiences, inspiration and conditions to improve and enjoy climbing at the same time. 

As Alpine Chair, I would like to welcome new members and promote climbers to be inspired to challenge their techniques and abilities. Top level mentorship should be available for those who wish to take great skills to an exceptional, leadership level. Our alpinists, at all levels, will feel encouraged to strive for excellence, becoming leaders to generations of confident climbers. 

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Ski Chair –

Thank you to Luca and Kyle also for nominating yourselves for this position!! 

Dan Doll – Our new Ski Chair!

I joined the Calgary Section in the 90s when I was stumbling around on leather boots and misery sticks trying to figure out how to telemark. I survived my bent knee days and over the years I’ve enjoyed lots of fun times on section trips and camps while learning from fellow members. I want to help provide opportunities for other people to safely enjoy good times in the mountains with their fellow section members.  I’ve been fortunate to have taken a number of winter skills and leadership courses through the ACC, including the TNF Winter and TNF Winter 2.0 courses; which are the types of opportunities I’d like to see people in the section being able to access and take advantage of to advance their skills, knowledge and confidence. I’ve been leading section trips for 20+ years, ranging from quick laps to multi-day glacier trips, and I’m always looking for ways to improve as a trip leader.  

The Calgary Section skiing and split boarding program is in a good place (thanks, Tyler), with the BITS program for newer members, a number of courses each season, hut bookings throughout the winter and ongoing leader recruitment and development activities. I would like to keep that momentum going as the ski (and splitboard) chair and would also like to hear from members about what they would like to see for section ski and splitboard activities. I would like to see the section leader group and the people participating in section trips be more representative of the backcountry skiing and splitboarding community, and our communities generally, and would be interested in hearing about ideas and potential initiatives to help make that happen.  

Luca Jungen – Nominee 

Luca is a former Ski Chair who took a hiatus to spend time with his kids. Now that his kids are a little older he can take some time again to contribute to the Club! He is excited to once again take on the Ski Chair position which he occupied a few years ago. 

Why do you enjoy leading trips for the section?

It’s fun to coordinate trips. I have been fortunate to join trips in the past that took me to places that were beyond my level of confidence (to do on my own); in this sense it’s good to pay it forward

How long have you been a member of the Alpine Club and/or Calgary Section and what motivated you to become a member at the time?

I have been a member for the past four years. To be honest, the reason I got involved was purely selfish; to find more people to get out with.

What started your connection with the mountain world?

Growing up in a family where my parents felt heading to the mountains most weekends and holidays was normal.

Kyle Potts – Nominee 

I love spending as much time in the mountains as possible! Primarily climbing, running, or skiing! I have logged over 100 days a year in the mountains for the past 5 years. My main interests are long multi-pitch or alpine rock climbs and ultra-distance trail running in the Summer. In the Fall I love to get out dry tooling until the ice forms! My early winters are spent chasing ice and mixed climbs before switching over to skiing for the remainder of Winter and Spring. I am mostly interested in steep skiing and ski mountaineering but can’t pass up an opportunity for some mellow powder skiing!

I also really enjoy helping new people get out in the mountains. Whether it’s their first rock climb, multi-pitch, or ski tour! I have run numerous climbing and ski trips through the ACC over the past couple years. I joined the ACC when I first moved to Calgary 5 years ago. I began coordinating a few AMP events to help  build my skills and have continued to lead trips ever since! 

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Treasurer 

Juergen Schmidt – Our returning Treasurer !

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