Meet The Team
Wood Buffalo ready to host Arctic Winter Games.
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The Wood Buffalo 2023 Arctic Winter Games operates with a passionate full-time staff who work hand-in-hand with the board of Directors and volunteer chairs to ensure participants and spectators have an unforgettable Games experience.
Meet the Board
Melissa Blake
Board of Directors Chair
Melissa began her Arctic Winter Games experience while lobbying to host them in 2004 as a new regional councillor. Those Games were the most wonderful ones she ever experienced. Later that year, she was elected Mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and served until the end of her 6th elected term in October 2017.
Since leaving politics, Melissa has served on the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, the Wood Buffalo Community Foundation, the Alberta Order of Excellence Council and recently joined the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation.
She was thrilled to serve on the bidding committee and again win the opportunity to host the Arctic Winter Games in 2023, especially after gaining so many wonderful new facilities and volunteers since 2004!
Michelle Toner
Director of Marketing, Communications, Promotions & Sponsorship
Michelle is currently the Executive Director of the Northeastern Aboriginal Business Association, where she works alongside some of Canada’s top business leaders and emerging entrepreneurs. Michelle applies her partnership building know-how to increase the competitiveness and participation of Indigenous businesses across all sectors and industries.
Prior to joining NAABA, Michelle held various executive leadership roles in her decade long tenure at Keyano College including, Manager of Advancement, and Manager of both Guest Services and Marketing and Events within the Sport & Wellness Department.
In 2016, Michelle was appointed to the role of General Manager of the 2018 Wood Buffalo Alberta Winter Games. Michelle and her team directed the strategic planning and execution of the event, which took place in ten different venues across four communities.
Michelle holds a Graduate Degree in Human Kinetics, Sport Management from the University of Windsor, Ontario and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is also a certified PROSI change management practitioner.
Michelle is currently a Program Director for the Fort McMurray, Wood Buffalo Entrepreneurship Mentoring Program, an affiliate of the Venture Mentoring Services program through MIT.
Michelle was a proud member of Team Alberta’s mission staff at the 2019 Western Canada Games in Swift Current Saskatchewan.
Ashley Nicole Ryan
Director of Administration
Ashley brings 14 years of experience in finance and operations management to the Wood Buffalo 2023 Arctic Winter Games Board of Directors. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Finance from the University of Saskatchewan.
Sports are life for Ashley. She competed at the 2004 Western Canada Games but after three knee surgeries, she turned to coaching to keep that passion alive. She is the assistant coach of the Keyano Huskies women’s soccer team and coached the local boy’s Fury soccer team, which took her to Sweden and England in 2018.
Outside of sports, Ashley is busy volunteering for local events and jamming out at karaoke.
Kelsey Green
Director of Sport – Technical
Born and raised in Fort McMurray, Kelsey holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology and has worked in the field for the past seven years as a geologist with Shell, Canadian Natural Resources and Suncor Energy.
Kelsey brings many years of Games experience as an athlete and a volunteer. She was a member of the Zone 7 ringette team at the 2004 Alberta Winter Games in Peace River and volunteered at the 2004 Wood Buffalo Arctic Winter Games (AWG). She also competed and medaled at the 2006 AWG in Alaska and the 2008 AWG in Yellowknife in women’s hockey for Team Alberta North. Kelsey also played for Mount Royal College Cougars women’s hockey team from 2008-2010, placing 2nd in the Alberta College Athletic Conference (ACAC) in the 2008-2009 season and league champions in 2009-2010 season.
Kelsey remains active and involved in the local sports scene. She plays ice hockey in the gentlemen’s league, women’s ball hockey, co-ed slo-pitch and golfs at the Fort McMurray Golf Club where she learned to play and has been a member for 18 years.
Dr. Sandra Efu
Director at Large
Dr. Sandra Efu has over 13 years of experience in sustainable economic development, including managing projects with various International Financial Institutions such as the Inter-American Development Bank, and leading global mobility initiatives.
She has a Ph.D. in Higher Education: Research, Evaluation, and Enhancement and is a Project Management Professional (PMP).
Sandra has experience working in Africa and the Americas, and these experiences reinforce her commitment to advancing cultural exchanges and education as tools for global economic development.
Sandra is also passionate about sports. She is an avid soccer and badminton player and played both competitively. She continues to play both sports in her free time and enjoys volunteering and travelling with her family.
Mike Harlick
Director of Care and Comfort
Mike moved to Fort McMurray in 2005 and a couple of years later became involved in the hotel industry working as a general manager.
Mike’s name is synonymous with the hospitality industry in Fort McMurray. He is currently the Area Director of Atlific Hotel Group and Chair of Fort McMurray Hotel Association. He was also the Hotel Chair of the 2018 Alberta Winter Games, Hotel Chair for the 2016 Baseball Canada Cup, and has supported other various events throughout the last several years.
Mike has a wife and two kids, 13 and 9 years old, and a one-year-old Goldendoodle. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and computer games.
Jennifer Kennett
Director of Volunteer & Community
Jennifer was born and raised in Fort McMurray, where she lives with her husband, Dan, her two daughters, Annabelle and Emilie, and many, many pets.
With four generations of family in the region, she is so blessed to have roots in the community and call it her home.
Growing up, Jennifer witnessed her mom giving back regularly through volunteering and know that volunteerism would hold a significant place in her life.
Now, as a self-proclaimed “serial volunteer” and the Executive Director of BGC Fort McMurray, formerly the Fort McMurray Boys and Girls Club, she gets to see first-hand how much volunteering and giving back truly builds community.
As the Director of Volunteer and Community, Jennifer is looking forward to being a part of the Games’ excitement and bringing people together. She absolutely loves our region and can’t for it to have its time to shine!
Bill Brook
Director of Venues
Bill moved to Fort McMurray in 1977 and has lived in the region for over 40 years. In the mid-’80s, Bill participated as an athlete in the Alberta Games. He kept current in the sporting community once out of high school, looking after the Gentlemen’s Floor Hockey League for several years and later assisting in the slo-pitch league.
Bill worked as an electrician before branching off into Facility Management overseeing everything from lodge settings to an operating plant, and now over 250 facilities for the RMWB. It is this experience that led him to the role of Director of Facilities for the 2018 Alberta Winter Games and currently the Director of Venues for the Wood Buffalo 2023 Arctic Winter Games.
In his spare time, you can catch Bill out on his motorcycle and enjoying all the region has to offer.
Ken Ball
Council Liaison
Councillor Ball is originally from Whitehorse, Yukon, and grew up in Leduc, Alberta. He moved to Fort McMurray to begin his career with the City of Fort McMurray in 1991. Ken met his wife; Lisa in Fort McMurray and they have been married since 1995. Councillor Ball has made Fort McMurray his home for 30 years and for 27 of those years was employed with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and the City of Fort McMurray in a variety of roles within the Planning, Engineering and Parks Departments.
Councillor Ball has been involved in local sport for the duration of his time in Fort McMurray and has led the local Men’s Hockey league and been a member of the Executive for the Coed Slow Pitch League. Ken still plays both of these sports and it’s not uncommon to find him at the ballpark during the summer or at one of the rinks throughout the winter. Ken was co-chair for the Dog Mushing event for the 2004 Arctic Winter Games and was co-captain of a team of riders from Fort McMurray that rode in the Ride to Conquer Cancer 4 times and collectively raised over $300,000 for cancer research. Ken was recognized as a Ride Ambassador several times for this event.
Ana Maria Mendez
Director of Culture & Ceremonies
Ana Maria brings 20 years of experience working in the field of arts, culture, and recreation. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree and a certificate in Arts and Cultural Management. Since moving from Lima, Peru, to Fort McMurray in 2009, Ana Maria has worked on numerous arts and cultural projects fostering creativity through inclusive programming and events.
One of Ana Maria’s career highlights as Recreation & Culture Manager for the Regional Recreation Corporation of Wood Buffalo was the development of the Aboriginal Interpretive Trail at MacDonald Island Park. This public art trail has been considered one of the first public art developments in the Wood Buffalo region.
Since 2010, Ana Maria has volunteered on numerous Boards and Committees. In the past few years, she has been recognized for her contributions to the development of arts and culture in the region and was awarded the “Wood Buffalo Excellence in Arts Award” by Arts Council Wood Buffalo, “Top 50 Under 50” by Your McMurray Magazine, and “Women of Inspiration” by Girls Incorporated of Northern Alberta.
Ana Maria has been part of the Wood Buffalo 2023 Arctic Winter Games as Director of Culture and Ceremonies since 2020. She is excited to be part of this international sporting and cultural event that showcases the talents of participants from across the circumpolar North. Ana Maria looks forward to continuing her work with the Board, Staff, and Volunteers to deliver an exciting and memorable experience for participants, community members and visitors.
Frank Power
Director of Education
Hailing from Newfoundland, Frank is in his 16th year of teaching and holds three degrees - A bachelor of Recreation and a Bachelor of Physical Education from Memorial University and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Maine at Presque Island.
Frank has been actively involved in sports for almost two decades. He was an assistant coach for the Newfoundland Boys Basketball team at the 2005 Canada Games, the Athletic Director of Holy Trinity Athletics from 2013-2017, served on the Junior High and Varsity Fort McMurray Schools Athletics Association Executive from 2013-2016, and for the past four years, he’s run a multisport program for grade 5-6 students.
Basketball is a passion for Frank. He is a fully certified NCCP Basketball Coach and has run various basketball clinics and programs. He is also a course conductor for basketball and has presented at sports conferences on coaching.
In March 2023, Frank will start an inclusive basketball program providing opportunities for players with intellectual disabilities or physical limitations. This area is close to him as both his boys, ages 4 and 7, have autism. He even dyes his hair every April to support Autism Awareness.
Off the court, Frank has raised over $1,200 for Wood Buffalo You Can Ride 2 Adapted Bike Program.
