Founded in 1998, the Cochrane & Area Humane Society (CAHS) operates with the philosophy of giving all adoptable animals a second chance at life.
Along with 50 employees (18.95 full-time equivalents) and over 450 volunteers, the CAHS Board of Directors is a dedicated group of volunteers who serve the organization in two-year terms, to a maximum of six years.
The responsibility of the CAHS Board is to ensure that the shelter is managed in the best interests of the animals in the shelter’s care. Our goal is to maintain strong governance principles that enable CAHS management to provide high-quality care for animals in need and to increase public awareness and confidence in the Cochrane & Area Humane Society. More information is available in our Business Overview and our Philosophy Statement.
If you have any questions, please contact the CAHS Board by email at board@cochranehumane.ca.
Meet our Board of Directors
Lorraine Wesley, Chair
Lorraine Wesley joined the Board in February 2019 and is the current Chair of the Board of Directors. Since joining the Board, she has sat on the Governance and Human Resources Committee, the Nominations Committee and the Risk Management Committee. Lorraine has a BA in Justice Studies and has volunteered for other not for profit Boards.
She lives in Airdrie with her daughter. She also has a son, daughter-in-law, and a granddaughter. She is a mom to 20-year-old rescue cat Smokey, 14-year-old rescue dog Diesel (from CAHS!), and Molly, a 12-year-old dog that came to her from a friend.
Norm Peterson, Vice Chair
Norm joined the Board in 2021. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary and is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Professional Accountant. Prior to Norm’s retirement, he served in various capacities for the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, including that of Deputy Minister, CEO and Chairman of the Board.
Before his appointment as Chairman and CEO, he was the Chief Financial Officer of the Commission. He has senior executive and Board experience, having served on several Boards throughout his career. His current volunteer experience includes being president of the Villas of Gleneagles Condo Association, as well as volunteering at the CAHS.
Norm was born and raised in Alberta and has lived in Cochrane for 10 years. He currently lives in the Villas of Gleneagles with his wife, Maryann.
Mike Styczen, Secretary
Mike joined the CAHS board in June 2020. Mike is a corporate and commercial lawyer with 20+ years of experience in the energy and clean energy sectors and has worked on numerous pro bono matters in the area of animal welfare. Mike is also a Professional Engineer. Mike lives in Calgary with his family, including Bernese Mountain Dog Juno and rescue lab Quentin.
Tanya Clarke
Tanya joined the Board in June 2020. She is a lawyer, with a B.Soc.Sci from the University of Ottawa and an LL.B from Osgoode Hall Law School. She was a Crown Prosecutor in Calgary until her first child was born, after which she stayed at home focused on her family, while continuing her passion for advocacy.
Tanya was involved in the community from the time her children were young. She advocated in schools and for schools, volunteered in the classroom, and Chaired Parent Council. In 2010 she joined the Board of CCASA, Calgary’s primary sexual abuse and sexual assault crisis and education service provider. She sat on that Board until her term expired in 2018, serving as Director, Secretary, Vice President, and President. It’s now time for her next adventure.
Tanya resides in Bearspaw with her husband, two kids and their dog, Stella.
Dave Knight
Bio coming soon!
Callin Sereda
Bio coming soon!
Keith Rae
Keith joined the Board in February 2023. After a 32 year career in the Information Technology industry he retired in 2013. Most of his work experience was with the Calgary Board of Education with the last 7 years as the Manager of Application Services. Keith was born and raised in Calgary and moved to Cochrane in 2014. His volunteer experience includes 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Condominium Association where he resides. He has owned various dogs and and cats throughout his life and is a true animal lover. He enjoys playing shinny in the winter and golfing in the warmer weather.
Mark Burchby
Mark joined the CAHS Board in 2024, with over 35 years of operations experience before retiring in 2021. He is looking forward to contributing to such a great organization.
Mark holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and is a Life Member of APEGA as a Professional Engineer. While his career took him and his family to various homes in other nations, they have always come back to Alberta. Their love of animals has always included dogs, especially with two Bernese Mountains dogs on an acreage west of Calgary.
He and his wife now live in west Calgary, and have four kids and three granddaughters. Leisure travel is now a large piece of their lives as the grandchildren are in England.He also enjoys cycling, hockey, golfing, and fly-fishing.
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