Chair: Don Risdon

Members of the PDD Edmonton Region Community Board are appointed by Alberta's Minister of Seniors and Community Supports. Each brings a different perspective to the community governance of supports and services in the region. The PDD Edmonton Region Community Board also selects two individuals with developmental disabilities to sit as interns.

Left to right: Peter Portlock, Sheryl Pearson, Hansa Thaleshvar, Doug Fletcher, Tracy Zala, Marjorie Thompson, Dennis Maltais and Don Risdon. Inset: Dr. Susan Moisey. Missing: Martin Prentice.

Dennis Maltais of Edson was reappointed to the board in 2006. His three-year term expires in June of 2009. Currently, Mr. Maltais owns and operates a business. In addition, Mr. Maltais has significant community work experience and he has been associated for many years with various organizations & government agencies that provide funding and support for citizens with disabilities.

Dr. Susan Moisey of Edmonton was reappointed to the board in 2006. Her three-year term expires in December of 2009. Dr. Moisey is currently an Associate Professor at Athabasca University and has extensive experience in the education sector. In addition, Dr. Moisey brings considerable volunteer and community work with individuals with disabilities. Dr. Moisey has worked with people with developmental disabilities, families, service providers, and advocates.

Sheryl Pearson of Edmonton is a lawyer and social worker. She has worked with the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate and the Alberta Law Reform Institute. Pearson is a member of the Alberta College of Social Workers, who formerly taught in the faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary. Her three-year term expires in June of 2010.

Peter Portlock of Edmonton was reappointed to the board in 2007. His three-year term expires in December of 2010. Mr. Portlock is currently a managing partner in a consulting group and brings a variety of other management and consultant experiences. Mr. Portlock's background includes experiences in the mental health sector and working with adults with developmental disabilities.

Martin Prentice of Drayton Valley is a lawyer who has worked with the Drayton Valley Community Foundation, Community Hockey Association, the Community Scholarship Trust Society and Beehive Community Support Services. Prentice's term expires in June of 2009.

Donald Risdon of Sherwood Park was reappointed as board chairman in 2007. His term expires in November of 2008. Mr. Risdon has been Chair of the PDD Edmonton Region Community Board since December 2002; prior to that he served as a board member with the Edmonton Region Community Board. Mr. Risdon brings his educational sector and management experiences.

Hansa Thaleshvar of St. Albert promotes the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities through advocacy, collaboration and partnership. A former mayor of Cold Lake, Hansa has served on the Inter-authority Governance Group and the North Central Child and Family Services Authority. Thaleshvar's term expires in December of 2010.

Tracy Zala works for an outreach education program that’s part of the Elk Island School Board in Sherwood Park. Her work involves assisting youths with learning or behavioural issues. Ms. Zala has pursued numerous volunteer opportunities, including the Chair of the Strathcona Youth Justice Committee and Foster Parent Board. Ms. Zala looks forward to applying her broad range of work and volunteer experience to further improve services to adults with developmental disabilities. Zala's term expires in December of 2010.

Marjorie Thompson is from Edmonton. She is an active member of the Edmonton Self Advocacy Federation. She also serves as a committee member on the PDD Edmonton Review of Funded Supports Project. Marjorie has had many years of involvement with Leadership Today. Leadership Today is a provincial non-profit organization dedicated to helping Albertans with developmental disabilities lead and teach their communities about including people with developmental disabilities in leadership roles. Marjorie is a trainer with Leadership Today and enjoys traveling throughout the province to teach leadership courses. Marjorie started her two-year PDD Edmonton Board internship in August 2007.