Regional Advisory Council 5 - Health

Adele Richardson has been living in Cold Lake since 2018. She is currently serving as a first-term city councillor since being elected in 2021. She is a registered nurse and has worked for Alberta Health Services since 2008. Adele spent many years working at the Stollery Children’s Hospital as a front-line nurse and eight years managing pediatric inpatient units, as well as pediatric intensive care and pediatric cardiac intensive care units. 

As the director of clinical operations for North Zone Area 8, her current portfolio includes acute care services, seniors' health, and allied health services throughout the Lakeland area. Adele sits on many boards and committees in her community and has a passion for health care with a primary focus on patient-centred care.

Ida Edwards grew up in the Athabasca region. Since 2017, she has been a councillor for the Town of Athabasca, where she serves on the Alberta Municipalities Sustainability and Environmental Committee and the Lakeland Health Advisory Committee. Ida is an educator, performer and creator in the rural Alberta music industry. 

As a registered member of the Alberta Registered Music Teachers Association, she works out of her small studio in the town. Ida is a graduate of the University of Alberta Fine Arts Music program with a major in voice and the Northern Lakes College Business Administration program. Her passion for the arts and supporting personal growth in individuals extends to volunteering and serving on the boards of local, regional, provincial and national music and arts organizations. 

Audrey has lived in the Bonnyville area all her life. She has participated on many different boards and committees within the community and throughout the province. She is currently the chair of the Bonnyville Covenant Health Centre Community Board, a volunteer advocate with the Eastern Alberta Regional Victim Serving Society and a volunteer with St. Louis Parish in Bonnyville. 

Audrey is also a former school board trustee with the Lakeland Catholic School Board, where she served two terms. She is dedicated and passionate about community building, continually identifying and addressing community needs. 

Born in Slave Lake, Melonie Dyck moved to Cold Lake in 2005. She has an environmental studies degree from King’s University in Edmonton and currently works at her family accounting business. Melonie sits on the Cold Lake Community Learning Centre Board. 

Since 2020, she has been volunteering with Special Olympics Bowling Lakeland and recently joined the board. Melonie has three children, and one was diagnosed with autism at age two. Having a child with autism has provided a unique experience in accessing many different services within the Alberta health care system.

Jessie Heisler is the prevention and community engagement manager at Dragonfly Centre Sexual Violence Services in Bonnyville, where she has worked since 2022. She leads regional initiatives to prevent sexual violence, promote trauma-informed education and interagency collaboration across rural, remote and Indigenous communities in northeastern Alberta. 

Jessie is currently completing her master of public health at the University of Waterloo and brings extensive experience in community leadership, advocacy and advisory work. Raised in a rural setting, she is passionate about creating accessible, culturally responsive health and wellness services that meet the unique needs of underserved populations.

Terri Hampson is the executive assistant and finance officer for the Northern Lights Library System, where she previously served as interim executive director. She is a former Elk Point town councillor and currently chairs the Elk Point economic development committee. 

Terri also serves as a board member with several local organizations, including the 2nd Chance Trail Ride Society, Elk Point Lions Club, and the Elk Point Seniors Advisory Committee. She is a strong advocate for rural community development, health care accessibility and organ donation awareness. Terri is currently completing the National Advanced Certificate in Local Authority Administration.

Ruth Isley is an avid healthy community builder. She has been working with her consulting company for more than 30 years in project management, facilitating partnerships and fundraising. Her work has raised funds for recreation and education projects and facilities within the Bonnyville region. 

Ruth is also passionate about her energy healing business, which includes qi gong, forest therapy, art of the heart classes, cranial sacral therapy and much more. She has been a longtime community volunteer, a board member with Portage College and Bonnyville Centennial Centre, and a founding member of the Bonnyville Pro Rodeo.

Jon LeMessurier is a dedicated councillor for the Town of Athabasca, a business owner specializing in personal fitness training, and a supervisor and exercise specialist with the Aspen Primary Care Network. A lifelong resident of Athabasca, Jon is passionate about giving back to his community and actively seeks opportunities to volunteer and serve on various committees. 

He enjoys the opportunity to educate and support individuals in improving their overall health and well-being. Jon strongly believes that building trusting relationships is the foundation for creating positive change.

Pat began her career as a teacher in Radway and Smoky Lake. After leaving teaching, she entered public service as a school trustee for the County of Smoky Lake School Board and Aspen View Regional Board. After retiring from trusteeship, she was elected to the Lakeland Regional Health Authority Board, served two tenures on Smoky Lake town council and was appointed as a member of the North Central Alberta Child and Family Services Board. 

Pat was also on the Lakeland Communities Health Advisory Council for six years and is presently a community member on the Alberta North Zone Primary Care Network. In addition, she has been a lifelong advocate and volunteer in Smoky Lake.

Paul Reutov has served as mayor of Lac La Biche County since 2021. A lifelong Albertan, he is a husband, father, entrepreneur and community advocate. Paul has built businesses in construction, real estate, hospitality and the energy and forestry sectors. He also manages a cattle ranch. 

Paul works closely with health services, Indigenous communities and local organizations as chair of the Emergency Advisory Committee and Indigenous Collaboration Committee and as a member of the Northeast Alberta Alliance for Growth and Opportunities. He is passionate about improving rural health care access, supporting public safety and building strong, inclusive communities across northeastern Alberta.

Sharon Rottier has more than 30 years’ experience as a rural registered nurse. She has worked in the emergency department, operating room, long-term care, and for the past 15 years in home care. 

Having lived on the farm all her life, Sharon enjoys gardening and still assists with bookkeeping and yard work. She is an active member of her local church and the Pibroch Agricultural Society. Sharon has volunteered her nursing skills at many summer camps and looks forward to serving the community in a broader capacity.

Born and raised in Athabasca, Nicole Schweer knew at a young age she had a passionate interest in health care. After graduating high school, she completed her licensed practical nurse certification at Keyano College in Fort McMurray. From there, Nicole relocated to Red Deer and worked as a nurse in acute care until 2008, when she returned to Athabasca. 

Currently, Nicole is the clinic manager at two medical clinics, an emergency room nurse and an active community volunteer. Nicole, her husband and their five children have had very diverse and multidimensional experiences within the health care industry. She hopes to bring a fresh perspective and passionate nature to bettering primary care delivery to all Albertans.