Spirit of the Heartland Regional Advisory Council

Susan Giesbrecht is a retired teacher and counsellor with 33 years’ experience. Passionate about lifelong learning, Susan continues to pursue her academic interests by taking post-secondary psychology courses and working towards a master of counselling.

She enjoys helping with local boards such as the Slave Lake Homeless Coalition and the previous Health Advisory Council. Her dedication to education and mental wellness continues by delivering workshops in these areas to community groups. Susan is looking forward to bringing this wealth of experience to her role as regional advisory council chair. 

Francesca Ward is the mayor of Slave Lake and has served in this role since 2023, following her previous term on council. She is a chartered professional accountant and managing partner at Nash Giroux LLP, where she provides accounting and advisory services to businesses and non-profits. 

Francesca is a long-time community leader and past president of the Slave Lake and District Chamber of Commerce. She currently serves on several committees, including the Alberta North Central Alliance and was previously on the Tri-Council Health Committee. She is a strong advocate for rural health care access, economic development and infrastructure investment. 

Robin Guild has been a Municipal District of Opportunity councillor for over seven years. For the last 20 years, he has served as a Northland School Division trustee, fulfilling the chair, vice-chair and advisor roles. Robin is also a volunteer on the Pee Kis Kwe Tan “Let’s Talk” Society, working with community-based mental health, addiction and human service programs. 

He currently chairs the Wabasca Desmarais Housing Authority and is a former member of the Slave Lake Health Advisory Council. Through his volunteering and 41 years of living in the community, Robin has developed an understanding of the health issues in Indigenous communities. He is father to three and grandfather to five children who are members of the Bigstone Cree Nation.

Dr. Robert Laughlin graduated in medicine from the University of Glasgow in 1968. He joined the High Prairie medical clinic in 1974 and worked there until retiring in 2022. Robert ran fly-in clinics for isolated communities and maintained a local practice, focusing on health issues in the Métis and Woodland Cree communities. 

He regularly served as chief of staff or president of the medical staff and was the local representative on the Alberta Medical Association forum. In 2001, he was named the Alberta Family Physician of the Year. Over the years, Robert taught as an assistant clinical professor at the University of Alberta and University of Calgary. Though retired, he remains very interested in these subjects.

Ken Matthews has been involved in the High Prairie community since arriving in 1971. When several family members underwent major health issues, he started to take a real interest in the health care system. Working with Alberta’s northern and remote housing program, Ken has insights into health concerns in these areas. 

He has been the Big Lakes Council 5 reeve for the past 15 years and was chair of the Lesser Slave Lake Advisory Council for a number of years. Ken also served on the steering committee for the new High Prairie hospital and is currently the chair of the High Prairie and District Health Foundation.

Ann Stewart grew up in the hamlet of Faust and was very integrated with the Indigenous peoples in the area. She is now living in Big Lake County and has been a county councillor for 12 years. She also serves on a local health board, as well as the Family and Community Support Services, library and health recruitment boards. 

Previously Ann was the county office manager for 36 years. She also takes care of her adult quadriplegic son, who has lived in their home for the past 14 years. Providing total hands-on care has helped give Ann a unique knowledge of the needs facing those who have a disability.

Diane Therriault has always lived on a family farm in the Peace Country with her husband.  Since retirement they have moved lakeside and remain active within their new community as participants and volunteers. 

Diane has been volunteering with Alberta Health Services since 2018 and continues to advocate for the north zone. She also has experience working with special needs children and adults. Diane has played a big caregiver role for her husband’s parents and her parents and continues to do so for her mother. 

Therese Yacyshyn is the deputy mayor for the Town of High Prairie. She represents the town and community on the Family and Community Support Services’ advisory board and health attraction and retention committee, the intermunicipal collaboration framework committee with Big Lakes County and Town of High Prairie and the High Prairie Airport Advisory Board.

Therese is an active volunteer with the hiking and recreation trail community and values a healthy and vibrant community.