The NWT Recreation and Parks Association has an eight-person volunteer Board of Directors. The Board is comprised of a President, a Director-at-Large and six regional members from across the NWT. The Board of Directors sets goals for the organization and monitors the progress towards reaching those goals.
Tim Van Dam is the owner and operator of South Slave Saftey, a company that provides first aid and workplace safety training in the NWT. Tim was first elected to the NWTRPA board in 2010.
Mary Gordon works as the Assistant Recreation Coordinator and Youth Coordinator for the Hamlet of Aklavik, as well as a lifeguard during the summer. Mary has been a Board Member since September 2017.
Derek Squirrel works as the Recreation Coordinator for the Hamlet of Ulukhaktok. Derek has been a Board member since October 2019.
Kristen Tanche is a member of Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation and part of the Dehcho First Nations. Raised across the North, Tanche returned to her mother’s home community of Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ (Fort Simpson) to re-connect with her family, community, and Dene culture. She continues to live in the community, where she is employed by Dehcho First Nations as one of the acting Resource Management Coordinators. In that capacity, she plans, coordinates, and delivers regional land-based programs guided by the values of the Dehcho First Nations and Dehcho K’éhodi Stewardship Program Principals. Tanche has also participated in numerous on the land programs.
Carly is a teacher in Behchokǫ̀ and will be our North Slave Regional Director for 2020-2022. She’s been involved in soccer from a young age, is now a coach for soccer in her community, and is involved is all sports—whether playing or coaching!
Rena Chapple hails from Tulít’a. She is a Community Health Representative with the Tulít’a Primary Community Care Team at the Harriet Glaudeu Health Centre. Rena has been with the GNWT for 11 years, with 5 years of experience in Home Care and 6 years as a Community Health Representative. She is the mother of two sons and Rena and her husband have 6 beautiful granddaughters. Rena is very excited and looking forward to her second term representing the Sahtú region.
Cynthia White is the Director of Community Services in Fort Smith. As an advocate for recreation and improving accessibility, she believes it is important that the NWTRPA continue to serve a broad spectrum of people in our territory and identify recreation beyond sports. Cynthia has been an NWTRPA Board member since October 2014.
Kyla LeSage calls Yellowknife home, where she works for the Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning, an on the land organization, as a land-based coordinator. She grew up playing competitive sports and now helps coach multiple girls teams in her community. Kyla is a passionate traditional games instructor and a mission staff for NAIG 2020.