Brandi Gartner Age: 38 Having a farm life upbringing with plenty of responsibility, Brandi Gartner is proud of the learning she consumed from her younger years. “My mom is a teacher who is infinitely curious about the world around her. She instilled the value of learning and education, which continues…

Caitlin Downie Age: 31 It may be a wonder how a small-town girl from Nova Scotia obtained worldly perspectives, but if you ask Caitlin Downie, she will explain how her parents instilled culture into her life. “My parents worked for Dalhousie University and were constantly pushing me to see new…

Cameron Spring Age: 31 Cameron Spring never planned on growing up, at least in the traditional sense. As a pilot with Phoenix Heli-Flight,  a local helicopter charter company founded by his family in 1991, Spring doesn’t have to. “... The pure joy of flying helicopters makes me feel as though…

Cathy Steeves Age: 47 A granddaughter to a WWII Fighter Pilot Trainer, Cathy Steeves had fallen in love with things out of this world since she was a young girl and dreamed of becoming an astronaut one day. With encouragement from her Grandpa Steeves, she enrolled in Air Cadets. As…

Cecilia Sara Age: 46 Cecilia Sara is a local community member dedicated to celebrating cultural diversity and raising awareness about religious, cultural and physical discrimination. She describes Fort McMurray as a place that understands the importance of acceptance between cultures and loves that community events focus on multiculturalism. “Fort McMurray…

Chelsi Ryan Age: 26 Born and raised in Fort McMurray, Chelsi Ryan spends her days teaching fifth graders that learning is fun, athletics are important, and being weird is the best thing you can be. For Ryan, growing up in Fort McMurray was comprised of long winters spent spinning tubes…

Colleen Stewart Age: 48 Colleen Stewart is proof that a welcoming personality comes naturally to kind-hearted people, and many avid local golfers can attest to it. As the Fort McMurray Golf Club Tournament & Events Director, Stewart has been working in the front of the house and behind-the-scenes on the…

Contessa Short Age: 35 Contessa Short has a grand perspective of the Wood Buffalo region, starting at the ground up from tailings ponds into her current community development and engagement position.  With a background in environmental technology, Short worked in the Tailings Reduction Operations after completing her education at Keyano…