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MEET
THE TEAM
.

Calgary Wildlife relies on a synergy between our volunteer board of directors, who govern the organization, our volunteers, who are integral to our operations, and our paid staff, who are on the front lines, carrying out Calgary Wildlife’s mandate through our programs and services. We are grateful to everyone on our team for their dedication, expertise, and collaborative spirit.

Staff Members.

Executive Director

Beki Hunt

Beki Hunt

 

Following a non-traditional career path, Beki is an entrepreneur at heart. From owning a small neighbourhood café in Killarney to running vintage clothing and custom t-shirt shops in both Calgary and Vancouver, Beki settled in Taipei and set her sights on language instruction, studying Mandarin, and animal protection. She is the

co-founder of the Taiwan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and helped it rise from a small grassroots NGO to one of the most respected animal welfare organizations in Taiwan. Beki's impact extends beyond borders, as she and her Taiwan SPCA team were recognized on a global scale for their advocacy efforts receiving the Lush Prize for Public Awareness. After returning to Canada, Beki served on the Board of Directors at Calgary Wildlife for nearly a year, and was thrilled to take on the Executive Director role and to be able to help  the organization grow and spread awareness about human-wildlife coexistence and wildlife rehabilitation.​

Veterinarian

Dr. Jordan Greenfield, DVM

Beki Hunt

Originally from a Hereford cattle farm in southern Alberta, Dr. Jordan Greenfield obtained his DVM degree in 2020 from the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine before doing a one year internship in companion animal medicine, surgery, and emergency care. Jordan has also had the privilege of completing portions of his veterinary education, and rotations as a vet, at the multiple zoos in North America. He has also done research and work with free ranging wildlife populations in Canada, including fishers, bighorn sheep, black bears, and Vancouver Island marmots. Jordan enjoys baking and bird watching in his spare time and is looking for lending what medical aid he can to Calgary and area’s wild life populations.

Wildlife Rehabilitator

Megan Lee

Megan Lee

Coming soon...

Wildlife Rehabilitator

Allison Wong

Beki Hunt

 

Allison eagerly joined the team in the spring of 2022. Bringing a diverse background in reptiles and amphibians, she has brought nothing but passion and a willingness to learn to rehabilitate wildlife. When she’s not hard at work, she spends her time with her snakes, lizards, and frog.

Clinic Supervisor

Kyla Rae

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Kyla joined the Calgary Wildlife team with a wealth of experience in both animal and human care. With a background in exotic animal care—spanning both small and large species—and over a decade in human rehabilitation, she offers a unique and well-rounded approach to patient care.

Beyond her professional work, Kyla is deeply passionate about nature and wildlife. She finds solace in the outdoors, whether hiking and camping in the mountains with her dog, Wilbur, kayaking on any available body of water, or snowshoeing in the winter. A lifelong learner and avid reader, she is continually expanding her knowledge and skills. Her dedication, expertise, and commitment to wildlife conservation make her an invaluable member of our team.

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Registered Veterinary Technologist

Emily Jagorinec, CWR

Beki Hunt

 

Emily was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, where she was surrounded by dogs and various exotic critters who ignited her passion for working with animals. In 2018, she embarked on a career as a wildlife rehabilitator while completing her BSc. in Zoology at the University of Calgary. Driven by her passion for wildlife rehab, she became a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator shortly after. In 2022, Emily enrolled at Olds College to further her knowledge in veterinary medicine and became a Registered Veterinary Technologist in 2024.

Wildlife Rehabilitator

Sierra Munson

Beki Hunt

 

Sierra was born in the hot desert of Arizona. She moved to Canada in 2020 to pursue a relationship and animal-loving career. Growing up, she cared for newborn kitten litters and baby birds, but her passion solidified when she was only 10 feet away from a Bald Eagle located at an Arizona rehabilitation site. Sierra graduated from Bow Valley College with a veterinary and office assisting certificate in the summer of 2022, following which she then became a volunteer at Calgary Wildlife. Her favorite wildlife are hawks and eagles. For hobbies, Sierra loves to take long hikes with a view, bake, and do puzzles while binging on a new TV show. She has two cats of orange and black colour that are named Mars & Sagan named after her interest in astronomy and stargazing.

Director of Wildlife Care & Services

Melanie Whalen, CWR

Melanie Whalen

 

Melanie boasts a rich and varied career in wildlife biology, spanning over two decades. With expertise in wildlife research, rehabilitation, and husbandry.

Throughout her career, Melanie has delved into a spectrum of projects, from spearheading research on Rabies and Chronic Wasting Disease to conducting nest ecology studies and investigating the intricate dynamics of moose and wolf populations in Algonquin Park. Her contributions extend to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, where she played a key role in orchestrating the inaugural province-wide white-nose syndrome surveillance program, making significant strides in national wildlife health initiatives.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Melanie finds solace in the natural world through her hobbies of nature photography and painting, 

Education and Events Coordinator

Hunter Kveps

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Hunter has always been captivated by wildlife and the natural world. Growing up in Calgary, she spent countless hours exploring the outdoors, which led her to pursue a BSc. in Zoology from the University of Calgary. She has worked in conservation education at the Calgary Zoo/Wilder Institute, in veterinary care at a small animal practice, and has volunteered with wildlife rehabilitation centers and a wolfdog sanctuary—gaining a well-rounded understanding of both wildlife and the people who care for them.

Now, as the Education and Events Coordinator at Calgary Wildlife, Hunter loves sharing her passion for local wildlife and fostering a deeper appreciation for the wild spaces around us. She believes that education is the key to coexistence and enjoys creating opportunities for people to connect with nature in meaningful ways.

When she’s not working, you can find Hunter hiking or pursuing one of her many creative hobbies like painting, needle felting, or cross-stitching—usually inspired by the wildlife she loves!

Registered Veterinary Technologist

Lottie Taylor​

Lottie Taylor

 

Lottie was born and raised in Aldworth, England, but moved to Cochrane, Alberta with her family when she was 10. On her family’s acreage north-west of Cochrane, she grew up with Flat-Coated Retrievers, chickens, and sheep. She spent weekends and summers working as a technician assistant at a small animal clinic in Cochrane, which reinforced her desire of working in the veterinary field. Lottie has a keen interest in wildlife, ecology, and conservation, and works full-time at a small animal veterinary clinic; birds are her all -time favourite patients. Currently, she shares her house with Bow, a Flat-Coated Retriever; Mac, a German Short Haired Pointer puppy; and Red Rock, Barred Rock, and New Hampshire Red chickens.

Photo Credit:  Evan Buchanan

Board of Directors.

President

Leanna Biggar

Leanna Biggar

Leanna has over a decade of progressive management experience and recently completed her MBA. Her tenure as Operations Manager in the tourism industry included orchestrating major projects and events, optimizing operations, and boosting profitability through innovative strategies. In addition to her operations management experience, she has spent over 15 years leading teams in the marketing industry. Throughout her career, Leanna has supported aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners, driving success through strategic planning, marketing strategies, and consulting. She is also a professional college educator with a diverse skill set encompassing technology, marketing, and business management. Joining the board in 2021, Leanna has a strong passion for wildlife and giving back to the community.

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leannabiggar@calgarywildlife.org

Board Member

Greg Strachan

Leanna Biggar

Greg is a native Calgarian and recently retired from the oil and gas industry  after 40 years in land the management profession. He possesses an excellent skillset with expertise in negotiations, management, mentorship, and leadership. He is a proven impactful and valuable team player and problem solver with the ability to contribute, collaborate and lead with the goal of achieving successful results. Greg has always had a keen interest in our city and community and has volunteered on several Boards and Associations. “ I look forward to working with and contributing to enhancing the goals and values  of Calgary Wildlife”.

Board Member

Zachary Biech

Zachary Biech.webp

Coming soon...

Vice President & Secretary

Janice Johnson

Janice Johnson

Janice was born and raised in Vancouver BC and moved to Calgary in 1981, escaping the Wet Coast. Animals have always played an important part of her life, from volunteering at the SPCA in the 70’s to having a zoo of family pets for her own children. Retiring in 2017, after a 35-year career in Telecommunications, she sought out a Volunteer Animal Care role at Calgary Wildlife. After a 4-year hiatus from the corporate world, she joined the Board of Directors hoping to make a difference. 

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​janicejohnson@calgarywildlife.org

Board Member

Stephanie Senakovicz

Leanna Biggar

Stephanie is a seasoned HR professional with a proven track record of fostering organizational growth and employee development. With over 20 years of experience in human resources leaders in both the Energy and Tourism sectors, she brings expertise in strategic HR planning, talent acquisition, employee relations, and organizational development.

With a commitment to continuous improvement, Stephanie stays abreast of industry best practices and emerging trends in HR management, leveraging this knowledge to drive positive change and enhance organizational effectiveness. She is adept at designing and implementing innovative HR programs that cultivate a positive work culture and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Stephanie holds a Master of Business Administration Degree and has worked in Brazil and the USA. 

Board Member

Sheri Doell

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Sheri is a senior business leader with over 21 years of experience in the natural gas storage industry. She brings deep expertise in executive leadership, strategic planning, commodity trading, and business development. Known for her authentic leadership style, Sheri excels at building strong stakeholder relationships and driving commercial results.

 

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan and an MBA from the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business. Sheri is proud to support Calgary Wildlife’s mission to protect Alberta’s wildlife through education and compassionate care.  for injured and orphaned wildlife.

Treasurer

Karen Knowlton

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Karen earned her Chartered Accountant designation in 2006 at a national accounting firm in Calgary. She joined Stawowski McGill in 2011, gaining experience as a fractional CFO, becoming partner in 2018. More recently, she has moved into the role of Chief Revenue Officer with a focus on growth of the firm. She is originally a Saskatchewan farm girl and has gone from living life on the prairies to climbing almost every mountain in the Alberta Rockies. With her love for the mountains comes a love for nature. Wildlife, and frankly, all animals have been a huge part of her life and passion since being on the farm.

Board Member

Sapna Gupta

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Sapna Gupta is an accomplished and driven communications, marketing, and live television production professional with 25-years of experience cultivating growth and delivering impactful results across diverse industries. A passionate storyteller with an inquisitive nature and a genuine interest in connecting with others, Sapna’s unique blend of creativity and strategic thinking enables her to craft compelling narratives that resonate with both internal and external audiences. Her specialties include simplifying complex information into easily-digestible content, and quickly building trust with her clients.

Sapna's career highlights include leading MarCom strategies at ATB Financial - where she provided strategic counsel to the Senior Leadership Team, The City of Calgary - where she led communications for the $87-million dollar Crowchild Trail Upgrades Project, and Intact Financial Corporation - where she led communications for the Deputy Senior Vice President of Claims. With a background in television production, including The Juno Awards, MuchMusic's live daily flagship show, and The Oprah Winfrey Show, Sapna brings a unique blend of storytelling and strategic expertise. She holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Communication Studies and a Masters of Teaching from the University of Calgary.

Board Member

 Kelsen Vallee

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Kelsen is a seasoned finance professional with extensive experience in team leadership and growth initiatives. He is the co-founder of Daedaline Inc., an AI-powered due diligence software company that develops solutions for real asset sectors. Prior to Daedaline, Kelsen spent 24 years as an investment banker, most recently as the Co-Head of Energy, Infrastructure, and Transition investment banking at CIBC Capital Markets. In that capacity, he provided financing, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic financial advisory services to corporate and private capital clients.
Kelsen holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Major in Finance, from the University of Ottawa, where he was awarded the Faculty Plaque. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) holder.
Kelsen has also engaged in significant volunteer work with the United Way of Calgary, the Canadian Cancer Society, and various youth sports organizations.
Kelsen is fortunate to witness daily wildlife sightings within his urban neighbourhood. Calgary Wildlife’s mission of promoting human-wildlife coexistence resonates deeply with him. When outside of city limits, he is often found engaging in outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, climbing, or canoeing whenever feasible.

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ADDRESS

11555-85th Street NW, Calgary, AB T3R 1J3

HOTLINE

ADMIN PHONE

403-214-1312 

403-266-2282 

WILDLIFE EMAIL

OFFICE EMAIL

CHARITABLE REGISTRATION NUMBER

#891088189RR0001

In the spirit of respect, reciprocity and truth, we honour and acknowledge Moh’kinsstis, and the traditional Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Blackfoot confederacy: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina nations. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, District 5 and 6, within the historical Northwest Métis homeland. Finally, we acknowledge all Nations – Indigenous and non – who live, work and play on this land, and who honour and celebrate this territory.

© 2025 Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society.

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