Board

Margret Asmuss | MCEd., B.A. Hon.

President

Margret Asmuss is a (mostly) retired Sustainability Educator and Consultant. Previously she was the Sustainability Coordinator at the U of S Office of Sustainability for fourteen years., Margret was trained as a Climate Reality Leader by Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project. Before working for the university, she spent many years as the Energy Projects Coordinator for the Saskatchewan Environmental Society and was also co-owner of Community Solutions Consulting, a community development consulting company. She also spent a few years on the SES board in the early 1980s. Margret received her Master’s in Continuing Education at the University of Saskatchewan. Margret enjoys reading, gardening, and spending time outdoors with her husband Peter and dog Bella.

Bob Halliday | P.Eng.

Vice President

Photo Board BobBob Halliday is the president of R. Halliday & Associates and has practised as a consulting engineer in Saskatoon for more than 20 years. He previously worked for Environment Canada and is a former director of Canada’s National Hydrology Research Centre. Company projects concern interjurisdictional water management, floodplain management, and effects of climate change on water resources. Projects have also included the preparation of state of the basin reports for the Saskatchewan River basin and for the Beaver River basin in Alberta. Bob has served on several international joint commission boards and other Canada-United States water-related entities. He is a former alternate member of the Prairie Provinces Water Board and was a founding member of the Advisory Council for international project WET, a water education initiative. Bob is currently board chair of the Partners For the Saskatchewan River Basin. Bob’s interests include water and energy matters, old building, science history, and ancient civilizations. He is in the process of trying to become more retired.

Ronn Lepage | CPA, CMC, C.Dir.

Treasurer

Ronn Lepage is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Certified Management Consultant, and Chartered Director. Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Ronn graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting and Computers in 1978 and a Masters of Science, Environmental Strategy in 2013. Until May 31, 2009, Ronn was a partner with Deloitte, Canada’s largest professional services firm. His 30 years of experience at Deloitte have provided him with a broad background in consulting. Over the years he has had the opportunity to serve clients in Canada, United States, and Australia. Ronn took early retirement from Deloitte to start a second career helping people to move to a more eco-friendly lifestyle. His company, Vereco Homes Inc, focused on helping Canadians to build smart green homes. Ronn sold Vereco in late 2017 and still acts as a senior advisor to the new owner. Ronn recently joined the Board of the One Waterfront Towers AOAO as Treasurer and chair of the Financial Advisory Committee. He is also a volunteer director for International Support for Acid and Burn Survivors. Ronn has previous experience as the Treasurer and chair of the Audit and Finance Committee for Saskatchewan Environmental Society. Happily married with 8 children and 13 grandchildren, Ronn enjoys adventure travel and anything outdoors.

Hayley Carlson | M.P.P., B.Sc.

Board Member

Hayley Carlson has been active with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society since 2014, first as a volunteer, as a Coordinator for the Climate Friendly Zone Campaign, and most recently as Policy Coordinator and Youth Affiliate to the board. She currently participates in fundraising and policy activities with a special focus on climate change. Hayley is presently working as a policy analyst with Prairies Economic Development Canada. She has a B.Sc. in Environmental and Conservation Science, a Master of Public Policy, and previous work experience with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment. Hayley is also a board member of the SES Solar Co-operative.

Amanda Lindgren | M.E.S., B.A. Hon.

Board Member

Amanda Lindgren grew up on Treaty 6 territory in Saskatoon and gained an early appreciation for the environment by spending time camping and crocus-hunting with her family. She started with SES as a volunteer in 2014 and also served as the Coordinator for the Saskatchewan Living Green Expo. Amanda has earned a Master of Environment and Sustainability (M.E.S.), a B.A. in Public Administration, and a Certificate of Sustainability from the University of Saskatchewan. Currently, she works as a public engagement consultant with the City of Saskatoon.

Leah Luciuk | B.A. & Sc.

Board Member

Leah Luciuk grew up in Wynyard, Saskatchewan. She earned a B.A. & Sc. in Environment and Society and an Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability from the University of Saskatchewan. Leah began her journey with SES in 2013, volunteering with the Climate Change Action Group and helping to organize the 2014 Earth Day Celebration. Since then, she has filled multiple staffing roles at SES, including Renewable Energy Project Intern, Energy Education Programmer, and Student Action for a Sustainable Future Coordinator. Now Leah works with Saskatchewan Parks, where she coordinates programming for park visitors and strives to protect the province’s natural spaces. In 2018, Leah was named one of Corporate Knight Magazine’s Top 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leaders in Canada. Leah is also an alumni of Ocean Bridge, an Ocean Wise program that empowers youth through two immersive expeditions and local community service that address ocean health and ocean literacy in Canada.

Peter Prebble | M.Ed., M.S.E.M., B.B.A.

Board Member

Photo Staff Peter

Peter Prebble has been actively involved in the work of the Saskatchewan Environmental Society for over 30 years. Peter has authored and co-authored recent publications on climate change, the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, renewable energy potential in Saskatchewan, and stricter regulation of the oil sands industry. Peter served as a Member of the Legislature in Saskatchewan for 16 years. He has been involved in a wide variety of provincial initiatives related to wind power, energy conservation, and protected areas. Peter has also served as both the Saskatchewan Environmental Society’s Director of Environmental Policy and the President of SES Solar Co-op, the first renewable power co-operative in Saskatchewan. Peter holds a Master of Sustainable Environmental Management degree from the University of Saskatchewan, a Master of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan, and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Prince Edward Island. He is currently focusing his environmental work on climate change and energy policy.

Logan Salm | J.D., B.A.

Board Member

Logan Salm has an English degree from the University of Regina and a Law degree from the University of Saskatchewan. He currently practices law in Regina with OWZW LLP. He is also a board member of the Saskatchewan Association for Environmental Law. Logan previously worked at the Autism Resource Centre, where he worked with children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In his spare time Logan loves to rock climb, hike, and ride his bike through Saskatchewan’s many river valleys.

W.J. (Bill) Wardell | Q.C.

Board Member

Bill Wardell is a partner in the Saskatoon law firm of Wardell Gillis. Bill and his wife Florence are also active cattle and grain farmers on land near Floral Saskatchewan, where they live. Before entering private practice, Bill spent fifteen years helping to establish the legal aid system in Saskatchewan, teaching law at the College of Law, as well as co-founding the Public Legal Education Association of Saskatchewan (PLEA). He has served a number of organizations, including the Riverbend Presbytery on behalf of the Clavet United Church, the Board of SaskTel as Chair of Environment and H.R. Committee and as a member of the Governance committee. Bill served three years as President and Chair of the Board of the Saskatoon Co-op. Bill has a keen interest in environmental issues.

Bert Weichel | M.Sc.

Board Member

Photo Board BertBert Weichel is a semi-retired consulting ecologist and U of S environmental science instructor. Bert has been active on the board of SES for the past 35 years, including as President. He is also a founding director and current board member of the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council, serves as secretary treasurer on the board of the Saskatchewan Association for Resource Recovery Corp., and is also on the SES Solar Co-op board.  After raising daughter Kaity and son Ky, Bert and his wife Jude, a weaver, spinner and fibre arts teacher, now generate solar power, keep poultry and sheep, grow a large vegetable garden, enjoy granddaughters Hanna and Heidi, and harbour a wide diversity of native flora and fauna on land near Pike Lake.

Glenn Wright | J.D., M.Sc., B.Sc., P.Eng.

Board Member

Glenn Wright worked as a mechanical engineer in Saskatchewan’s resource sector for 20 years. In 2016 Glenn “retired” to pursue law at the University of Saskatchewan to become a better advocate for sustainable development. Glenn farms near Vanscoy and has been focused on minimizing his emissions and adopting regenerative farming practices. He installed small scale wind power and geothermal heat on his farm in 2008, disconnecting from natural gas at that time. He subsequently installed solar PV and designed and installed a deep insulation retrofit on his farmhouse in 2018-2019. Glenn has been driving electric vehicles since 2018. He volunteers for the National Farmers Union, Climate Justice Saskatoon, and SaskEV. Glenn was part of the NFU delegation that attended COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021. He is also a board member of SaskBarley Development Commission.

Taylor-Anne Yee | J.D., B.A. Hon.

Board Member

Taylor-Anne Yee has a political science and law degree from the University of Saskatchewan. After articling and working in rural Saskatchewan, she returned to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to continue practicing as a lawyer. She is the president of the Saskatchewan Association for Environmental Law, an organization that began operating in August 2018 to advocate for stronger environmental laws, particularly in the province, through education and skills development. In her spare time, she likes to read, play video games, do graphic design, and play piano, ukulele, or guitar.

Cassie Thorpe | B.S.A. (in progress)

Youth Affiliate

Cassie is a University of Saskatchewan student who will graduate in April 2022 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. She is majoring in Environmental Sciences and will also hold a certificate in Natural Resources Sustainability. She has worked in Meadow Lake, supervising tree planting and forest regeneration. Presently she works with Agriculture and Agrifood Canada as a research assistant in agricultural practices. Since her early years, Cassie has had a love for animals and the environment. This love has only intensified through her studies, and she hopes to play a part in promoting sustainability and biodiversity in her community, as well as other issues that are at the core of the work of the Saskatchewan Environmental Society.

Sarah Valentine | B.Sc. Hon., M.D. Candidate

Youth Affiliate

Sarah is a medical student at the University of Saskatchewan. She grew up deeply appreciating nature and is passionate about preserving it. Through volunteering and experiences in medical school, Sarah has seen how adversely climate change affects everyone, especially those who have the smallest hand in causing it. She is now on the board of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) as well as the University of Saskatchewan’s Planetary Health Student Group. Aside from environmental health, Sarah is interested in addictions, women’s health, and 2SLBGTQ+ issues.