Jean Dunford - President
jdunford@buildingthevalleyzoo.com

Tammy Wiebe - Vice President

Judy Bunkall - Executive Administrator

Norman Grimes - Past President
ngrimes@buildingthevalleyzoo.com

Yvonne Derksema - Treasurer

Cindy Afanasiff - Director
cafanasiff@buildingthevalleyzoo.com

Tim McCartney - Director

Jacqueline Greenly - Director

Carolyn Waye - Director
cwaye@buildingthevalleyzoo.com

Kim Armstrong - Director

Shannon Digweed - Director

Larry Charach - Director

Valley Zoo Director
Denise Prefontaine - Ex-Officio
dprefontaine@buildingthevalleyzoo.com

Leah Dunford - Director of Revenue Operations
shopatthevalleyzoo@gmail.com

Lise Pirot - Office and Event Coordinator
vzds@telusplanet.net

Jean Dunford was born and raised in Edmonton. Among her earliest memories is that of her first visit to the Storyland Valley Zoo as a child on a hot summer day. Her wonder and love for the animals has stayed with her since first entering those Castle gates as a child.

As life unfolded, Jean found herself married, raising two children, 1 Golden Lab, a temper mental Cocker Spaniel and a neurotic cat named Acorn. Even caring for the cat, dogs and her horse left her ill prepared for the most fearsome of all beasts, her one precious grandson.

Her experience in subcontracting three homes led her to serving as project manager in the design and construction of two Chiropractic clinics as well as handling the role of Clinic Director for over 20 years.

Finding herself in a position to pay it forward, Jean found her values of education, family, community and love for animals was satisfied by volunteering with the Valley Zoo Development Society. Since then she has served on the board as Treasurer and more recently, as President.

Among her favorite animals, Jean enjoys the Red Pandas because they are adorable and make her laugh out loud. Her hobbies include gardening, reading, Italian cooking and sampling foreign wines. As strategist by nature, she brings her organizational abilities, communication skills and intense love and respect for nature to the Valley Zoo Development Society.

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Tammy Wiebe has been an animal lover from her earliest childhood. Growing up on a farm in central Alberta gave her numerous opportunities to interact with domestic animals and develop a wonder for their wild counterparts. An avid traveller Tammy seeks out zoos and sanctuaries at all destinations, she is a strong believer in education and conservation and enjoys seeing it at work in our urban centres.

Tammy is a Marketing Director with a large Alberta law firm, and as such has participated in numerous strategic planning sessions, media campaigns, re-brands and large scale event organization over her 18 year professional career. She is currently a member of the Canadian Public Relations Society, Edmonton Branch and The Legal Marketing Association.

A single mother of two young adults, Tammy's house has always been home to several pets. Many profound lessons have come from four legged friends, including what they teach us and the obligations we owe them. Her favourite animals at the zoo would be the big cats and the much aligned villian of children's fairy tales - the wolf.

Tammy is passionate about making a difference in the Edmonton Community and is excited to join the Valley Zoo Development Society as they embark on a new stage with the plans to develop the Master Plan and to be a part of developing Canada's Cold Climate Zoo with a Tropical Heart.

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Judy Bunkall was born and raised in Edmonton. Judy loves animals so volunteering for the VZDS was a natural fit for her. Judy is a graduate from Grant MacEwan College and has been working over 20 years in the travel and tourism industry. She has had the opportunity to travel extensively over this time. Judy has a wide range of experience in sales, marketing and management. Having a bit of the adventurous side Judy has had the opportunity to experience many adventures. Two that stand out the most are the sled dogs in the north and her first ride across the frozen tundra with a dog team, and her trip to Costa Rica where she had the thrill of zip-lining and repelling down canyons. Judy volunteers with a few non-profit organizations and was on the board of directors for the Parkinson’s Society of Alberta and is still an active volunteer with the Society.

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Tim was born in Cranbrook B.C and was raised in Calgary and Edmonton. A Graduate from Holy Trinity Catholic High school, he has been working in the construction industry for the past 4 years as a carpenter and a handyman. He joined the Valley Zoo Development Society board in the winter of 2008 to help with the development of the animal’s living conditions and quality of life, and is a strong believer in the Species Survival Plan. Tim has been volunteering at the On Safari event since 2007 and has been sitting on the committee since 2008. His favorite zoo animals are the Arctic Fox, Red Panda and Lemurs. He also has 3 dogs and a rabbit for pets. Tim enjoys reading and watching documentaries on military history and world leaders.

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Norman was born and raised in Edmonton. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma, majoring in Zoology. He has been on the Board of the VZDS for about 12 years including serving as President for 7 years. He currently serves on the fundraising committee.

He also serves on the Edmonton Nature Centres Foundation board. To put “Bread” on the table Norman has worked as a financial planner for the last 30 years.

Norman and his wife Marsha have two daughters and two granddaughters. His love of animals has resulted in his having as pets just about everything he could get his hands on and get past his mother. This includes snakes, frogs, lizards, chickens, peasants, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, gerbils and many kinds of fish.

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Cindy Afanasiff was born and raised in Edmonton. After working for many years as an Insurance Broker, she now owns her own Personal Assistant business, doing contract work for companies, individuals and a non-profit group. Cindy volunteered with the Girl Guides of Canada for ten years, first as a Guider, and then as a Camp Advisor. She has taken many courses to develop her board and business talents including Newsletters That Work, Making Minutes, Silent Auctions - Getting the Word Out, and Promoting Your Event, and also has experience in event planning including fundraising and silent auctions.

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Jacqueline Greenly was born and raised in Edmonton, however her adventurous side has led her all over the world . Having lived in Hong Kong, Milan, Tokyo and Seoul- she has quite the appreciation of animals big and small all over the world. A recent trip to Kenya and the Serengeti brought her nose to nose with her favorite and long time love- Giraffes. This also sparked her interest in the Valley Zoo Development Society and the efforts to ensure a future for education and conservation of animals in the city. While those Giraffes are #1 in her heart- the Valley Zoo’s Armadillos are a close second!

Jacqueline is the anchor of Shaw TV. Her love for the job is shown each and every day as she meets different Edmontonians that make our city so wonderful -not to mention- that no two days are the same! Recently Jacqueline was on the committee for the Valley Zoo’s annual fundraiser “On Safari” and with its recent success she is excited for the future of our zoo and its fundraising efforts.

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Carolyn Waye is a graduate of the University of Alberta and has worked in Human Resources and Management for 6 years. She has been worked with and volunteered with the zoo since 2004, and with the Valley Zoo Development Society since the Spring of 2007. Carolyn is a solid supporter of the need for conservation education, accredited zoos and world wide initiatives such as the Species Survival Plan. As an animal lover, she has a background in exotic animal husbandry and taxonomy, and has a menagerie of pets at home including two dogs, three cats, three box turtles, a lizard and a tarantula. In her spare time, Carolyn also studies as an opera singer.

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I completed my BSc in Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta, my Masters degree in Primatology (with white-faced capuchin monkeys) at the University of Calgary and my PhD in Evolution and Behaviour (with red squirrels) at the University of Lethbridge. As a PhD student I was fortunate enough to be President of the Graduate Students Association and thus sat on the University of Lethbridge Board of Governors and Budget Committee. I also worked at the Valley Zoo for 2 years with the ponies and camels! Currently I am a professor at Grant MacEwan College in the Departments of Psychology and Biology where I continue to study vocal communication in animals as well as study and teach general animal behaviour.

When I am not tramping about forests recording animal sounds or teaching keen undergraduate students I spend my time with my daughter Kennedy! As a member of the VZDS I hope to be able to give back to the Valley Zoo the many, many years of enjoyment I have had working and visiting the facility. My favorite critters at the zoo currently are the white-handed gibbons and the meerkats.

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Larry Charach moved to Edmonton from Vancouver in 1979 to join the Alberta Government. He retired from the government in 2005 and started consulting through Strategic Results Consulting Inc (www.StrategicResultsConsulting.com) where he provides expert strategic advice, analysis and support for business and government clients in the Electricity, Natural Gas and Oil Sands sectors.

Larry enjoys travel and has visited many of the top zoos in North America. He joined the Board of the VZDS after attending On Safari and being excited about the potential in the Master Plan to make Edmonton’s Zoo another one of Edmonton stellar attractions.

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