WHO WE ARE
Our History
The original idea for the Community Foundation came from a local area rancher, Mr. John Ignatius, who had supported other Community Foundations and sought to have a local organization provide similar community benefits. John made the first endowed donation of $25,000 and encouraged his many family, friends and colleagues to follow his example. The Medicine Hat Community Foundation was then founded in 1992 through an act of Legislature of the Province of Alberta. John passed away in January 2000 and, true to his word, left the vast majority of his estate to the Foundation. John’s financial contribution was in excess of $2.4 million but his biggest legacy was the original creation of the Foundation which continues to support vibrant, healthy, caring communities across Southeastern Alberta – today, tomorrow, forever!
The CFSEA is a non-government, non-political and non-religious independent organization that operates under the guidance of a diverse group of community-minded volunteer Board of Directors.
Board of Directors
Frances Barnes
Board Chair
Julie Friesen
Vice Chair
Tyler Pocsik
Treasurer
Cheryl Pocsik
Secretary
Ahmed Kassem
Director
Cody Ibbotson
Director
David Andrews
Director
Doug Little
Director
Glenda Hawthorne
Director
Jim MacArthur
Director
Jennifer Mah
Director
Josh Hudson
Director
Kimberley Row
Director
Matthew Lofgren
Director
Stanley Sakamoto
Director
Committees
Anabell Marroquin
Josh Schafer
Karen Blewett
Lance Doll
Marco Jansen
Rachel St. Jean
Frances Barnes (ex-officio)
Hannah Minor – Community Engagement Coordinator
Niki Gray – Executive Director
Tyler Pocsik – Chair
Cody Ibbotson
Dennis Egert
Darren Hirsch
Robert Belau
Ryan Dorton
Sean Blewett
Todd O’Reilly
Frances Barnes (ex-officio)
Barbara Kenworthy – Financial Administrator
Niki Gray – Executive Director
Grants
Cheryl Pocsik – Chair
Blaine Whitford
Glenda Hawthorne
Jaime Rogers
Joanne Stickle
Julie Friesen
Lindsay Niwa-Mathers
Mike Lecorps
Shona Dickie
Frances Barnes (ex-officio)
Hannah Minor – Community Engagement Coordinator
Niki Gray – Executive Director
Jim MacArthur – Chair
Barry Neubauer
Jim van der Sloot
Matthew Lofgren
Michael Anctil
Peter Donnelly
Stanley Sakamoto
Todd O’Reilly
Frances Barnes (ex-officio)
Kevin Pahl – Project Manager
Niki Gray – Executive Director

Advisory Committee - Brooks & District Community Fund
Ahmed Kassem
Brian Petersen
Debbie Piper
Inge Ellefson
Joe Chomistek
Leona Ferguson
Lisa Tiffin
Matthew Lofgren
Nicole Gardner
Nicole Nichols – Community Fund Coordinator (Staff)
Niki Gray – Executive Director (Staff)

Advisory Committee - Prairie Crocus Community Fund
Elaine Michaels
John Van Otterloo
Lois Bedwell
Lucille Hertz
Michelle Haag
Pamela Stark
Rachelle Skappak
Roger Bedwell
Niki Gray – Executive Director (Staff)

Advisory Committee - Rural Community Fund of Forty Mile
Clint Thacker – Chair
Curtis Gouw
John VanTryp
Joseph Eisenlohr
Larry Robinson
Nathan Kiffiak (youth member)
Stephanie Hlady
Tyson Ormann
Niki Gray – Executive Director (Staff)

Advisory Committee- Cypress County Community Fund
Gerald Sept – Chair
Barry Neubauer
Brandon Wever
Cathy Schnell
Dan Hamilton
Della Burkitt
Richard Oster
Sandra Traichel
Travis Tubman
Niki Gray – Executive Director (Staff)
Staff

Niki Gray
Executive Director

Barb Kenworthy
Finance Administator

Hannah Minor
Community Engagement Coordinator

Kevin Pahl
Project Manager

Sydney Ratzlaff
Parental Leave

Nicole Nichols
Community Fund Coordinator
Brooks & District Community Fund

Regional Development Coordinator

Administrative Coordinator
