Board of Directors

Adrian Pruden

Adrian Pruden is a Co-Chair of the CCFR, a proud Metis citizen, husband, and father to three beautiful children. He is the Vice-President of Pentagon Freight Services Canada Ltd., an International Logistics company providing international and domestic transport solutions to the Oil & Gas, Energy, Mining, and Agricultural sectors. Adrian is also an acting board member of numerous charitable groups providing strong leadership and support in several areas and was elected in 2024 to the District Council of Rocky View Metis District for the Otipemisiwak Metis Government (previously known as the Metis Nation of Alberta). He is an honored recipient of the prestigious King Charles III’s Coronation medal, Metis Nation of Alberta Humanitarian award, and was honored with Knighthood in the Order of St. George in 2020 for the pursuit of the timeless tradition of chivalry by compassion and supporting works of charity. A proud family man who embraces his Indigenous roots and is happy to help raise awareness in the interest of reconciliation.

Michelle Leafloor

Michelle Leafloor is a teacher who has focused her career on working with students from kindergarten to grade 3, and with students with disabilities, who are neurodiverse or need literacy and numeracy intervention.
 
Michelle and her sons have only recently discovered that they are Métis since past generations chose to hide their identity due to the consequences of colonialism. Since reclaiming her Métis citizenship, Michelle strives to learn, understand, and become more involved in the Métis culture and community to be able to re-establish traditions and ways of knowing that can be passed on to future generations in her family.

Samantha Ginter

Samantha Ginter (she/her) is an Ojibwe woman from Red Rock Band in Ontario, now living on Treaty 7 Territory. Raised without much connection to her Indigenous roots, she's now on a personal journey of learning and reclaiming her identity—fueling her passion for truth, reconciliation, and community care.

Samantha is the founder of Your Journey, a harm reduction-focused organization supporting people who use drugs. Her lived experience, including the loss of her soulmate to drug poisoning, drives her powerful advocacy. She co-hosted Airdrie’s first International Overdose Awareness Day and regularly educates diverse audiences—from students and church groups to doctors and nurses—on harm reduction, stigma, and healing.

A strong voice for social justice, Samantha believes healing happens through connection, honesty, and care. Outside of her work, she finds joy in paddle boarding, hiking, macrame, and travelling.

Tracey Canuel

Tracey Canuel is a retired family law paralegal and elementary school administrative assistant.  She is a settler with a keen interest in furthering her learning towards reconciliation.

As a young girl, Tracey lived in Schefferville, Quebec amongst the Inuu (Montagnais) where she developed a desire to learn about the Indigenous peoples and culture.

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Tracey's interests include volunteering, reading and quilting. She is very grateful to be a part of Circle Connections for Reconciliation.​

"Reconciliation is a shared responsibility, requiring all Canadians to learn about and understand the history of Indigenous people in Canada".

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      The Honourable Justice Sinclair, Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC)

Gretchen Riel

Gretchen Riel is a teacher and a Master of Education graduate at the University of Calgary. Her topic areas include Indigenous Education: A Call to Action and Niitsitapiisinni: Real Peoples' Way of Life. Gretchen’s traditional Kwak’wala name is T̓suxwt̓sa’adza̱mga.

Gretchen and her children are Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw of the 'Na̱mg̱is First Nation. She is on an ongoing quest to receive teachings from her traditional lands, her grandmother’s Haida ancestry, her husband’s Ojibway Nation, the Treaty 7 Territory where she resides, and other parts of Turtle Island with a respectful, clear mind and open heart. 

Ashley Barclay

Ashley Barclay is Métis; her Indigenous family originated from the Haudenosaunee in the east who then settled in Alberta to form the Michel First Nation - a signatory to Treaty 6 by adhesion and Canada's first and only completely enfranchised Indian band.

She has come to understand the impact of racism and intergenerational trauma on her family and how it relates to her own life. Ashley is determined to break cycles, not only for herself, but also for her daughter and other future generations so they can pursue living life in a good way.

Ashley is an artist and a small business owner where she beads, embroiders and creates digital art. You can find her on Facebook and Instagram under Nôsisim Creations.

Sue Methuen

Sue Methuen is a second-generation descendant of Settlers. After completing her formal career in 2019, she turned her focus to learning the truth about our country’s history and current issues, and doing what she can towards reconciliation. Sue participated in the Walk for Common Ground and Treaty Talks as it came through Airdrie in 2019; has attended numerous Indigenous lead webinars over the years; completed the University of Alberta’s Indigenous Canada course and a number of courses through First Nations University of Canada. Sue is the founder of the Circle Connections for Reconciliation Society and is dedicated to doing whatever she can to continue to learn, raise awareness and work towards reconciliation. 

Laurelle Edwards-Jones

Laurelle Edwards-Jones is a Métis woman born and raised in Alberta and a proud member of Métis Region 3. She has raised her own family and called Airdrie home for the last 30 years.

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Laurelle has had a long and distinguished career with Alberta Health Services. In her capacity as a mental health professional, she has had the honour of supporting individuals and families in recovery and witnessing them achieve wellness and thrive. In her capacity as a health professional, she has also had the opportunity to work closely with community stakeholders in Airdrie and the surrounding rural communities. She has provided consultation and support with community development projects designed to enhance local resources and improve quality of life.

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Laurelle hopes to continue to volunteer, contribute and connect to the Airdrie community by raising awareness and understanding. She believes reconciliation begins with building relationships.

Shauna Simpson

Shauna is Métis from Manitoba and has lived in Airdrie for over a decade.  She descends from Saulteaux, Cree and European peoples.

She is a teaching assistant and has previously concentrated on Autism and early intervention strategies and has also completed a Graduate Certificate in Education, Decolonizing and Indigenizing Teaching and Learning.  

Shauna wants to be a good ancestor and wants to do her part to work towards true reconciliation, which means first learning the truths about Canadian history, and learning about the peoples of this territory as a good guest on the land. She enjoys volunteering and family and Canadian history and is always learning more about her culture. Having volunteered and worked with preschool to middle school grade children for over 20 years, she is happy to help.

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Louis Riel once said, "My people will sleep for one hundred years, but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirit back.

Nyre Cardinal

Nyre Cardinal a mother, artist, educator, writer, and member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. Her father was part of the 60’s scoop, her Métis ancestry settled around Calling Lake, Big Stone Cree Nation, and Lac La Biche. She uses art and design in a variety of mediums including painting, carving, beading, to inspire her students and others through the work of reconciliation.

Connecting with her roots, and land based learning, especially the elements of wind and water both ground and inspire her and support her work within the community.

Michelle Jorgenson

Bio coming soon.