Board of Directors

Adrian Pruden

Adrian Pruden is a Co-Chair of the CCFR and a proud Metis citizen. He is the Vice-President of Pentagon Freight Services Canada Ltd., an International Logistics company providing domestic and international transport solutions to the Oil & Gas, Energy, Mining, and Agricultural sectors. He is an acting board member of numerous charitable groups providing strong leadership and support in several areas. The 2019 recipient of the Metis Nation of Alberta Humanitarian award, and 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.

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. 

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.

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.