Conference Speakers
Priti Shah
Priti Shah has been doing public speaking for more than 30 years and brings a diverse personal and professional background to her engaging and inspiring presentations. She is a lawyer, mediator, arbitrator, investigator and facilitator and operates PRAXIS Consulting in Winnipeg. She is widely known and highly respected for her work in the areas of dispute resolution, human rights, governance and organization development.
Priti has travelled to seventy countries and represented the Government of Canada and the Organization for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights in September 1998 as an observer of the parliamentary elections in Bosnia & Herzegovina. She is committed to international development and travelled to Fiji in 2018 to complete her eighth Habitat build. In May 2005, Priti was awarded the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Contribution to Community from the Women Business Owners of Manitoba.
Priti has performed in thirteen community plays with the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. She is passionate about health, fitness, music, arts and enjoying the beautiful people and geography of Canada.
Spearheading Success in Your District: Best Practices For Good Governance
Good governance is critical to the success of a Watershed District. This session will explore:
-What is Governance versus Management?
-Best Practices for Governance including Board Orientation, Board Evaluation, Board Matrix, Board Governance Manual and More
Kallie Wood
Effective Indigenous Engagement & Allyship
Kallie Wood is the President and CEO of the National Circle for Indigenous Agriculture and Food (NCIAF) and is a proud member of Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation located on Treaty Four Territory in Saskatchewan. Kallie was formerly the Senior Indigenous Advisor for the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Saskatchewan. She holds a Master of Leadership and Management studies degree and is a mother to four beautiful children and kokum to four grandchildren. As a foster parent, Kallie has many children who call her mom.
Kallie has her feet planted firmly on Mother Earth and realizes that the Creator has blessed us with the gift of each day. She is a life-long learner with 35-years of experience in leadership roles with experience in organizational change, strategic planning, and program delivery with extensive experience in relationship building, reconciliation, and education. Kallie also sits on several Board of Governors across the nation, sharing a voice for Indigenous engagement and building relationships.
Having grown up in a small community surrounded by friends and family in agriculture, Kallie is excited about the journey in supporting First Nation, Inuit, and Métis peoples in sustainable agriculture and food opportunities through listening, learning, and implementing change. Bringing together voices and a community of partners through the sharing of agriculture practices and business knowledge from Indigenous leaders, geographical, intergenerational, and industry-wide representation to support business creation, advance capacity building through education and training, and connect Indigenous Peoples to valuable networks, resources, and funding opportunities while honouring their tradition, lands, and Mother Earth is a recipe for success in economic growth for the good of all.
Kallie has received numerous awards for her time commitment to reconciliation, most recently awarded as one of the twenty-two most empowered and influential women internationally in 2023. She is a recognized and sought after keynote speaker and Indigenous Advisor on Indigenous issues. She is a recognized advocate, researcher and transformational change leader driven by harnessing the intrinsic value of every voice that fosters deeper conversations and a sense of belonging and appreciation in many contexts globally. She has a palpable ability to inspire and ignite a brighter future through Indigenous histories, stories, ways of knowing and being towards a better future for our children, grandchildren and those not yet born.
Jennifer Hunnie
Jennifer Hunnie has been with the Redboine Watershed District since 2020, initially serving as the GROW Coordinator before taking on the role of Project Manager in 2022. Prior to this, she spent a decade working with Manitoba Conservation. In addition to her current role, she also chairs the Manitoba Envirothon. Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys traveling with her husband and son.
Drenched but Driven: A Wet and Wild Tour of Watershed Projects
Join us for an in-depth look at an adventurous watershed tour that braved the elements to explore cutting-edge agricultural and environmental projects. From Rheault Bison Farm's sustainable practices and Riedbow Dairy's innovative operation and wetland restoration, to Lowry Farm's rotational grazing and groundbreaking methane study, we'll dive into how these initiatives are shaping the future of our watersheds.
Supported and funded by the Redboine Watershed District, these projects represent the next frontier in sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship. This talk will uncover the strategies and outcomes from the field, offering lessons learned from a truly wet and wild journey.
Greg Johnson
Greg Johnson is an acclaimed photographer and storm chaser hailing from Saskatchewan, Canada, with a specialty in capturing extreme weather and tornadoes. With over two decades of experience, he has honed his craft and become a leading expert in capturing newsworthy and dramatic photographic opportunities.
When he is not chasing storms, Greg is a passionate teacher, traveling across Canada to lead photography workshops and sharing his knowledge with aspiring photographers. He has also authored several books, showcasing his breathtaking photography and sharing his insights into the world of storm chasing.
Greg's talent and expertise have garnered international attention, including his starring role in the Netflix series "Tornado Hunters" and his appearances on the CBC television program "Canada Reads." As a co-host of the popular "Storm Front Freaks Podcast," Greg continues to educate and inspire audiences with his knowledge and passion for weather phenomena.
In addition to his many accomplishments, Greg is also a respected tour guide, leading photo adventure tours to unique Canadian destinations throughout the year. With his passion for photography and expertise in storm chasing, Greg has earned a reputation as a top professional in his field, and his work continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.
The Road Less Travelled
We all understand the reference. When you take the road less traveled, it makes all the difference. This theme resonates throughout literature, film, and television. So why is it so hard to take the less worn path in our own lives? I have made a career out of walking to a different drummers beat and I will share my secrets to making those tough decisions.
Whether you are changing a farming method, chasing tornadoes, or just recovering from a COVID collapse, with big changes come big opportunities if you know what to look for.
Zabrina Nolin
Zabrina is a Project Coordinator for IMWD, enjoying a diverse career resulting from majoring in Environmental Studies and Biology at the University of Winnipeg. After spending a decade working for the City of Winnipeg's Urban Forestry Branch in a variety of roles, she was drawn to the beautiful Parkland region for its endless opportunities to pursue her outdoor hobbies, including angling, hiking, and kayaking. She is now broadening her field working for IMWD on their wide array of programs, from overseeing drainage infrastructure management to studying and enhancing fish habitat.
Riffles Rock! One Structure for Both Fish Habitat Improvement and Streambank Erosion Reduction in Local Waterways.
Rock riffle structures were built in major tributaries of Dauphin Lake in the 1990s to improve lake conditions with sediment reduction and fish spawning habitat enhancement. After thirty years and many major flooding events, the riffles are in need of repairs in order to function as well as when they were originally built. On projects through the Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Fund, IMWD conducted preliminary surveys of the state of the structures and current function, and is planning to compare the results with a follow up study after some of the structures are repaired this winter.
Jerry Doan
Jerry and his wife Renae, along with their family, operate Black leg Ranch.
The ranch was homesteaded in 1882 by Jerry’s Great Grandfather in what was then Dakota Territory.
They use Holistic Management to operate their ranch regenerating the natural resources and allowing wildlife to flourish. They have made huge strides in improving the soil health of native rangeland and cropland while improving the bottom line and quality of life for the next generation to become involved in the ranch.
Jerry and his family operate a cow calf and buffalo operation offering grass finished beef and bison products that are Audubon certified bird friendly. They also operate Rolling Plains Adventure, a full-service hunting/outfitting business on the ranch, Black leg Events, an Agri-tourism business, and Black Leg Brewery. These ventures have allowed them to spread a positive message about agriculture to thousands of consumers, including people from all 50 states and 40 foreign countries.
The ranch is a living classroom for many soil health and grazing tours as well as university students wanting to learn about regenerative agriculture.
Jerry is past chairman of the N.D. Grazing Lands Coalition and a mentor and Governor appointed to the N.D. Natural Resources Trust board. He is a board member of Partnerscapes and an advisory board member of The Nature Conservancy. Jerry is past chairman of the N.D. Ag Coalition, The N.D. Beef Commission, N.D. State Board of Ag Research and Education, and Rural Leadership N.D. He has also been a 4-H leader for over 4 decades.
Black Leg Ranch is honored to have won the Burleigh County Soil health award, the National Environmental Stewardship Award, the inaugural N.D. Leopold Award, and was inducted into the N.D. Cowboy Hall of Fame. The ranch was also awarded by the Governor of N.D. the best tourism award. Jerry was awarded the NDSU Harvest Bowl Agri-Business award and was inducted into the N.D. Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2023.
Regenerative Practices to Balance Environmental and Economic Stability and Stack Enterprises for the Next Generation.
The Historic Black Leg Ranch is home to rich grasslands just off the Missouri river in ND. George H. Doan came to Dakota Territory from Canada and homesteaded in 1882. The Doan family utilizes Holistic Management to regenerate the grassland and cropland while propagating all the incredible wildlife species and improving water quality. Keynote speaker Jerry Doan will tell the rich story of the past and showcase the journey to regenerate the natural resources while stacking enterprises and creating excitement to bring the next generation back and protect the legacy.
Dani Gosselin
Dani Gosselin is the GROW and PWCP coordinator at the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District. During her years studying Natural Resources Management in The Pas, Manitoba, she fell in love with life in the North and developed a keen interest in trees and forestry. While being from the prairies with a background in agriculture, she hoped to find a career where nature and agriculture meet, and that she did by joining her local Watershed District.
In her spare time Dani enjoys gardening and wonders if the trees are thinking about her as much as she thinks about them.
Pushing for Preservation: SRRWD strives for the protection of Oak forests in the Upper Seine River Watershed.
In 2022 the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District rolled out the delivery of a new Preservation Program in partnership with the Growing Outcomes in Watersheds (GROW) Trust. This incentive-based program encourages landowners to preserve Oak forested land threatened by being transitioned into agricultural crop land or residential development.
Danica Racicot
As the manager of the Northeast Red Watershed District, Danica plays a vital role in overseeing watershed management and implementing sustainable practices to protect natural resources. She holds degrees in Environmental Studies and Agroecology from the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba. With over six years of experience working on a small-scale CSA vegetable farm, Danica has cultivated a deep understanding of sustainable agriculture. She now channels this passion into her own hobby farm in Cooks Creek, where she and her husband are dedicated to establishing a permaculture-based farm.
Expanding the focus of the Northeast Red Watershed District
Navigating boundary expansion and program development in a Watershed District with an existing infrastructure mandate.
Zoë Bailey
Zoë is a Project Coordinator at the East Interlake Watershed District (EIWD) in Gimli, Manitoba. In her role, she collaborates with landowners to restore landscapes to their natural state and works on various environmental initiatives, including prairie restoration, wetland enhancement, shelterbelts, reforestation, water storage, and regenerative agriculture. Zoë is committed to preserving and enhancing Manitoba’s natural landscapes for future generations.
How We’re Growing a Greener Interlake: Stories from Our Tree Planting Journey
The East Interlake Watershed District (EIWD) partnered with local producers, community organizations, and the 2 Billion Trees (2BT) program to plant over 50,000 trees throughout the Interlake in 2024. After years of watching shelterbelts and forests disappear, witnessing the enthusiastic commitment of local landowners to reforest the land has been profoundly inspiring. This presentation will explore the obstacles and triumphs our team encountered and how we overcame them together. Despite a demanding schedule and unpredictable weather, our incredible team tackled these challenges with creativity, resilience, hard work, and plenty of laughter along the way. We can’t wait to see what this program will bring next year!
Joey Pankiw
Joey grew up on a family farm in the Red River Valley. He was graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a B.A. in Geography and an MSc. in Geography from the University of Regina. He started working with the Seine Rat Roseau Watershed district in 2019 as a Watershed Assistant and also held the ALUS/Grow Coordinator position before becoming District Manager in 2022.
Hailey Gardham
Hailey graduated from Assiniboine Community College in 2021 for her Land and Water Management Diploma and then again in 2022 for her Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Advanced Diploma.
Hailey has been working with Central Assiniboine Watershed District for the past 4 years. The first 2 being a summer student and the past 2 being the GROW technician as well as the PWCP Coordinator.
Neil Zalluski
Neil spent 18 years working in natural resources management and program delivery - the past 14 years with the Central Assiniboine Watershed District. Before that he spent 4 years with the province of Manitoba in the Forestry Branch working on the forest health protection act. He holds a diploma in Land and Water Management and a degree in Environmental Studies.
Lindsay Hargreaves
Lindsay is the Environmental Initiatives Coordinator for the City of Brandon. After graduating from the University of Saskatchewan with her Ag degree and returning home to Brandon she had a career spanning over 12 years in municipal government. Her role allows her the ability to create and initiate different environmental programs, projects and partnering with different organizations including Central Assiniboine Watershed District.
Chelsea Lobson
Chelsea Lobson is the Programs Director at the Lake Winnipeg Foundation, providing oversight to data collection, lab analysis and data analysis of LWCBMN. Chelsea has an M.Sc. from the University of Manitoba, and is responsible for providing support to LWF’s Program Coordinator and Field & Data Technician, liaising with academic and government researchers, and effectively communicating LWCBMN findings to inform policy and management decisions.
The Lake Winnipeg Community-Based Monitoring Network
The Lake Winnipeg Community-Based Monitoring Network (LWCBMN) is a collaborative, long-term phosphorus monitoring program designed to identify localized phosphorus hotspots where action is required to improve Lake Winnipeg water quality. Coordinated by the Lake Winnipeg Foundation (LWF), LWCBMN is delivered in partnership with Manitoba’s watershed districts, LWF’s science advisors, volunteer citizen scientists and Dr. Nora Casson’s laboratory at the University of Winnipeg.
Jeff Long
Dr. Jeff Long has been with the Government of Manitoba since 2009 and has serves as the Aquatic Invasive Species Director since 2016.
Working Together to Stop the Spread of Aquatic Invasive species (AIS).
How watershed districts and municipal partners can support provincial efforts to inform the public and stop the spread of aquatic invasive species in Manitoba.
Rute Salemon
Rute (Founder, Prairie Terrain Mapping) collaborates closely with clients, offering GIS support services. From developing GIS manuals to mapping potential watershed-scale projects, Rute is dedicated to empowering watershed staff with essential GIS tools.
Mapping watershed projects
Exploring GIS applications for Watershed projects. Rute will share the challenges and successes of integrating GIS tools into watershed project workflows.