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Board of Directors

Homeland Housing is governed by a Board of thirteen Directors elected from member municipalities. The Board of Directors provides the governance, vision, and strategic direction for Homeland Housing.

Dwayne Spicer

Town of Redwater

Ralph Leriger

Town of Westlock

Laura Morie

Town of Westlock

Carol Tremblay

Town of Legal

Sandra Melzer

MD of Lesser Slave River

Maurice St. Denis

Town of Morinville

Natalie Joly

City of St. Albert

Loraine Berry

Town of Gibbons

Lynn Bidney

Town of Bon Accord

Kristin Toms

Sturgeon County

Ray Marquette

Westlock County

Francis Cloutier

Westlock County

Alma Cruise Irwin

Village of Clyde

Dwayne Spicer

Board Chair
Town of Red Water

Dwayne has over 25 years of experience as a small business owner and is active in his community as a youth leader, mentor, and coach/ referee of several sports for teens.

Dwayne was elected to Redwater Council in a by-election in 2018.
Dwayne observes that for many, the “golden years” are not seen as such. Seniors need to have quality housing, supports, programs and services that enhance their quality of life so that these can be their “golden years,” which is why he chose to be a board member.

In his spare time, Dwayne loves to play any sport, particularly team sports. Mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, and camping in the mountains are favorite things to do. Time with family and
our first grandchild are precious.

Ralph Leriger

Board Member
Town of Westlock

Ralph was born and raised in Westlock. After a 37-year career in the operations and management of the electrical system with TransAlta Corporation he and his wife MaryAnne returned home to look after their aging parents. He was elected as the Mayor of Westlock October 2013

Ralph and MaryAnne life together revolve around family. They have 3 children and 7 grandchildren that live nearby.  We enjoy camping, gardening, adventures and being together.

Ralph believes strongly in the adage that the community raises the child.  Many of the seniors that reside with Homeland Housing are the moms, dads, aunties, uncles, friends and neighbours that helped raise me.  Being on the Board with Homeland Housing allows me to give back to them.  

“I know they are counting on me to look after them and provide the services and supports for a high quality of life.”  I take that seriously.

Laura Morie

Town of Westlock

Laura Morie grew up in Westlock and was a small business owner working as a Financial Consultant for 22 years until 2020. Today she owns a production company that helps build and distribute online content. 

For the past two decades, in Westlock and beyond, she has been an avid volunteer in a number of roles. Laura says, “Volunteering is voting everyday for the kind of community you want to live in.” She has extensive board and governance experience and has served in many leadership capacities within her volunteer roles both locally and provincially. 

Laura believes that great communities grow and are built deliberately and strategically with a future ready focus. Laura feels very fortunate to have grown up in this town, with incredible leaders as role models, who invested in and were inspired to build community. She feels strongly that community growth and innovation come from great ideas combined with good governance and execution.  She uses her skills, experience and enthusiasm to serve the community she loves. 

Laura is a mother of two boys, an amateur chef, a writer, and developer of leadership courses; her interests also include volunteering, especially in youth leadership.

Carol Tremblay

Board Member
Town of Legal

Carol was elected to Legal Town Council in 2012.  In 2013 she was appointed to the Sturgeon Foundation Board and has been an active member of the board throughout the amalgamation and transition to what is now Homeland Housing.

Being a lifelong resident of the Town of Legal, Carol has deep roots in Legal and feels seniors are a key pillar of the community. Being part of the Homeland Housing Board has provided Carol the opportunity to advocate for seniors in Legal and region, assisting in shaping quality homes and innovative services being provided to the seniors of Sturgeon County, Westlock County and Lesser Slave River. 

Carol is an active member of the community, volunteering on several community boards. With being active in Legal it has become an ambition of Carol’s to create a legacy that their child and someday grandchildren will be proud of. She loves to see the community rally together and form a proud, warm, and driven town, a place we all can call home!

Sandra Melzer

Board Member
Lesser Slave Lake

Sandra and her husband have run a cow/calf operation for 32 years near Flatbush. Sandra is a hairdresser by trade and ran her own hair salon for many years in Westlock. After their two boys were born, she stayed home, ran a hair salon out of her home and helped out on the farm. 

She was elected to the MD of Lesser Slave River council in the fall of 2017. 

Sandra values being a board member for Homeland Housing.  She wants to see seniors looked after and having quality, safe, affordable housing, and a strong support system to help them live their best lives.

Sandra has spent many hours volunteering in her community on various boards and groups. In her spare time, she enjoys beading, sewing, her circuit machine and just about any craft out there to play with. She also enjoys camping and time spent with family and friends.

Maurice St. Denis

Town of Morinville

Maurice has lived in Morinville for over 37 years—the last 12 alongside his wife Melissa and their two boys Everett and Emerson. Maurice earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Alberta in 2009 and has worked as an educator and mental health professional for the past 20 years. Maurice currently works as a School Councillor where he supports students and families who traverse significant cognitive, psychological and socioeconomic barriers.  

Maurice credits his passion for volunteerism and strong civic values to his parents, teachers and mentors who give selflessly to their community. Maurice prides himself on approaching each situation with the highest degree of empathy and compassion and believes there is a place for his skills and strengths on the Board of Directors for Homeland Housing. Maurice is honoured to serve as a Board Member for Homeland Housing and vows to continue the hard work and advocasy of his predecessors to ensure our elders have quality and affordable housing now and in the future.

Natalie Joly

Board Member

Natalie is the City of St. Albert Council appointee to the Homeland Housing Board of directors, having been appointed in 2017 and reappointed after her reelection in 2021. She was also honored to serve as Board Chair from 2019-21. Through a commitment to social, environmental, and economic sustainability, Natalie’s actions on St. Albert Council have included strengthening supports for vulnerable persons within St. Albert and supporting sustainable development. She also holds the unique honour of championing the first motion within an Alberta municipality to ban the practice of “conversion therapy”.

During her first term, Natalie completed an MBA from Athabasca University. From 2016-2022, she also volunteered as an Affiliate Photographer with Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, an organization that provides bereavement portraiture to families experiencing the loss of an infant. Prior to her role on Council, she supported seniors wishing to safely age in place through her role at the North Edmonton Seniors Association. Natalie is now the Executive Director of ElderCare Edmonton, where she balances this full-time role with her part-time role on Council.

Loraine Berry

Town of Gibbons

Loraine grew up in a large farm family in Saskatchewan. She attended university in Saskatoon for 3 years, and then came to Edmonton to complete a final year. Her first career was as an elementary school teacher for the Edmonton Catholic School Board, where she taught for 8 years.

She married, and when her family of three sons came along, she left teaching. As her family grew she ran a Family Day Home, and later became a Family Day Home Consultant.

In 1994 she and her family moved to Gibbons, where they currently live. After this move, Loraine became the Coordinator for the newly formed Sturgeon Adult Family Literacy Program. Following this, she assumed the role of FCSS Director; for 7 years in Bon Accord and then 10 more years in the City of Spruce Grove. 

Loraine retired in 2016 and shortly after, successfully ran for Town Council in Gibbons, where she is currently serving a 2nd term.

Her 17 years in FCSS ignited a passion for affordable housing, and when the opportunity to serve on the Homeland Housing Board of Directors came along, she was more than happy to take on this responsibility.

Lynn Bidney

Board Member
Town of Bon Accord

Lynn retired in December 1996 after a 35-year career as a Registered Nurse.  Lynn has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and worked many different acute care areas for Alberta Health Services including various surgery units, ICU and at the Fort Saskatchewan Correctional centre.  

As a Community Care Case Manager with Alberta Health Services, Lynn gained an appreciation for how difficult it is for the elders to find suitable, affordable accommodations and that just a small number of personal supports can help to keep the elders in their home communities.  

Lynn was elected to Bon Accord Council in 2017.

As a board member, Lynn continues to advocate for suitable and affordable housing and supports in each community served by Homeland Housing.  

Lynn enjoys a long daily walk with her dogs.  She also enjoys spending time with family and is enjoying 11 grandchildren!

Kristin Toms

Sturgeon County

Coming Soon.

Ray Marquette

Westlock County

Coming Soon.

Francis Cloutier

Westlock County

Francis was elected as councilor for the County of Westlock and joined the Homeland Housing board to help out on the great work being done.

His family has lived in the Westlock area for generations, he would like to help with the Board by taking care of the elderly and set a plan for when he moves into the lodge.

He is married with three children. He has volunteered for over 20 years with two fire departments and is part owner of a local business.

Alma Cruise Irwin

Village of Clyde

Alma was elected as councillor for the Village of Clyde June 2022 and appointed to the Homeland Housing Board January 2023.

She retired from her formal working career which held her responsible for all aspects of the financial assets and accounting of  two corporate manufacturing accounts – SCHOTT Gemtron Canada Corporation and Baron Glass Sealing & Assembly INC. found by the sunny Georgian Bay in Ontario.

Over the years she has participated in many organizations on Boards or directly, varying from the interests of her three boys; Scouts Canada, Minor Hockey, Wrestling and her personal interests which included the Community Probation Office, Community Living to working with women’s shelters – Rosewood, and adult education – Gateway to Learning.  One interest was her involvement with rent geared to income for a 100 unit non-profit housing complex found in her local community (now called Mount Lakeview).  She believes all persons should have the right to affordable, safe housing and hopes she will be an asset to the board in following their values and beliefs in making a positive difference.

780-939-5116