Get to know our Board members by reading about them below!
Sara Bowkowy
Chair
Edmonton Region Child Care Association
Sara has always known she loves working with children and families. What she learned through the process of working with children was that her true passion lies in ensuring children have quality early learning experiences and that the people caring for those children are also cared for. This was the beginning of her leadership journey. Sara works as the Senior Director – Childcare and Pedagogy for Edmonton Region Child Care Association. What she loves about this role is her ability to implement meaningful change that helps create strong places of vitality which allow for participation from all: children, families, and educators. Sara also works as a non-credit instructor for MacEwan University’s Exploring Early Childhood Curriculum Course. She is a past board member for SACDA (School Age Care Directors Association).
Sara has been participating in CAFRA since 2011 when she attended her first meeting. She remembers the feelings of awe and empowerment she received from the leaders and felt motivated to do more and be better for her childcare community. She is excited to be a part of the leadership team and help to continue the important work of developing ELCC Leaders.
Angie Clark
Vice Chair
McKernan Child Development Centre
Brad West
Treasurer
Glengarry Child Care Society
Fran Aarnoutse
Board Director
Southview Child Care
Louise Booker
Board Director
University and Community Early Learning Centre
Louise has been in the field for 30 years; 29 of those years at her current Centre. She has been the Executive Director there since 2001 which ties her to CAFRA at the same time. She has been a mentor for ARCQE and a validator for AELCS. She was part of the committee that did strategic planning for AELCS before it was established. She sits on the MacEwan childcare conference committee, and recently went to New Zealand for a study tour.
Louise served as Chair at CAFRA for a number of years. However, she feels it has only been in the last couple that our strategic plan has taken CAFRA in a new and exciting direction. She has lead the group in S.W.A.T. analysis and strategic planning sessions and is very interested in continuing on the Board to see where we are heading. She thinks CAFRA is in an important transition period and looks forward to providing continuity, experience, history, creative thinking, and so much more in our next year.
Katie Hicks
Board Director
YMCA of Northern Alberta
Adine Shuchuk
Board Director
Jasper Place Child and Family Resource Society
Adine has spent her 35-year career advocating for children, their families and the importance of high quality Early Learning and Care.
Over the years, Adine has fostered many community partnerships and participated in a number of advocacy groups in support of children, families, and community. She was awarded the Minister’s Award of Excellence in Child Development in 2012 and most recently the MacEwan University Distinguished Alumni Award for 2023.
Adine returns to participate on the CAFRA Board with an interest and passion for supporting leadership development in ELCC and in fostering generative networking opportunities for these leaders.
Katelyn Wombold
Board Director
Terra Centre