Commission Members

Dawna Coslovi

Chair

Dawna Coslovi joined the Green Acres Foundation as their CEO in 1996 and has grown the Foundation’s housing portfolio to 22 sites with approximately 1000 tenants and 350 employees.

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Prior to joining Green Acres Foundation, Ms. Coslovi, a Certified Human Resources Professional, managed Human Resources in the retail and manufacturing fields as well as in public sector.  Her HR background has allowed her to demonstrate effective planning and enhanced employment relations, ensuring her organization’s fulfilment of their strategic priorities.    

Dawna has extensive board experience, particularly in a governance role.  She served six years on the Board of Governors for the University of Lethbridge with the last three years as the Vice Chair. She also served six years on the Board of Governors for the Lethbridge College.  During those board appointments Ms. Coslovi served on the Human Resources Committee, the Policy Governance Committee as well as a search committee for the President, Lethbridge College. Ms. Coslovi believes in community involvement and is an active member, also having served as President, of the Rotary Club of Lethbridge. She is also a past Board Member of Lethbridge Youth Foundation, Lethbridge Economic Development, Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens, and the 2015 Alberta 55+ Winter Games Society.  Dawna currently serves as the Chair on the Finance Committee for the Lethbridge Police Commission, as well as holding ex-officio status on all other committees as Commission Chair.

Douglas Thorton

Vice Chair

Douglas Thornton has gained much experience over many years of serving on municipal councils, boards, and commissions. He feels fortunate to be able to share this experience during his service on the Lethbridge Police Commission.

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Douglas believes that a police service is an integral part of living in a modern community, and as such, needs considered representation from  road cross section of community members, He is well versed on budget responsibilities, while realizing that one must not stifle the efforts of management in the provision of excellent service. He briefly served as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and there gained some knowledge of the challenges facing today’s policing officials. He currently serves the Commission as Chair of the Finance Committee.

Rachel Hopf

Public Complaints Director

Rachel was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. After earning her Bachelor of Laws from the University of Manitoba in 2009, she chose to move to and make Lethbridge, Alberta, her new home. Currently she serves on the Human Resources Committee for the LPC.

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Since moving to Alberta, Rachel has placed great importance on connecting to and giving back to her new home, particularly in areas that impact citizens on a personal level.

Rachel is a partner in MacLachlan McNab Hembroff LLP where she has accumulated ten years of legal experience in many areas of law including civil and commercial litigation, contract, administrative, governance, and professional responsibility. She is a member of the Lethbridge Bar Association, the Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association, and the Canadian Bar Association. Born out of a willingness and desire to engage with her community, its citizens, and organizations, Rachel also has several years of involvement in various boards and committees, including Lethbridge Family Services, and YWCA Lethbridge & District. 

Rachel’s interest and dedication to serving as a member of Lethbridge Police Commission arises from a combination of factors, including her own experience with and in military organizations, particularly serving as a reservist with the Fort Garry Horse (Reconnaissance Crewman), her legal career and background, as well as being a friend and family member to persons who have served as police officers in various Canadian communities. She feels honoured by the opportunity to serve on Lethbridge Police Commission and work alongside its other members who bring forward a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences.  Rachel is also honoured to be, as of 2019, a current appointed member of the Alberta Association of Police Governance.

Rachel shares her home with her wonderful and supportive husband, Blaine, and their pampered cat, Jackie. Competing with her passion for the law and volunteering, is a passion for world travel, scuba diving, and most often combining the two.

Noella Piquette

Policy & Governance Committee Chair

Dr. Noëlla Piquette, [retired] Associate Professor and Registered Psychologist,  brings a wide range of skills and knowledge to the table. She has successfully collaborated in local, provincial, national and international research projects requiring communication skills, and expertise in cultural and diversity awareness. She is currently serving on the Policy and Governance Committee of the LPC.

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Noëlla has served as a Board member and President for numerous not-for-profit agencies over the past 30 years and has been intimately involved in the successful long term and short term planning committees.

Brett Carlson

Policy & Governance Committee Chair

J. BRETT Carlson was born in Moose jaw SK but spent most of his early life in northern Alberta (particularly Tofield, High Prairie, and Edmonton). He returned to Saskatchewan to do undergraduate degrees at the University of Regina in Political Science and Psychology. He then attended the University of Victoria for his law degree. He relocated to Lethbridge in 2004 with his wife. They have remained in Lethbridge since and are raising their family here. He serves on the Human Resources Committee of the Police Commission.

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Commissioner Carlson is a practicing lawyer in Lethbridge, employed as duty counsel by Legal Aid Alberta at the Lethbridge courthouse. He has been the recipient of awards and honours by Legal Aid Alberta as the best legal aid lawyer in Alberta, and from the Native Counselling Association for his exemplary work with the FNMI community. He is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Alberta Law Society and the Southern Alberta Defence Lawyers association.

Brett is active in his community, having previously been a board member and president of the Interfaith Food Bank. He is also duty counsel for the Lethbridge Drug Treatment Court and has often presented on the topic of drug treatment courts.

Jen Visser

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Clement Esene

Human Resources Committee Chair

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Belinda Crowson

City Council Representative

Belinda Crowson was first elected to Lethbridge City Council in 2017 and is currently in her second term. She was born and raised in southern Alberta and attended the University of Lethbridge, where she obtained degrees in Education and BioChemistry. Belinda’s Blackfoot name is A’okiwennowa, which means Seen By All. Belinda sits on the Policy and Governance Committee of the LPC.
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Prior to her election, Belinda worked as the Museum Educator at the Galt Museum & Archives. She is active in local and Alberta history, currently serving as the president of the Lethbridge Historical Society and is a past-president of the Historical Society of Alberta. Belinda is also an author, tour guide and public speaker. With the LHS, she has published six books. Her seventh publication, Lethbridge: A History in Pictures, was co-authored with Bobbie Fox, Lorien Johansen, and George Kuhl and was published through MacIntyre Purcell Publishers. She believes strongly in public involvement in local politics and encourages people to reach out to her with questions, concerns and comments, as well as to volunteer on city committees. One of the favourite parts of her job as Councillor is conducting school classes at City Hall, talking governance, and working with residents to devise the best possible solutions for the entire community.

Jenn Schmidt-Rempel

City Council Representative

Commissioner Schmidt-Rempel was raised in Claresholm, Alberta, and attended the University of Lethbridge where she completed a BA in English. She is a partner in several local quick-serve restaurant franchises as well as a communications and marketing consulting business. She works part-time at Lethbridge Public Library as the Manager: Marketing & Social Media, and until fall 2017 was the owner, publisher, and editor of Lethbridge living magazine and its associated publications. She currently serves on the Policy and Governance Committee of the LPC.

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Jenn serves our community through her volunteer work on the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce Board and as a Patient/Family Advisor for Alberta Health Services. She previously served on Economic Development Lethbridge as the Non-Profit Sector representative for five years, spending two years as Board President. Jenn has represented Lethbridge and various local organizations on six successful Team Lethbridge missions, has been a member of the City of Lethbridge’s Subdivision and Development Appeal Board, and served on the Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge as a Board Member and its President, as a Board Member on the Covenant Health, Lethbridge Community Board, and various Lethbridge BILD committees.

She is a passionate advocate for our city and local area. As the owner of Lethbridge living, Jenn and her team spent 10 years exploring and sharing the stories of our city and its residents. She represented Lethbridge and small magazine publishing for five years at the provincial level on the Alberta Magazines Publishers Association, serving as that Association’s President for three years. She represented Lethbridge and small magazine publishing in western Canada as a Board Member on Magazines Canada.

Jenn loves sharing the stories of this place we call home. Whether it’s helping with a neighbourhood Jane’s Walk or bringing the united message of our city and region to Edmonton on a Team Lethbridge mission, Jenn recognizes the great place Lethbridge is and is committed to sharing that message with everyone.

Commission Staff

Elizabeth Thompson

Clerk

Elizabeth comes well prepared to provide for the legislative, governance and communication needs of the Commission. She began her work in local government as a councillor in a small municipality in the region. After one term she chose to move into an administrative role, working first in Nobleford, later in  Cardston County, and eventually at the City of Lethbridge. She has an in-depth understanding of all levels of government, a passion for board governance, and is a strategic thinker. Elizabeth earned a bachelor of arts degree, graduating with distinction, in humanities with a focus in english, history, and political Science and is interested in pursuing a masters soon. In her spare time she writes music, enjoys walking in the community, reading political philosophy, and listening to podcasts.
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