Our Board

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. 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 the Lethbridge Police Commission, Lethbridge Family Services, and YWCA Lethbridge & District. Rachel’s interest and dedication to serving as a director on the AAPG Board 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 the AAPG Board and work alongside its other members who bring forward a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. 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.

Ian completed a 31 year career in the RCMP in 2011.  During his career, Ian was posted in various locations in Northern Alberta, serving in frontline policing roles, Forensic Identification, Unit Commander and Regional Advisory NCO.   He also worked on numerous VIP visits and high profile events including the 2010 Winter Olympics and G20 Summit in Toronto. Ian has been a front line responder and operations commander for major civil emergencies including evacuations for flooding and wildfires. Ian completed his career overseeing drug and organized crime prevention programs in the Prairie Provinces, Northwest and Nunavut Territories.  Ian has researched synthetic or ‘Club’ drugs associated to EDM events and oversaw a clandestine lab and methamphetamine prevention strategy in Alberta. Where ever he was posted, he was involved in Community Policing and prevention. He also worked as  volunteer for community organizations such as Victims Assistance, Suicide Prevention, Family Crisis and Women’s Shelters to name a few.

In 2005, Ian was appointed to the Premiers Methamphetamine Task Force and was technical advisor in the development of Alberta’s Drug Endangered Children Legislation. He is an accomplished public speaker and has presented across Canada, in the United States and Venezuela. Ian was appointed as a Member of the Order of Merit for Police Forces by Governor General Michaëlle Jean in 2009.

In 2011 he joined Edmonton Northlands as manager of Security Administration and finished as Director of Operations in November 2020.  During his time at Northlands, Ian oversaw risk assessment and management, and security operations for hundreds of events including the evacuation centers that were established at Northlands for the Slave Lake Wildfire in 2011 and Fort McMurray Wildfire in 2016.

Ian joined the City of St. Albert Policing committee in January 2021. He is married with two adult children and four grandchildren.

Born and raised in Edmonton, Shazia has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Manitoba. She is a Registered Social Worker (RSW) with the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) in good standing. Throughout her career, she has worked in various non-profits agencies, such as E4C, Boyle McCauley Health Centre, and Boyle Street Community Services as well as with the Edmonton Police Service working collaboratively with members on the Heavy Users of Service (HUoS) project. She has worked for the Government of Alberta since 2015 within the Ministry of Community and Social Services for the AISH program and Disability Services (PDD & FSCD) and currently, for the Ministry of Children’s Services. Within Children’s Services, she has held various positions including working with high risk youth, completing community assessments, as well as completing investigations for children in care. Through her personal journey and professional practice, she has gained knowledge in several areas such as racism, gender equity, poverty, homelessness, marginalization, addictions, mental health, trauma, justice/law enforcement and working with vulnerable populations, including Indigenous and refugee communities.

I was born and raised in Mossbank Saskatchewan and left the farm to seek out every farm boy’s dream which is to either play football for the Riders or join the RCMP!

The RCMP was the choice and I spent the next 26+ years working in smaller detachments in northern Alberta. Having grown up in a smaller community I found I was well suited for policing in small diverse settings. I’ve always inserted myself into the communities in a variety of roles and have always enjoyed working with youth. I trained in Judo and as I transferred into other communities, I would start local Judo clubs and have continued to teach judo to this day. I could see the benefit of this type of interaction with the community and in many occasions situations were resolved because of the personal relationship I had with the community.

On my retirement from the RCMP it was suggested that I should run for Town of Barrhead Council as the Municipal elections were taking place that fall. I was elected to council and completed 3, 3-year terms, then ran for Mayor and have just started my 2nd term in that capacity.

As if I didn’t have enough things on my plate, in 2008 I became a Traffic Safety Coordinator for the University of Alberta, Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research. This started as a pilot project to work with a number or communities and assist them in dealing with a wide range of Traffic Safety issues. The project was very successful and Alberta Transportation took over the project and I became a Traffic Safety Consultant for the Office of Traffic Safety. In total I spent 9 years in that role with my region stretching from Westlock to Grande Cache. In this role I worked on projects involving ATV safety, Pedestrian training, young and senior drivers, commercial vehicles and bicycles. This allowed me to work in communities alongside enforcement agencies, school divisions, municipal staff and community groups. 

Through all of this I have dragged my wife, Grace along with me and she has been a supporter and cheerleader the entire time… well maybe not the entire time!!

We have an adult daughter and 3 teenage grandchildren who all reside nearby.

Marco was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands emigrating with his parents to settle in Edmonton where he grew up. In 1990 he began training for his career with Transport Canada/NAV Canada as a Flight Service Specialist, initially posted to Inuvik, NWT before transferring to Medicine Hat in 1995 where he continued his career until retiring in May 2022 after 31 years of service.

Marco has been active in the community in numerous and varied ways over the years. He has been involved with the local Air Cadet Squadron as a Training Officer, the Esplanade and Medicine Hat Musical Theatre as a theatre tech and lighting designer/tech, he has volunteered with the Police Point Park Interpretive program, and the Rotary Club Bicycle Program.

Marco was heavily involved in local provincial politics from 2012 as a board member and constituency President until stepping down in spring of 2021 to run as a Councillor candidate in the October 2021 Municipal Election.

Marco enjoys fishing year-round, cycling, and drone flying. He has worked closely with other local drone operators, including the MHPS, to develop and promote safe use of drones.

Marco is married to Michele Winger CMA CPA (retired) who has discovered her artistic side and is now an artist specializing in watercolours. He has two children Brianna, now living in Saskatoon, and Lucas, now living in London, England.

Marco is proud to have been appointed to the Police Commission, and to serve as the representative to the Alberta Association of Police Governance (AAPG). He recognizes that Medicine Hat is fortunate to have a highly effective and respected Police Service and is excited to be in a position to reinforce and build upon that terrific reputation.