Willmore
Wilderness Foundation
Board of Directors 2011- 2012
Bazil
Leonard - President
Bazil has been a guide since 1959. He got his start in Nordegg, Alberta.
He moved to Grande Cache 10 years later and has resided there ever
since. In 1970 Bazil purchased an outfit from Ed Favero a Nordegg
outfitter and moved the operation to Grande Cache. He has been guiding
and outfitting in Willmore Wilderness Park ever since. Bazil has
extensive knowledge of this incredible mountain park. Bazil holds a Registered Fur Management Area in Willmore Wilderness Park.
Brian
Bildson - Executive Director
Brian Bildson has a Registered Fur Management area in Willmore Park. He grew up learning techniques from traditional old time trappers. Brian has ridden hundreds of miles on many extended packtrips in Willmore Wilderness Park. He represents the Foundation
as Executive Director. Brian acts as an ambassador for the Foundation
to business and government. He also provides business direction
and assistance to the Board of Directors. Brian lives in Grande
Prairie with his wife Deana.
Ken Groat - Vice President
Ken is an experienced mountain man. His family ties can be traced back into the Willmore and Jasper areas for more than 200 years. Ken is the grandson of Clarisse Moberly who was evicted from Jasper in 1910. Like his grandparents, Ken is a competent packer, farrier and horseman. His family has guided, hunted and trapped in Willmore for generations. Ken lives with his wife Shelli in Brule, Alberta.
Priscilla Bowen - Secretary-Treasurer
Priscilla Bowen brings a lot of talent to the Board. She is a nurse at the Grande Cache hospital and grew up in the Rocky Mountain Wilderness. Her father, Dan Hallock is a long-time trail hand. Her mother Helen Hallock is a trail hand and trapper. Helen is the daughter of legendary guide and outfitter Louis Delorme. Like James Wanyandie and Ken Groat, Priscilla comes from over 200 years of family connections to the eastern slopes of Alberta. Her family has been involved in the fur trade and guide and outfitting business for generations.
Ed Regnier
Ed started guiding in Willmore Wilderness Park in the early 1960s. He worked for Tom McCready, Leonard Jeck, Jim Simpson, Charlie Stricker, John Unland, George Kelly and many other outfitters. Ed eventually also operates his own outfit called it Saracen Head Outfitters.
Ed outfits in both Willmore Wilderness Park and Jasper National Park. He is an exceptional Big Horn Sheep guide.
Hank
Cheverie
Hank
has traveled and enjoyed the old pack trails of Willmore Wilderness
Park. He has traveled on several extended packtrips that lasted more than two weeks. He was in the Canadian Armed Forces from 1957 to 1982. Hank
worked many years for Corrections Canada. He is a current member of
the Grande Cache Search and Rescue and the Canadian Rangers. Hank has resided
in Grande Cache with his wife, Estella for over twenty-eight
years.
Estella Cheverie
Estella has been involved with the Willmore Wilderness Foundation since the beginning days. She is the Editor of People & Peaks of Willmore Wilderness Park and has been working on other publication for the Foundation. Estella has played a key role in the administration and running of the office. Over and above this, Estella has been a Willmore traveler, participating in wilderness expeditions for women. She brings a passion to her work and is a real asset to the Board.
To see short films about Willmore Wilderness Park
go to: www.PeopleandPeaks.com