JASPER, AB — The Board of Directors of the Jasper Community Team Society (JCTS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Susan Given as Executive Director.

A Jasper resident and experienced senior leader, Susan brings 30 years of experience spanning

community-based health and social services, organizational leadership and entrepreneurship.

Most recently, she served as Senior Operating Officer with Recovery Alberta, leading mental

health and addiction services across northern Alberta. Her career has focused on bringing

people together, building strong partnerships and translating community needs and shared

priorities into action.

Susan also brings significant experience supporting communities through disasters and longterm recovery. Her work has included recovery efforts in Slave Lake, Fort McMurray, High Level

and Jasper, where she has worked with community organizations and government partners,

supported psychosocial recovery, and helped secure and steward funding to respond to

emerging community needs.

As a Registered Social Worker with master's degrees in Social Work and Public Health, Susan

brings a particular focus on community wellbeing, collaboration and resilience. Her experience

in strategic planning, community development, organizational leadership and partnershipbuilding will support JCTS as it continues to respond to Jasper's evolving needs and looks toward

the community's longer-term future.

For Susan, the opportunity is also deeply personal. As a Jasper resident, she experienced the

2024 wildfire and its impacts on the community firsthand. She sees the work ahead as both

continuing to support Jasper's recovery and building on this moment to strengthen the

connections, capacity and systems that contribute to community wellbeing and resilience over

the long term.

“JCTS has played an important role in supporting Jasper through an extraordinary period, and

we are excited to have Susan leading the organization into its next chapter,” said Board Co-Chair

Brooklyn Rushton. “Susan brings an exceptional combination of senior leadership experience,

expertise in community wellbeing and disaster recovery, and a genuine connection to Jasper.

Just as importantly, she understands the power of partnerships and community-led solutions,

which are at the heart of JCTS”.

“Jasper is home, so the opportunity to bring my experience to an organization dedicated to the

wellbeing of this community means a great deal to me,” said Susan. “Recovery is about

responding to what has been lost and what people need today, but it is also an opportunity to

think about the kind of community we want to build for the future. I’m looking forward to

listening, learning and working alongside residents, community organizations, partners and

supporters to build on the tremendous work already underway”.

Susan began her role as Executive Director on August 17. In her first weeks, she will focus on

listening and learning — meeting with JCTS staff, Board members, community organizations,

partners and residents to better understand their perspectives on JCTS, Jasper’s evolving needs,

and the opportunities ahead.