ELEMENTAL FITNESS

Heidi Dubé is the founder, owner and Head Trainer at Elemental Fitness and Nutrition Coaching Studio where she works with individuals across a range of fitness goals, including strength training, senior fitness, group fitness, and corrective exercise. 

Heidi has spent more than a decade in the fitness and wellness field and is celebrating ten years of leading the Silver Sneakers Program, supporting adults aged 55+ through improved mobility, balance, strength, and confidence. She has also competed in bodybuilding and served as the Dryland Trainer for the Fairview Flyers in 2024. Her work is grounded in functional movement, long-term wellness, and strong community connection.

Heidi’s background includes owning and operating Lift Fitness Studio in Peace River and serving as a franchise owner with Simply For Life. Her education includes extensive training across fitness, nutrition, and corrective exercise. Her certifications include Holistic Nutrition through Alive Academy, corrective exercise and senior fitness specialization through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), group fitness instruction through the Alberta Fitness Leadership Certification Association (AFLCA), and personal training and bodybuilding specialization through the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA).

Heidi is the Past Vice President of the Peace River and District Chamber of Commerce and works as a business coach for Community Futures Peace Country. She lives in the Peace Region with her husband and two sons and enjoys hockey, snowshoeing, and spending time outdoors with her family.

CHOOSING CHANGE COUNSELLING

Charis Nepinak is the owner of Choosing Change Counselling Services Inc., where she provides individual, couples, and family counselling. Her work focuses on supporting mental health and well-being in the Peace Region, including trauma-informed and equine-assisted approaches.

Before transitioning into counselling, Charis spent 27 years in aviation as a commercial pilot, flying bush planes, commuter aircraft, corporate jets, and medevac aircraft. She also held senior airline management roles and was one of only two female Chief Pilots in Canada. In 2020, she made the decision to leave aviation to pursue her interest in providing mental health support.

Charis holds an Aviation Management Diploma, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Indigenous Studies, and a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology. She is actively involved in the community as an Executive Director of the Grimshaw Chamber of Commerce and through her ongoing collaboration with local mental health and suicide prevention organizations. Charis also spearheads an annual mental health-based retreat. Charis moved to Grimshaw in 2011 and lives on a farm with her partner, where life centres around family, horses, nature, and creating spaces that support emotional well-being.

RURAL HEART MEDIA

Dani Wearden works full time in communications and is the founder and owner of Rural Heart Media, where she captures video and creates digital content that highlights local events, people, and community stories. She also serves as President and Marketing Coordinator of the Berwyn Agricultural Society and manages social media for the Harvest Moon Festival.

With a strong eye for visual storytelling and digital content, Dani enjoys helping individuals, businesses, and community organizations share their work online in ways that feel authentic, approachable, and engaging. A returning presenter at the Northern Women in Agriculture Conference, she enjoys sharing practical tips and insights on online marketing, drawing from her hands-on experience creating and managing content for community organizations.

Largely self-taught, Dani has built her skills through real-world experience, online social media marketing courses, and a commitment to staying current with trends and platform changes. She grew up in the Peace Country and continues to live near Berwyn. Outside of work, she enjoys volunteering, spending time with her son, hiking with friends and dogs, and barrel racing during the summer.

LEADER IN HUMAN RESOURCES

Stacey Messner is a leader in Human Resources (HR) and the sole proprietor of an HR consulting practice based in Grimshaw, Alberta. She specializes in mentoring and coaching women leaders, with a strong focus on the HR components of management roles, including conflict resolution, employee relations, team building, and leadership development.

Stacey delivers a Supervisor Training Program that includes workshops in Respect Awareness, Conflict Resolution, DISC Style Inventory, and Performance Management. Her approach is grounded in both formal training and lived experience. Having worked as a supervisor herself, Stacey understands firsthand how challenging and isolating leadership roles can be, which fuels her passion for supporting supervisors and managers as they build confidence and practical leadership skills. Her career spans both the private and non-profit sectors.

Stacey holds a Bachelor of Management in Human Resources and Organizational Design and has been a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) since 2010. She also holds several certificates in HR-related programs, including conflict management, mediation, workplace restoration and fairness, and conflict management coaching.

Stacey is currently serving her third term on Grimshaw Town Council and her first year as Mayor. She lives in Grimshaw with her husband and twins and enjoys swimming, hiking, and staying actively involved in her community.