About Us

The Alberta Hiking Association (otherwise know as AHA) is primarily an umbrella organization for hiking clubs from across the province. AHA is a registered non-profit society and will provide a stronger province-wide voice for hikers who have had little or no such voice in the past. AHA was incorporated as Hike Alberta Society on June 19, 2008, under the Alberta Societies Act. A Board of Directors was elected following a meeting in Red Deer on November 1, 2008.

Board of Directors

Don Cockerton (Chair, Calgary)

When Don was 12, his parents took him for a hike around Lake Louise.  At that point, he couldn’t quite see the point.  A few years later, he landed a summer job as a Park Naturalist at Lake Louise and led visitors on interpretive hikes.   There was no turning back and during that summer, Don developed a life-long love of hiking.   Don later worked as a planner for Alberta Parks in Kananaskis Country, was engaged in trail related work and began the work of starting and developing the Friends of Kananaskis Trail Care program.  Now, in retirement, Don enjoys helping the Alberta Hiking Association grow into a stronger and more effective voice for hikers in Alberta.  

Connie Simons (Director of Southern Alberta)

Connie lives in SW Alberta next to the Castle Parks and has loved back-country hiking and riverway travels in Alberta and BC for decades.  For Connie, hiking is food for the soul and sanity, and for the health benefits of staying active with a fresh-air lifestyle.   As for background, she brings to the AHA experience in outdoor education and conservation; an understanding of land-use and recreation management planning; and support for ecologically sustainable outdoor recreation that, if properly managed, will help to bring nature-based economic diversification strategies more to the forefront in Alberta.

Heinz Unger (Director of Planning)

After completing his civil engineering studies in Austria, Heinz came to Canada and worked in municipal engineering projects. He later worked on international infrastructure development projects all over the world, including environmental assessment and management. Since retiring to Alberta Heinz has been working with a number of environmental NGOs. He lives in the Ghost Valley and likes to hike and paddle in the “Ghost”.

Ted Jones (Director)

Recently retired from working in the Calgary corporate world, Ted continues to oversee his retail business. He has spent a lifetime hiking in Britain, Southern Africa and in Alberta where he has resided since the early ’90s. He spends most of his time hiking in the Ghost watershed.

Marco Baldasaro (Director)

Marco likes to spend his free time exploring our mountain parks.  He skis in the winter, and hikes, bikes, and trail runs in the summer. Marco has hiked extensively in Banff, particularly in the front ranges on extended backcountry trips. In Kootenay, he has both hiked and trail run the Rockwall.  He has also hiked widely in the Yoho, Assiniboine, and Kananaskis areas.    Marco is a Partner at McLennan Ross LLP in Calgary.

Vacancy

Perhaps you would like to join our Board of Directors?  Contact Us for more information and to get involved.

Our Objectives

  • To act as an advocate at provincial and regional levels for walking, hiking, and snowshoeing interests.
  • To create an information network that facilitates sharing ideas, concerns, and actions needed to promote and preserve hiking and the natural environment on which it relies.
  • To advance the development and maintenance of well-built hiking trails and to encourage trail-building initiatives in Alberta.
  • To promote responsible, minimal-impact hiking that respects the natural environment and to educate through example.
  • To increase awareness about the benefits to health and local economies of walking, hiking and snowshoeing.


Join our Board

Are you interested to become a board member or serve on one of our committees?  Contact Us!

Join Our Board of Directors