Laura LaValley (photo courtesy of the Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta)

By Liam Verster

Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta

Community Foundation hires new CEO and Executive Director

Apr 11, 2020 | 6:00 AM

Laura LaValley has been hired as the new Executive Director and CEO of the Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta.

LaValley replaces Tracey Vavrek, who announced her leaving in March after serving the Foundation for 19 years.

LaValley says Vavrek has left the Foundation in great shape, and that it’s a privilege to step into the role and follow in her footsteps.

“All of the systems and hard work that she’s done to put the Community Foundation in the spot that it’s in, I look at it more as a privilege, and I’m really hoping that I can just continue on with all of the awesome things that she’s done.”

LaValley, who has worked for several non-profits in the past, says she was ready for a new challenge in her career, and saw this role as an opportunity to expand on the community work she has done in the past.

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“I’ve always admired the work that the Community Foundation has done in the region, and I just knew that it would be a position that I would be honoured to take on and challenge myself with.”

LaValley has experience with non-profits and foundations. She served as the Fund Development Officer for the QEII Hospital Foundation, as the Executive Director for the Regional EMS Foundation, and, most recently, as the Executive Director of the Grande Prairie Public School Division’s Education Foundation.

She says that, while this is a step up from her past positions, LaValley expects her experience to help in her new role.

“I think every role I’ve had in non-profit organizations in Grande Prairie has helped prepare me for this. Of course I have a lot to learn, but I have learned so much from all of the people I’ve worked with in the past, that I think it’s, hopefully, a good culmination of my experience that I’ll be able to use to benefit the Community Foundation.”

LaValley says it’s a tough time for everyone in the region, and in the province, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Foundation is currently working on ways to help the community.

“We’ve developed a couple of funds, one that helps directly with the COVID-19 response, and then the other that supports the food bank fund, just to help with food securities in the community. So those are things we’re looking to be able to cover the community the best we can during this crisis. From there, we will be evaluating the needs and trying to fill gaps if we can.”

LaValley took over the position on Wednesday, April 8, though is still working under the guidance of Vavrek. She says on Wednesday, April 15, she will be “flying solo,” and starting to put her mark on the Foundation as CEO and Executive Director.