Leadership at Unison

Meet the Team

Unison is a charitable organization with programs and services in Calgary and Medicine Hat, Alberta. Meet the leadership team and board members helping guide that work.

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About Unison

Adults 50+ Across Alberta

Explore the organization

Our team

Unison is a charitable organization with programs and services in Calgary and Medicine Hat, Alberta.

The Annual General Meeting takes place in the spring. Any member in good standing may run for positions on the Board.

President and CEO

Larry Mathieson

With nearly 40 years of experience leading charities and government initiatives, Larry Mathieson has a proven track record of transforming organizations and strengthening communities. As President and CEO of Unison for Generations 50+, Larry has expanded services for seniors across Southern Alberta, introducing online programs and rebranding the organization to reflect its growing impact.

Previously, he spent over a decade as CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities in Alberta, fostering innovation to support families in need. Larry holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Calgary, an MBA from California Southern University, and an MS in Strategic Fundraising from Bay Path University.

A dedicated husband, father of five, and grandfather of soon to be eight, Larry lives in High River, Alberta, with his wife Cathy. His passion for nonprofit leadership and community building continues to drive meaningful change across Calgary and beyond.

Board of Directors

Unison is a charitable organization with programs and services in Calgary and Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Kenneth Lin

Kenneth Lin

CHAIR, TREASURER

Kenneth Lin

CHAIR, TREASURER

I was born and raised in Calgary and the Unison Society is an integral part of the fabric of this city. I joined the board so I could contribute to the sustainability of this vibrant community that services so many folks in our amazing city.

Janice A. Wilson

Janice A. Wilson

TREASURER

Janice A. Wilson

TREASURER

Janice Wilson is an accomplished Chartered Professional Accountant with over twenty years of financial reporting experience. During her tenure in industry, Janice has worked in controllership roles for multinational publicly traded companies. She thrives on turning numbers into insights that help drive organizational growth.

Whether it's optimizing financial reports, integrating data, or leading strategic projects, she is continually looking for ways to improve the accessibility and timeliness of financial information. She is a continuous learner and enjoys taking on new challenges. When Janice is not busy crunching numbers, she loves volunteering and giving back to her hometown city of Calgary. She is involved in the Canadian Progress Club, a not-for-profit group that supports women's health and wellness initiatives.

Photography, gardening, and watching live theatre enable her to forget about time and live in the moment.

Jacquelyn Poetker

Jacquelyn Poetker

SECRETARY

Jacquelyn Poetker

SECRETARY

As a retired gerontological social worker and educator with a focus on the issues of the older person, I look for opportunities to advocate for and support older adults. Most important to me is assuring that each of us has the information and support we need to always be at the center of our decision-making.

As a board member I am very proud of Unison's varied programs, support, and outreach that do that and much, much more.

Gordon (Gord) Nott

Gordon (Gord) Nott

DIRECTOR

Gordon (Gord) Nott

DIRECTOR

My busy and active life would be incomplete without my deep love for my family, my church, caring for others, the great outdoors, and music. Following a 34 year career in telecommunications and 10 gratifying years working with challenged adults, I have devoted my 18 years of retirement time to volunteering and serving on numerous committees to help ensure older adults in our community enjoy the very best lifestyle as they are able.

I look forward to representing Medicine Hat on the Unison, Kerby Assembly, board as it will bring additional opportunities to support and provide a fulfilling and vibrant "Home Away from Home" for our seniors community at the Veiner Centre.

Gail Lai

Gail Lai

DIRECTOR

Gail Lai

DIRECTOR

I am a corporate tax and technology lawyer and have over 15 years of board experience, having volunteered with many Calgary non-profit organizations in the past. I am thrilled to be a member of the board of directors of Unison. This is a dynamic organization doing innovative work in its food security programs, promotion of diversity, and ground breaking partnerships, and I look forward to contributing to the vital work that Unison is doing in Alberta.

Rein Saar

Rein Saar

DIRECTOR

Rein Saar

DIRECTOR

Following a 26 year career with Union Carbide, I joined Equinox Engineering in Calgary, and eventually transitioned into retirement while still providing them limited consulting services.

Studying the aging process has led me to understand how important good social connections are for both extending the aging process and increasing the joy in life as we age. While participating in various activities at the Unison Society over a number of years it became evident that Unison Society, formerly the Kerby Assembly, provide a diverse range of social supports that is key to fostering these important treasured social connections. My interest as a board member is to help the Unison Society remain resilient, vibrant, and to grow to meet the growing needs for all of its services.

Bart van Schaayk

Bart van Schaayk

DIRECTOR

Bart van Schaayk

DIRECTOR

Bart is a retired Chemical Engineer who grew up in Nova Scotia. He is a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University and the Nova Scotia Technical College, now part of Dalhousie University. The majority of his career was focused on the natural gas industry with companies including Gulf Canada Resources, Gulf Midstream, now Keyera, and Emera.

Bart spent the last 12 years of his career as an industry consultant, including 10 years as a partner with Gas Processing Management Inc., a natural gas infrastructure consultancy.

Following retirement in 2016, Bart began active volunteering involvement. This has included serving on the boards of the Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter, now Fear is not Love, Wood's Homes, and the Pinebrook Golf and Country Club.

Lohrasp Seify

Lohrasp Seify

DIRECTOR

Lohrasp Seify

DIRECTOR

I moved to Calgary when I was 17, fell in love with it, and never left. Ever since moving to the city, I've volunteered with the likes of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary, and other nonprofit organizations that provide services to children and young adults in need. I am elated to be able to give back to the city that adopted me and the province as a whole more than ever before through Unison, a cornerstone of our community.

By trade, I'm a technology executive at a Calgary-based FinTech company, with expertise in data, technology, artificial intelligence, and how to leverage them to make an impact.

Portrait of Michelle Berg, Director at Unison.

Michelle Berg

DIRECTOR

Michelle Berg

DIRECTOR

Michelle Berg is the CEO of Elevated HR Solutions, a fractional HR consultancy focused on empowering leaders and creating positive workplace cultures. With over 20 years of experience in human resources, executive coaching, and organizational strategy, Michelle brings thoughtful insight and practical solutions to her work.

Michelle's passion for supporting community initiatives around aging and wellness was deeply influenced by her grandmother, who demonstrated that genuine relationships and connections transcend generational divides. A dedicated volunteer until the end, Michelle's grandmother would have wholeheartedly embraced her involvement with Unison. First introduced to the Unison Society in 2019 through a short project, Michelle quickly recognized Unison as a natural and meaningful fit for her personal and professional values.

Michelle's previous board experience includes KidSport and Meticulon, and she currently serves on the board of directors for HEEL (Higher Education Elevating Ladies). She holds a psychology degree from the University of Manitoba and a Master's degree in Counselling Psychology from York University, reflecting her dedication to blending empathy with strategic thinking.

Dharmesh Makwana (2)

Dharmesh Makwana

DIRECTOR

Dharmesh Makwana

DIRECTOR

While visiting a family member in a Calgary hospital, Dharmesh noticed how many seniors had no visitors or support. The experience stayed with him and led him to join the Unison Board, with a belief that every senior deserves dignity, connection, and support.

Dharmesh is a Calgary-based business and technical advisor with over 25 years of experience across the private sector and Indigenous governments. He previously served as President and CEO of an Indigenous-owned technology and financial services company supporting more than 100 Indigenous governments, and as Chief Administrative Officer of a First Nation in northern BC. In these roles, he worked closely with Boards on governance, strategic oversight, and accountability.

He is currently a Founding Partner and Director at 149MKM, where he supports Indigenous government clients in governance, infrastructure, and economic development. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) from the University of Lincoln, UK.

No photo Board Member

Max Lipsman

DIRECTOR

Max Lipsman

DIRECTOR

Bio to be added.