One Health Summer Institute 2025: Watershed Planning

Assistant Professor, Schulich School of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary

kerry.black@ucalgary.ca

Kerry Black is an Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair (Integrated Knowledge, Engineering & Sustainable Communities), in the Center for Environmental Engineering Research and Education (CEERE) and the Department of Civil Engineering, at the University of Calgary.   She received her PhD from the University of Guelph with research focused on sustainable water and wastewater management in Indigenous communities.  Her focus is to engage in a cross-disciplinary research platform, incorporating technical civil and environmental engineering principles and research, with policy and socio-economic components, focusing on sustainable infrastructure for healthy and resilient communities.  

Professor, Hydrology and Schulich Research Chair in Environmental Prediction, University of Calgary

martyn.clark@ucalgary.ca 

Martyn is a Professor of Hydrology and Schulich Research Chair in Environmental Prediction at the University of Calgary. He is elected Fellow of the American Geophysical Union (in 2016) and is the previous Editor-In-Chief for Water Resources Research (2017-2020). Martyn’s research focuses in three main areas: (i) developing and evaluating process-based hydrological models; (ii) understanding the sensitivity of water resources to climate variability and change; and (iii) developing the next generation streamflow forecasting systems. Martyn has authored or co-authored over 200 journal articles since receiving his PhD in 1998.

Associate Veterinarians, Veterinary Agri-Health Services Ltd. (VAHS)

MattK@vahs.net

Matt was raised on his family’s ranch in Jumping Pound, AB. He earned his Animal Science degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 2010 and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. Following graduation, Dr. Matt joined Bow Valley Livestock Health and Bow Valley Genetics in Brooks, AB where he provided advanced reproductive services to cow-calf clients. In 2017, he returned home to manage the family ranch and joined Veterinary Agri-Health Services as a part-time veterinarian. Since that time, Dr. Matt and his wife, Angela, have grown the operation to 300 head of Red Angus crossbred mother cows and 700 head of grass cattle by focusing on regenerative agriculture and management-intensive grazing practices. They enjoy family time and ranching with their children, Wade, Bennett, and Rachel. In his spare time, Dr. Matt also enjoys roping at brandings, hunting, and fishing.

Professor, Faculty of Science, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary

kelly.munkittrick@ucalgary.ca

Kelly Munkittrick received a B.Sc. in Fish and Wildlife biology in 1980 and a M.Sc. in environmental physiology in 1983, both from the University of Guelph. He completed his PhD in 1988 in Aquatic Toxicology at the University of Waterloo.

Most recently, he was the Executive Director of Cold Regions and Water Initiatives at Wilfrid Laurier University.  Prior to Laurier, he was the Director of Monitoring at Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA; 2013-2017), where he worked to help the oil sands industry adjust to a new regional environmental monitoring framework, and to align monitoring across oil sands companies. Kelly previously also held a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Ecosystem Health Assessment at the University of New Brunswick (2001-2013), and 11 years as a Research Scientists with the Canadian Federal Government (6 at Fisheries and Oceans and 5 at Environment Canada). 

Executive Director, Bow River Basin Council 

mmurray@brbc.ab.ca

Mike has been working with the BRBC since 2003 coming from a background in ecology. He grew up in the Bow Basin exploring the headwaters, foothills and prairies and developing a keen appreciation for the natural environment and the importance of stewardship of this precious resource. The challenges are many, but Mike enjoys working on these issues with all of the partners and members of the BRBC towards solving complex issues together. He has a firm belief that working together in an inclusive and collaborative fashion we can find solutions and help our ecosystems to flourish and ultimately sustain our future and those who will come after us.

Professor, Faculty of Science, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary 

frederickjohn.wrona@ucalgary.ca  

Dr. Fred Wrona received a B.Sc. in Environmental Biology in 1977 and a PhD in Aquatic Ecology in 1982 from the University of Calgary. He has >30 years of experience leading or contributing to numerous environmental research and monitoring programs addressing regional, national and international environmental issues related to: climate impacts on freshwater ecosystems; cold regions hydro-ecology; multiple stressor and cumulative effects assessments; ecotoxicology; and environmental monitoring program design. Most recently, he was the inaugural Chief Scientist and Assistant Deputy Minister (Environmental Monitoring and Science Division) for the Department of Alberta Environment and Parks and was previously the Vice-President and Chief Scientist at the Alberta Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation Agency. He also served as the government co-chair for the joint Canada-Alberta Oil Sands Monitoring Program.

Professor, Faculty of Science, Department of Earth, Energy, and Environment

cryan@ucalgary.ca

Cathy has been a Professor in Earth, Energy and Environment long enough to have seen three department name changes.  She is trained as a Geological Engineer and Hydrogeologist but truly identifies as ai integrated water scientist.  In her work with communities, she appreciates that the most difficult water challenges are in policy, regulation, and law.  She is closing in on accomplishing 100 peer-reviewed publications and received the “R.N. Farvolden Award” in 2025 (which honors outstanding contributions to the discipline of earth science and engineering that emphasize the role or importance of groundwater).   When not ‘doing science’, Cathy spends much of her time recreating in the flow-generating eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies and thinking about water science.

Professor, Schulich School of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering

Alain.Pietroniro@ucalgary.ca

Dr. Alain Pietroniro currently holds the position of Professor and Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Water Systems at the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering. Prior to his academic appointment, Dr. Pietroniro served as the Executive Director of the National Hydrological Service (NHS) for the government of Canada. His research is primarily focused on improving, developing, and evaluating hydrological models, remote sensing and GIS applications in hydrology. His work is focused on improving, developing, and evaluating hydrologic models, understanding the sensitivity of water resources to climate variability and change, and developing the next generation of hydrological modelling systems. His very recent transition to an academic career at the University of Calgary has allowed him to incorporate his operational, policy and water resources experiences into an applied and relevant research focus at the University of Calgary. 

Michelle is an honours graduate of Mount Royal University, holding a BSc in Environmental Science. Her academic journey sparked a deep passion for water resources and data analysis, which she now uses as a tool to uncover the intricate connections between people, the environment, and aquatic health. As the CreekWatch and Citizen Science Manager at the RiverWatch Institute of Alberta, Michelle empowers Albertans to explore and answer the question, "How healthy is our local waterway?" by equipping them with the knowledge and resources to collect and interpret water monitoring data. Through her work, Michelle fosters a holistic approach to water stewardship by ensuring that aquatic ecosystems, communities, and decision-makers are connected and supported with reliable data, helping guide the management and protection of watersheds across Alberta.  

Tim Patterson was born Morris Coutlee who is a member of the Lower Nicola Indian Band that belongs to the Scw̓éxmx (“People of the Creeks”) a branch of the Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) Nation of the Interior Salish speaking peoples of British Columbia Canada. Tim grew up in Revelstoke within the Sinixt territory and now resides in Calgary, Alberta. 

Tim has worked throughout British Columbia and Alberta for 30+ years in the areas of Indigenous Child & Youth Care, Indigenous Education, Indigenous Health, Indigenous Tourism as well as Housing & Homelessness for government, universities, not for profits, professional organizations and First Nation reserves. Presently, Tim is owner/lead guide of Zuc’min Guiding an Indigenous adventure tourism company. 

Tim is Fellow in Royal Canadian Geographical Society as well the VP of Mountain Culture for the Alpine Club of Canada. Tim is also honoured to be the Indigenous Ambassador for the UN 2025 International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. An acclaimed Indigenous guide and educator, Tim’s research and teaching is focused on Indigenous Narratives, Land-based learning, Indigenous Knowledge of the mountains and Indigenous Tourism. 

Associate Professor, Faculty of Law

molszyns@ucalgary.ca

Martin is an Associate Professor and the Chair in Energy Resources, and Sustainability at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law, with several years of public service in environmental and natural resources law and policy. From 2007 to 2013, he was counsel with the federal Department of Justice, practising law in the legal services unit at Fisheries and Oceans Canada. During this period, he also spent time on secondment to the Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Division at Environment Canada. Martin holds a B. Sc. (Biology) and an LL.B., both from the University of Saskatchewan, an LL.M. from the University of California at Berkeley, and is currently pursuing his PhD in regional land-use planning at the University of British Columbia's Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability.

Richard has been with the Bow River Irrigation District since 1996, initially as the district engineer, and as the general manager since 2004. Previously, he worked on various water resources projects as a consulting engineer in Calgary. He has a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Alberta (1984) and is registered as a professional engineer in Alberta. He is a vice chair of the Bow River Basin Council. 

Richard serves as chair of the regional water services commission in Vauxhall, Alberta, which operates the regional potable water system. 

Professor, Faculty of Science, Department of Biological Sciences

smvamosi@ucalgary.ca

Dr. Steven Vamosi is Professor of Population Biology in the Department of Biological Sciences and the Scientific Director of the Biogeoscience Institute at the University of Calgary. His research program focuses on evolutionary and conservation ecology of native species in western Canada and the North. Recent projects in the lab include range contraction and potential range expansion of bull trout in Alberta and the Yukon, respectively; ecosystem consequences of Chinook salmon crash in the Yukon; population status of long-toed salamanders; and impacts of beaver activity on montane ecosystems. He has a longstanding commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, serving as the inaugural Associate Dean – EDI for the Faculty of Science (2016-2021). Over the last decade, Dr. Vamosi has worked to build partnerships with First Nations communities in Alberta and the Yukon, with the Chinook salmon study being a full partnership with members of Teslin Tlingit Council. A recent Mobilizing Alberta grant with The Resilience Institute and Piikani Nation enabled knowledge sharing and transfer regarding ecological monitoring of sweetgrass and bison, and an ii’ tah’poh’to’p grant supported Elder gatherings to inform Indigenizing the Barrier Lake field station.

Mike has over 20 years of experience as an aquatic biologist and has worked at EPCOR as a watershed biologist for 9 years. In his role at EPCOR, Mike has focused on understanding watershed processes to protect drinking water sources and to minimize the impacts of stormwater and wastewater. Mike received his B.Sc. from the University of Regina and his M.Sc. from the University of Alberta. Mike's favorite pastime is paddling his canoe with his family on Alberta's lake and rivers.

Samantha.larose@ucalgary.ca

Samantha Larose is the Manager of One Health at UCalgary. She is also currently a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) student at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Samantha received her M.Sc. in Epidemiology and Biostatistics with a focus on health services research from The University of Western Ontario in 2014. She then returned home to Calgary to work for Alberta Health Services and then for a consulting firm which led her to work with health systems and service organizations from across Alberta and internationally. In 2018, she obtained her Credentialed Evaluator (CE) designation, recognizing her for having the education, experience and project management skills required to be a competent program evaluator. Samantha’s passion for One Health and Public Health has led her to work on projects in antimicrobial resistance, primary care strategy, and most recently drowning prevention strategies in Cambodia. 

Brie joined WaterSMART at the start of 2017 where she focuses on research and project management in several Lines of Business, including Watershed Managers, Public Sector and Resource Industries. Brie has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Mount Allison University, and later specialized in water through a Master’s degree in Integrated Water Resources Management at McGill University. These degrees provided her with the solid knowledge base and skills to be an effective water researcher and gave her a broad understanding of water governance and legislation in Canada. Growing up in the Okanagan, on Vancouver Island and in Hawaii, Brie has a strong connection to lakes and oceans. Since high school, she has focused on working toward sustainable management of the extraordinary natural resources we enjoy in Canada, including water.

Karin.orsel@ucalgary.ca

Dr. Orsel completed her DVM at the Utrecht University in 1996 and she started to work as a locum veterinarian in several veterinary practices in the Netherlands. In February 1997, she started her job as a clinician at the ambulatory clinic of the department of farm animal health in Utrecht. After being actively involved in an epidemiologic study during the epidemic of foot and mouth disease in 2001, she started her graduate training on this topic and obtained a MSc degree in veterinary epidemiology and economics in 2004 and a PhD in 2007. she joined UCVM in February 2008, with a main focus on epidemiology and infectious diseases of cattle. She passed her NAVLE which allowed her to also practice part time in Alberta for Veterinary Agri-Health Services. Her research and teaching focuses on both beef and dairy cattle (and sometimes wildlife) and she is leading the cattle health research group. Her main passion is herd management, infectious diseases, and in the more recent years on welfare related topic like lameness and beef cattle preconditioning. She is passionate about One Health and has recently taken on the role of convener the One Health Initiative at the University of Calgary.