Board of Directors

Steve Harvey, Vice-Chair and IT Security and Solutions Chair

Steve met his wife thru-hiking the PCT in 2016, and the two hiked the GDT as their honeymoon in 2021. Falling in love on the trail must be in his nature because he’s returned to do trail maintenance every year since. He has been the chair of the GDTA’s IT committee since 2022, and was elected to the board in 2023. He hopes to see the Great Divide Trail become well known in the hearts and minds of all Canadians and protected as a source of national pride.

Kristine O’Rielly, Director

Kristine has been on the GDTA Board since 2022 and has been living in the GDT-region for the past 7 years. She is an apprentice hiking guide with the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and can be found regularly hiking and skiing in the Canadian Rockies. She has volunteer experience with a number of conservation organizations including the Alpine Club of Canada, Parks Canada, Yellowstone to Yukon and CPAWS. Kristine’s mantra is that conservation is a team sport and she believes we can get further by partnering with like-minded organizations who are working toward our shared goal of preserving the wilderness of the GDT region. She hopes to use her skills, passion and creativity to help the GDTA advance its’ goals during her term. 

Meaghan Underhill, Director

Meaghan has been on the GDTA Board since 2021, is a professional fundraiser by trade, an active member of the Ensuring Financial Capacity Committee, and has been building trail every summer since 2020. Originally from the Maritimes, she quickly fell in love with the mountains after backpacking solo to Mt. Assiniboine in 2018 (her first trip ever) and since then has hiked thousands of kilometres through the Rockies, Sierra Nevadas, and other wild places around the world. She joined the GDTA because she believes the Association plays an integral role in empowering all of us who love adventure and the wilderness.

Tara Fleming, Director

Tara is a senior marketing and communications professional with 20+ years of experience in project management, digital marketing/communications, public relations, stakeholder engagement and event management. She has worked with a diverse roster of clients, from world-class brands such as Dell, Best Buy and Brookfield Residential to local start-ups and charities such as The Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services and the Glenbow Museum. Tara is an avid volunteer, cyclist, hiker, backpacker and skier.

Hannah Finlan, Director

Hannah is a finance professional with extensive experience in corporate banking. Passionate about hiking and backpacking, she brings a deep appreciation for nature to the role. As a member of the Board of Directors for the GDTA, Hannah aims to leverage her financial expertise to support the sustainable preservation and development of the trail, ensuring it remains a treasure for future generations. While Hannah has completed numerous backpacking trips in Western Canada, she hopes to one day complete the GDT. 

Paul Jollymore, Director

Paul has been a member of the GDTA since 2020 and section hiked most of the GDT since that time. He’s been an active volunteer since 2021 and participated in a number of work camps at Cairnes and Collie Creek as well as being a member of the Outreach Committee. As a member of that committee, Paul hosted an info seminar in Kelowna featuring thru-hiker speakers, merchandise sales and membership promotion. He also had a part in the production of the new GoTrekker maps as part of that committee.

Paul is a retired member of the RCMP, living in Kelowna BC and over the years has been a member of various Boards including community and sports organizations. As an avid sailor he has served on the Kelowna Yacht Club’s board on two occasions most recently.

For the past two years, Paul and his wife have been BC Parks Hosts at Kakwa Lake where they have the joy and privilege to meet hikers who have experienced the GDT and they are proud to act as ambassadors for the organization.

Julien Cossette, Director

Julien has been an active Great Divide Trail Association volunteer since 2018. He has sweated, bushwhacked, eaten pine needles, tied thousands of flagging tape, and swung pulaskis on over fifteen trail building trips (including a few as leader). He also chaired the operations of the Trail Building and Maintenance Committee in 2019, contributing to the signature of a 4-year agreement with the Government of Alberta and the creation of partnerships with different youth groups during that time.

Alex Northey, Director

Alex’s first experience of the GDT was hiking Section E in the summer of 2021. After years of hiking throughout BC, Alberta and internationally, Alex realized what a special trail the GDT is and he wanted to help further promote, protect and improve the trail. 

Alex has been the chair of the Ensuring Financial Committee from September of 2021, right after his section hike, and they’ve had tremendous successes from securing Alberta Trails Act funding, to bringing on board corporate sponsors and many many grants. 

Alex’s work is at the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus where he works with 125 student staff to put on intramural sports for the 60,000 UBC students who call campus home. This involves hiring, training, culture creation, logistics & operations and working with students who have some of the best and most wild ideas.

Pamela Omu, Director

Pamela Omu is a Chartered Accountant with over 10 years of experience. Currently working as an accountant in a real estate company and a student member of CPA Ontario. She enjoys outdoor activities and seeks to preserve and advance historical sites.

In April 2024, Pamela saw the GDTA’s callout for a new Treasurer to the Board of Directors and began volunteering. She has been attending Board meetings and learning about the GDTA’s financials since then. 

Pamela is dedicated to advancing GDTA’s mission and vision and is excited to be part of the Board in making a great impact. She looks forward to leveraging her skills to support GDTA’s financial health and strategic growth.

Staff

Kate Hamilton, Executive Director

Kate began volunteer trail building with the GDTA in 2020 and quickly became attached to the trail and the volunteers, which is why she put her name forward for this role. Kate deeply values connection with the environment inspiring stewardship and protection, movement outdoors for mental and physical health, and access and inclusion to outdoor recreation for everyone. She hopes that her contributions will help the Great Divide Trail to be preserved and maintained for generations to come.