Belinda Crowson was first elected to Lethbridge City Council in 2017 and is currently in her second term. She was born and raised in southern Alberta and attended the University of Lethbridge, where she obtained degrees in Education and BioChemistry. Belinda’s Blackfoot name is A’okiwennowa, which means Seen By All.
Prior to her election, Belinda worked as the Museum Educator at the Galt Museum & Archives. She is active in local and Alberta history, currently serving as the president of the Lethbridge Historical Society and is a past-president of the Historical Society of Alberta. Belinda is also an author, tour guide and public speaker. With the LHS, she has published six books. Her seventh publication, Lethbridge: A History in Pictures, was co-authored with Bobbie Fox, Lorien Johansen, and George Kuhl and was published through MacIntyre Purcell Publishers.
As a member of Lethbridge City Council, Belinda sits on several committees and commissions, including the Inter-municipal Committee (City and County of Lethbridge), Joint Committee – City of Lethbridge and Lethbridge School Boards, Audit Standing Policy Committee and Governance Standing Policy Committee. She believes strongly in public involvement in local politics and encourages people to reach out to her with questions, concerns and comments, as well as to volunteer on city committees. One of the favourite parts of her job is conducting school classes at City Hall, talking governance, and working with residents to devise the best possible solutions for the entire community.
Biography to be updated shortly.
Mayor Rempel joined the Board of Directors in November 2025 with biography to be updated in the short term.
Jack Van Rijn was born in Taber, Alberta and his family farmed in the Readymade area until 1966 when they moved to Coaldale. Jack is the youngest of 18 children and the only one born in Canada. Coaldale has been his home all his life and is where his three children were raised: Lindsay, Jessie, and Cam. As ‘Coaldale’s Number 1 Fan’ (self-proclaimed) Jack has been heavily involved as a volunteer through various organizations for over 37 years to make Coaldale an even better place to work, live and play! Jack has always been a firm believer in giving back to the community and making a real difference.
He is the former co-owner of Van Rijn Electric; a business he started and ran with his brother Hank for over 35 years. Jack believes Coaldale is a great place to grow a business and strives to actively promote Coaldale businesses through the local Chamber of Commerce, with which he has been involved for the past 35 years and will continue to do so.
That company grew into Southland Industries, Lethbridge Truck Equipment and Royal Trailers. After selling his interest in Southland he started Chinook Country Trailers and worked with Southland and Lethbridge County servicing and completing infrastructure for the Broxburn Business Park.
Rory is currently President of a Commercial Condo Association and manages commercial buildings in Lethbridge and Coaldale.
Stephen joined the Board in April 2023 and is a practicing lawyer and partner with Stringam LLP in Lethbridge, Alberta.
Councilor Prete joined the Board in November 2025 and will add a biography in the short term.
Councilor Evans joined the Board in November and will add a biography in the short term.
Councilor Fisher joined the Board in November 2025 with a biography to be added in the short term.
Mayor Barton joined the Board in November 2025 with his biography to be added in the short term.
John Kuerbis joined the Board in November 2021, as the Division 4 Lethbridge County Councilor. Division 4 is the region just west of Lethbridge and encompasses the area around Coalhurst and north to Diamond City. John has spent the last five years in Lethbridge, having moved from Fort McMurray. He grew up in the Athabasca area.
John is an insurance adjuster and has run his own firm for the last 15 years, he is also a certified fire cause and origin investigator, he previously owned and operated a Real Estate/Property management firm.
John has sat on several boards over the last 30 years including:
Athabasca Chamber of Commerce-President and vice president, Director of Athabasca Little league, Perryvale Community association-Director and president, Athabasca River Runners snowmobile club-Treasurer, Fort McMurray Composite athletics association-Director and president, Fort McMurray Composite Parents association-Director, McMurray Dirt Riders Motocross track-Director, Vice President, president.
He is the father of 4 children and 3 grandchildren, and enjoys woodworking and classic cars. He is always happy to drop everything to help anyone in need.
