Our Team

Nicole Eplett

I have been a Canmore local for 10 years now. I have a background in HR, hospitality and event planning. I work full-time as a Senior Wedding & Event Coordinator while also following my vision of launching my own event planning business in the Valley. While I'm not working you can find me camping, golfing or on a ski hill! I have been with CYAN for two years now and have seen us continue to grow - I can’t wait to see the future with all the amazing people we have now on board and paid to support CYAN’s dream with their own specialized skill sets!

Lisa

Originally from the UK. I first entered the Bow valley in 2017 and fell in love with the mountain life straight away. I spend my time hiking, climbing, ice skating, paddles boarding, skiing and whatever other fun things are on offer. CYAN has been a major part of my journey here in the valley and I have loved going to events and making new friends and connections within the community. I’m so happy to now be part of the team and get involved even more.

Helen Yu

Like most members of this wonderful Young Adult Network, I landed in beautiful Canmore soaking up the breath-taking outdoor adventures that the mountains had to offer. After spending 4 amazing years in Canmore, it was time to give back to a community that has welcomed so many new residents (from near & far) and given us the platform to create new connections. I joined CYAN in 2022 as the VP of marketing, assisting with monthly newsletter blasts, however CYAN has expanded since then and I am now working with the team towards a rebrand that reflects the next chapter of our growth. CYAN has created so many unforgettable memories for me and I am excited for the future of this incredible organization!

Hannah

Hey! I am originally from Calgary but after living in various places across Canada I have found my way back to Canmore. I spend my free time teaching yoga, hiking, skiing and rock climbing. I have absolutely loved working for Cyan and being apart of this amazing community. I have met some amazing people and have had many opportunities to try new things through their events.

Sarah Fletcher

I always like to say I landed in Canmore by accident! I travelled to Southeast Asia and around Europe for several months after my undergrad and landed a job here at the museum (interviewing remotely in Barcelona!) without ever having heard of Canmore before. I've been living here since the fall of 2022 and enjoy hiking, paddleboarding, camping, and snowboarding. I first started teaching yoga for CYAN and was grateful for the opportunity to make friends and feel like I was part of a community. Now, I'm happy to be coordinating those programs and events to connect young adults with each other here in the valley!

Julia Demaer

Natalie Castillo

Tolga Akkaya

I’m originally from Turkey, but mostly grew up in Ontario and have lived in 4 provinces now. I’ve been in Canmore since August 2022 and came here for adventure - the opportunity to rock climb and snowboard, but I’m choosing to stay after building such good community and a sense of belonging. I work in the climbing gym at Elevation Place and I’m quite active in our community in various other ways. I was on team cabbage for the Canmore Community Gardening Society this summer, I occasionally volunteer with Community Cruisers as a bicycle mechanic, I've volunteered with the Canmore Folk Festival every summer, I planted trees around town with the Urban Forest Initiative Canmore and have regularly attended CYAN events. I’m super excited to get involved with CYAN on a more regular basis to give back to the organization that has enriched my life here, and to spread the word on what our beautiful community has to offer. Besides that I also really enjoy yoga, dancing, slacklining, cycling and exploring different art mediums at ArtsPlace.

Jopell Eslava

Ever since working in Lake Louise in 2022, I've fallen in love with the mountains and embraced an outdoor lifestyle. After briefly moving back to Edmonton to be with my family and finish school, I knew I wanted to return to work and play in the mountains again. I was thrilled to find a job in my field in Banff, which led me to settle in Canmore. I joined CYAN to connect with other young adults and become part of the community. Now, I'm looking forward to making meaningful connections.

Yasimin M

Irene Yang

Born and raised in Taiwan, I've been residing in Canmore for the past 1.5 years. CYAN was the first community I attended which was so helpful when I was a newcomer in Canmore. I'm so appreciative and excited that I can join CYAN as a part of the team. Life is like a miracle journey - I'm always open to all challenges and explore everything's possible. I'm so ready for this amazing journey and can't wait to experience the future with y'all.

Brittney Balcaran

Last May, I packed up my life to move across the country from Kingston, my little uni town, to beautiful Canmore. It all started when I landed my first real 'big girl' job at Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, where it’s Earth Day every day. My day-to-day involves the usual, but according to my 6-year-old niece, I save bears for a living (which I’m totally cool with saying instead). Leaving Queen's party culture and academic hustle for mountain views and warm matcha has been surreal and such an incredible shift. I have a Sunshine Pass and a Wildheart membership this year, and I'm always looking for someone to go out with so hit me up!

Maren Doernbrack

Hi, I’m Maren, the builder of this website and CYAN's most recent member at large! My boyfriend and I moved here in July 2020 and my beginnings in this town were definitely lonely. After many months of lockdowns and working remotely, getting involved with CYAN allowed me to form friendships and helped me find a greater sense of purpose in this community. Find me exploring all of Canmore’s delicious food options or catch me hiking, biking, skiing, running, climbing and netflixing!

Heather Menaglio

I am an Australian/Canadian lawyer that came to visit the valley in 2018 (and never left). I am passionate about human rights and want to help ensure that young adults receive a "fair go" in the community. Outside of work, I enjoy mountain biking, kiteboarding and xc skiing. CYAN provides an excellent opportunity to build solid friendships in this highly transient community. I look forward to connecting with more people.