DON WALDORF
Councillor, Division 6
DON'S VISION
While Foothills County identifies as a rural municipality, growth is inevitable. The MD’s Central District is considered the “Growth Engine” of the region, with Division 6 settled on the shared border of the City of Calgary and highly influenced by the Calgary Metropolitan Region Board (CMRB).
Strong, informed and educated leadership is critical to ensure a balanced approach is taken in regard to future growth. We can create vibrant communities and economic opportunities, support conservation of the natural environment and limit future fragmentation of agricultural land through diligence, keeping constituent values front of mind and committing to proactive communication.
Follow our website for updates on where Don will conduct his "Meet & Greets"! He looks forward to getting together with as many Division 6 residents as possible.
IT'S ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY
Well-versed in County bylaws and direction, Don has established solid working relationships with the MD's Agricultural Services, Economic Development, Legislative Services, Parks & Recreation, Infrastructure, Operations, and Planning & Development teams. He is very proud of the close working relationship he has developed with both Foothills Fire Department and Protective Services. Don is a 25-year Calgary Stampede Shareholder & Volunteer, is an active participant with the Southern Alberta Parks & Lakes Manager’s Association, is a regular volunteer for local charities like the Foothills Firefighter Benevolent Society and local food banks, is a former member of the Lotteries Review Board representing Redwood Meadows and remains an active Calgary Zoo Special Events Volunteer.
GET TO KNOW DON
Don achieved his Bachelor of Physical Education with a Business Administration minor from the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton in 1975.
From there, he moved to Calgary to expand Northsport’s Western operations and open up a sales office for this national distributor of Alpine, Nordic, and Tennis equipment. Throughout this experience and until today, Don’s love for winter sport activities knows no bounds. He is pleased to be the Division 6 volunteer offering XC skiing and waxing clinics to area residents plus XC track-setting upon request from neighbouring communities. We extend thanks once again to the generous support of the Dunbow Recreation Board in track-setting equipment procurement.
Don joined Molson Breweries in 1980 to manage their sponsorship program for Southern Alberta. Here, he created and implemented the Molson Olympic marketing program as direct liaison with national and local sports governing bodies and Calgary Olympic Games Organizing Committee, to maximize Molson’s marketing investment.
Managing the local rodeo and chuckwagon circuits were part of Don’s responsibilities so communities like Black Diamond, Innisfail, Strathmore, Pincher Creek, Taber, High River and Okotoks are very familiar to him. Definitely a rookie, family friends in the Pincher Creek area have occasionally put Don to work on their Sheep farm.
During his time with Molson, he met future wife Donna, who was working with the Canadian National Ski Jumping team. They married in May of 1989 and never looked back. Don will tell you that one of his greatest achievements was marrying Donna, whose own excellence in marketing and events management led to the creation of the Calgary Zoo “Zoolights” event, celebrating its 25th year in 2021.
Joining Alberta Lotteries in 1990, he and Donna moved to Edmonton where, as Marketing Manager and Media Spokesperson for the organization, he led the innovation and development of key lottery products like Sport Select and Video Lottery, directed and managed their community/sports sponsorship program (including those for the Edmonton Eskimos and Calgary Stampeders) and remained responsible for budgets, staff development and acting liaison with government, private sector and industry associations. Returning to Calgary in 1994, Don created his own Marketing & Sales Consulting firm, Paraducks Marketing Group, which he continues with today. His client base turned to him for all aspects of corporate operations including marketing, business development, accounting, and human resources.
Moving to the Lake at Heritage Pointe Community in 2003 presented Don with the opportunity to expand his grasp of rural community values. Having lived in the community of Redwood Meadows for five years, where he was selected to volunteer with Town Council and the Redwood Meadows Lottery Review Board, Don acquired insight and understanding of rural needs and politics.
2015 was the year that saw Don accept an offer from the Lake at Heritage Pointe Owners Association to step into the role of Community Manager. With a mandate to manage budgets, staffing, contractors and all aspects of community maintenance, Don was tasked further to introduce programs and events for residents, guests, and the wider Division 6 population. The volunteer Board of Directors had a vision to bring out the family-oriented, active, and engaged citizenship it knew was based there and Don did that with flying colours. Today, there are very few people in his neighbourhood that don’t know Don personally, thanks to his initiative, outgoing personality, and willingness to engage all of those around him.
Don Waldorf is uniquely qualified to serve as your Division 6 Council Member and prepared to hit the ground running on Day One. Please consider all aspects of his diverse background and experience when you head to the polls on October 18, 2021.
Division 6 Voting Stations will be located at the Scott Seaman Sports Rink and MD Administration Building.
MEET DON
Don would be delighted to meet with any residents or community groups to listen and share in your vision for the future of Division 6. Do you have a Community Meeting, Residents Association meeting or AGM on the horizon? Call Don directly on his cell phone at (403) 660-5334. No group is too small or too large. Let's talk!
VALUES
Recognizing how important families are, and the benefit of activity to both mental and physical health,
Don is a very strong advocate for Division 6’s Dunbow Recreation Board (DRB), established in
2009 by late Division 6 Councillor Larry Spilak, and its mandate for “pursuing and implementing recreation programs and facilities, parks and open spaces within the Dunbow Recreation District”.
Don was an instrumental member of the Heritage Lake team fortunate to become recipient of several Dunbow Recreation Board grant opportunities in recent years. He looks forward to becoming a sitting member of this Board as your Division 6 Councillor.
Glenn Ruskin
Board Chair, Lake at Heritage Pointe Owners Association
“Every resident has come to know Don as the symbol and spirit of our community. He is always there to answer questions and to lend a helpful hand. Don has managed all aspects of the community with a down-to-earth communication style, giving us a community that we are proud of and feel safe living in."
Diana Froc
Director, Davisburg Community Association
“Don is a bridge-builder.”
Dan Leiding
Owner, T&T Disposal Services, Aldersyde
“Don has been a real pleasure to deal with while he was Manager at Heritage Lake. He went out of his way to get to know our whole team, especially our Heritage Lake collection route truck drivers!”.
DON WALDORF Councillor, Division 6
VOTE OCTOBER 18, 2021
Division 6 Voting Stations will be located at the Scott Seaman Sports Rink and MD Administration Building. Any questions related to the 2021 election may be directed to Heather McInnes, Returning Officer, at: HMcInnes@fcab.ca