Meet Our Board of Directors

Joan Steckhan owns and operates Prairie River Cruises Ltd. (PRCL) and Inland Marine Technologies Ltd. (IMT) with Mike Steckhan. She serves as CFO for both companies and acts as Director of Administration and Marketing for PRCL in the operation of The Prairie Lily Riverboat in Saskatoon. She is a management professional with a passion for strategic purpose, business process, and growth. The Prairie Lily has operated under her direction since 2012, becoming one of Saskatoon’s most iconic attractions.

A graduate of the University of Saskatchewan in Political Science, Joan is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with a significant career leading not-for-profit corporations including serving as the Executive Director of the Kinsmen Foundation for 12 years, Director of Finance and Business Development for Sask Pork 2000 – 2003, and the Director of Finance and Administration at the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority 1994-2000. Joan serves as a community volunteer in a of number areas, including a member of the Board of Governors for the North Saskatchewan Branch of the Corps of Commissionaires and the Blucher Aberdeen Volunteer Fire Department. She is a past and founding Board member of Canada’s Passenger and Commercial Vessel Association and member of the Patience Lake Heritage Committee. For entertainment Joan enjoys gardening and is a member of the Stone Frigate Big Band.

While Dan may be new to the role of CEO, he’s been a familiar face at Prairieland for over 30 years. Before moving into top position in November 2022, Dan spent the last 26 leading the Accounting Department as Chief Financial Officer. Dan holds the designations of Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. Dan oversaw both the Food & Beverage Department and Sports On Tap and has been instrumental in the conceptualization of many Prairieland projects over the years.

I believe we have the most beautiful city in the world, but it’s the people who truly make it shine. We’re a proud, deeply rooted community that is richly diverse in culture, heritage, and business opportunities. In my opinion, Saskatoon is the best place to live, work and invest which is why my family and I have made it our home. I am a proud father of two beautiful children; Emma & Theydon with an amazingly supportive and like-minded business professional wife; Karen.

As a Director of Operations professional with over 25 years of progressive experience within the hospitality and tourism sector, I have had the privilege to interact with thousands of business people and community members that have taught me all that I know to this day. The last decade and a half of my experience have been spent working for P.R. Hotels Group of Companies with IHG and Marriott hotel-branded properties across North America. During the earlier days of my career, I also had the honor to work within important community organizations such as SIGA and several local restaurants in Saskatoon.

It is my mission to continue to nurture human connections through hospitality – one guest, one colleague, and one community at a time. I believe firmly in taking care of one another, celebrating successes, learning from failures, seeking opportunities, communicating freely, respecting each other, and most of all – loving what we do. I’m proud to be a part of the SDMH and value the hands-on approach of the hospitality professionals within the volunteer board that keep an educated “pulse” on the industry to achieve award-winning results for Saskatoon.
 

Andrea is humbly honored to fulfill the role of CEO at Meewasin with an amazing team, Board of Directors and passionate community. Andrea’s priorities are to action with success, the strategic priorities of Meewasin, ensuring alignment with Meewasin’s mandate, this involves everything from public and government relations, partnership, innovation and management of both existing and new resources, while ensuring a healthy and vibrant river valley for future generations.

Born and raised in Saskatoon, Andrea is proud of her Metis and Welsh roots and her community. She volunteers as a mentor through Leadership Saskatoon, and Co-Chairs the City of Saskatoon’s Indigenous Technical Advisory Group, as well as the National Urban Park Steering Committee. Andrea represents Meewasin on the Discover Saskatoon Board, the CCIUCN (Canadian Committee for the International Union of Conservation of Nature), and sits on Trans Canada Trail Indigenous Advisory Committee and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation Board.

Andrea makes the most of her downtime enjoying travel, exercise, a good book and puzzles.  She loves biking and walking in nature with her family and their dog.
 

Bev Dubois is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan and is serving her 5th term as City Councillor. Bev represented Ward 10 for three successive terms on Council from 2003-2012 and was elected in Ward 9 in 2016 and 2020.

Bev has served on numerous local, civic, provincial and national Boards, Commissions and Committees. Her extensive business acumen and passion for her community has served Bev well as former CEO of the Meewasin Foundation, Vice President of Sales & Operations for Canadian Digital Network Ltd., Manager of Investor Relations for SREDA, and Business & Marketing Manager for Ernst & Young. She has served on the FCM and CUTA national boards.

Bev is honored and proud to be a recipient of the Governor General’s Canada 125 Medal; the Lieutenant Governor’s Saskatchewan Centennial Medal; the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal; and recently, the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for Community Service.

City of Saskatoon Boards & Committees:
• City Agency Recruitment and Evaluation Committee (CARE)
• Civic Naming Committee (formerly Naming Advisory), Chair
• Governance and Priorities Committee
• Internal Auditor Hiring Subcommittee
• Personnel Selection Committee, Chair
• Remai Modern Art Gallery of SK and Saskatoon Gallery & Conservatory Corp. (Mendel Art Gallery) Board of Trustees
• Saskatoon Accessibility Advisory Committee
• Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth (P4G) District Planning Commission
• Standing Policy Committee on Finance
• Standing Policy Committee on Transportation, Chair

Strategic Priority Area – Transportation:
Bev is leading City Council’s priority of Transportation and is prioritizing the development of a mobility plan and strategy that will service our city for many decades. How citizens move around the city is an on-going challenge as the city continues to grow. Activating the Active Transportation Plan and putting it into action will require decisions about bike lanes, a bus rapid transit system (BRT), and new technologies, all in an emerging context of autonomous vehicles, Uber, and other disruptive technologies.

External Boards:
• Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) Transit Board Members Committee
• Discover Saskatoon Board of Directors (formerly Tourism Saskatoon)
• Meewasin Valley Authority (City Representative)
• Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency (SAMA) City Advisory Committee
• Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) Board of Directors
       o Audit and Finance Committee
       o Convention Planning Committee, Past-Chair and Chair of the 2023 Convention
       o Intergovernmental Affairs Committee
       o Resolutions Committee
• Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA)
• University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine Admissions Committee
• University of Saskatchewan Senate

Pension Plans:
• Defined Contribution Plan for Seasonal and Non-Permanent Part-time Employees Board of Trustees
• Saskatoon Fire Fighters’ Pension Plan Trustees (Joint and New Plan)

Currently I am Managing Director of Express Employment Professionals and President of Hemani Management Group Inc. I have earned over 20 years of Sales, Marketing, and Management Experience, both Nationally and Locally. I bring a unique breadth of experience coupled with a passion for performance, to provide clients with staffing, employment, and management solutions.

I have a proven record of exceptional performance with multiple recognition accolades, and strong endorsements from my employees, colleagues, vendors, and partnered stakeholders.

My companies are currently involved in the Recruitment, Staffing and Management of the following positions:
Director level positions, Sales Manager, General Manager, Engineer, IT, Accountant, Admin Assistant, Receptionist, Clerical Assistant, Accounting Assistant, Legal Assistant, Paralegal, Executive Assistant, Medical Office Assistant, Plumber, Electrician, Class 1A drivers, general trades.

I remain grounded by continually reminding myself of the following phrase: "I complained because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet" - count our blessings.

If you want things to change....you must change things!

Accomplished public venue leader known for developing high-performance teams who excel in outstanding hospitality and facility management. Experience in transitioning teams, organizational restructuring, and realignment of priorities and resources to meet corporate objectives. Proven success in surpassing goals with a balanced scorecard. Accountable for full P&L. Highly skilled in strategic thinking, visionary leadership, change management, exceeding organizational targets, developing leaders around me, and collaborative management.

My superpower is helping people, organizations, and communities build their capacity.

• Experienced in a variety of venues; Convention Centres, Performing Arts Centres, and Arena 
• Success with pre-opening, building teams, strategic and culture re-brand
• Specialize in leading teams to award-winning levels of service, operational and financial success
• Practiced and skilled agent of change in merging, transitioning, and developing organizations
• Highly experienced in accountable performance to government bodies, boards, and municipalities
• Successful in generating sponsorship, activating sponsors, and building sponsor partnerships
 

Jeet Jani is the General Manager at Alt Hotel Saskatoon, with over 12 years of experience in the hotel industry. He has a proven track record of enhancing business growth through exceptional guest and team member experiences. Jeet has taken on progressively responsible roles across various departments, including new hotel openings, operations, events management, and business development. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Hotel Management from Royal Roads University and a Diploma in Hospitality Management from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.

Jeet enjoys cycling the Meewasin Valley trails, exploring Saskatoon's dining scene, and spending time with his family, especially his 2-year-old nephew, Rudra. He resides in Saskatoon with his wife, Bansari, and has lived in four Canadian provinces (BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland & Labrador), gaining a wealth of diverse experiences.
 

I have worked in the hospitality sector for 24 years and I have been at my current position as General Manager for 23 years at Super 8 East by Wyndham. I have had the wonderful opportunity of winning General Manager of the year for Wyndham Worldwide as well as President of our Saskatoon Hotel Association past 7 years.