Planning Staff
Mike Burla, Senior Planner
Mike graduated with a degree in Urban and Regional Studies from the University of Lethbridge. He is a senior planner at ORRSC and has been with the organization for over 30 years. He brings in-depth knowledge of planning law and practice in Alberta to the organization. Over the years Mike has been an integral part of the creation of numerous regional plans, municipal development plans, intermunicipal development plans, area structure plans and other long-range planning documents.
Mike is the planner for eight communities including: Cardston County, M.D. of Ranchland, M.D. of Willow Creek, Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, Town of Granum, Town of Pincher Creek, Village of Cowley and Village of Hill Spring.
Steve Harty, Senior Planner
Steve provides over 14 years of professional planning experience to our ORRSC member municipalities. He is a native southern Albertan and graduated in 1994 from the University of Lethbridge on the Dean’s Honour List with a degree in Urban and Regional Studies. Steve began his career in the Town of Taber and has worked at ORRSC since 1998. In addition to his ORRSC responsibilities, he has also served on various government committees, including the 2001 provincial Land Use Strategy Core Action Team (Agricultural Land Use Committee), and the Oldman River Watershed Council.
Steve presently provides planning services for the County of Warner, County of Lethbridge, Town of Picture Butte, Village of Champion and the Village of Carmangay.
Diane Horvath, Planner
Diane has been employed with the Oldman River Regional Services Commission since 2000. Raised on the family farm in southern Alberta, Diane has a keen interest in rural and small-town community planning and development. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree with majors in both Economics and Geography from the University of Lethbridge.
Diane’s experience at ORRSC has included work on various planning projects including the preparation statutory plans, growth studies, transportation corridor studies, as well as involvement in the initial stages of the pilot project for the Urban GIS project for the region. Since 2005, Diane has taken on the role of full-time planner with day to day responsibilities for the Village of Barons, Village of Barnwell, Village of Milo, Town of Coalhurst, Town of Fort Macleod and the County of Newell.
Gavin Scott, Planner
Gavin has been employed as a planner with ORRSC since March 2007 and has over eight years of professional planning experience. He is a native of small town Saskatchewan and was educated at the University of Saskatchewan and SIAST holding a BA in Studio Art, a diploma from SIAST as a CADD Engineering Technologist, and an Honors BA in Regional and Urban Development. Gavin has worked as a CAD Operator for Transport Canada in Winnipeg, a GIS Analyst for the City of Saskatoon Electrical System and a Redevelopment and Planning Analyst for the City of Mesquite, Nevada. He presently provides planning services for the Village of Arrowwood, Village of Lomond, Town of Claresholm, Town of Nanton, Town of Stavely, Town of Vulcan and the M.D. of Pincher Creek.
Bonnie Brunner, Planner
Bonnie has been with ORRSC since March 2007. She is a native southern Albertan and graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a degree in Urban and Rural Studies with Distinction. She also holds a Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Queen’s University. Bonnie has over 11 years of professional planning experience in both urban and rural settings. She previously worked as a transportation planner and community planner in southern New Hampshire and was lead planner for the Land Use Division in Mesa County, Colorado. Bonnie presently provides planning services for the Village of Coutts, Village of Stirling, Village of Warner, Town of Milk River, Town of Vauxhall, Town of Raymond, and the and the M.D. of Taber.
Perry Neufeld, Planner
Perry has 9 years of professional experience as a planner and has been employed at ORRSC since 2010. He is a native of Lethbridge and graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban and Regional Studies. Subsequent to graduation he has held planning positions in rural and urban municipalities with the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124 and the City of Airdrie. Perry presently provides planning services for the Village of Nobleford, Town of Cardston, Town of Coaldale, Town of Magrath and Vulcan County.
Jonathan Schmidt, Planner
Jonathan has been with ORRSC since April 2009. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from the University of Waterloo and a Masters Degree in Planning from the University of Calgary. He has worked in Ontario and Alberta in a variety of planning-related fields including: school board planning, urban design, conservation planning, geographical information systems (GIS), and land management for Aboriginal communities.
Michelle Grenwich, Planner
Michelle has been employed by ORRSC since May 2009 and was previously part of the Alberta Municipal Affairs Internship Program for Land Use Planners. She was raised on the family farm in Saskatchewan and enjoys working with small towns and rural communities through ORRSC. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts Honors degree in Regional and Urban Planning from the University of Saskatchewan and provides assistance to planning staff and member municipalities.
Katherine Mertz, Assistant Planner
Katherine holds a degree from the University of Lethbridge in Geography with a concentration in GIS. Prior to beginning at ORRSC in March 2008 Katherine was employed by Sturgeon County for 6 years as a Subdivision Officer and then as a GIS Coordinator. Katherine presently provides assistance to the planning staff creating and amending current and long term planning documents.
Breelyn Gray, Intern Planner
Breelyn began working at ORRSC as an Intern Planner in May 2010. She was born and raised in Calgary and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies and a minor in Architecture from the University of Calgary. Her education included planning courses taken at the University of South Australia in Adelaide and involvement in a community redevelopment project in Calgary during her final semester. Breelyn is interested in sustainable development initiatives, municipal planning, and development regulation.
Working at ORRSC over the next two years under the Alberta Municipal Affairs Internship Program for Land Use Planners will provide Breelyn with valuable knowledge, experience and skills that are required for a career in municipal planning.
Subdivision Staff
Gail Kirkman, Subdivision Technician
Gail Kirkman is the Subdivision Technician for the organization and has been with ORRSC since June 2007. She processes all subdivision applications and tracks time limits and meeting dates for the 38 municipalities. Gail was born and raised on a farm in southern Alberta and loves the prairies. Prior to her position with ORRSC, Gail worked in municipal government for 19 years with 11 years in planning and development.
