2018 Mill Woods Seniors Association Board of Directors

Terri has been the President of MWSA since 2015 and an active member for the past 4 years.  She enjoys being at the Centre and meeting the many new members.

In the past, Terri has served 2 years on the board at St. Georges’ Seniors’ Club and was responsible for the facility rentals.  She is also a 20-year CWL member in a Parish of 800 and was on the executive and a President for four years.

Before retiring, Terri worked for Canada Safeway for 25 years in various positions, including customer service. As well, she operated and managed a FasGas Service Station for 10 years, training staff, doing payroll and inventory and communicating with individuals of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Customer service is very important to her. In fact, she received an award from FasGas for ‘WOMEN OF THE YEAR’ for contribution to the community of Sherwood Park. 

Terri also owned her own business for 4 years, A to Z Consignment and Liquidation Centre. She still participates in occasional Antique Shows.  She has owned and managed multiple successful rental properties in Saskatoon and Sherwood Park.  Terri has organized two very large multi-generational family reunions.

Terri is interested in helping our seniors with their needs, concerns and keeping our fundraising an ongoing venture.  Honesty and having an open door policy for our members is very important.  Terri has strong support from her husband and family. Terri is open to new ideas, a quick learner, dependable, and a good listener. Most of all, she believes in the importance of working together.

Terri is married with two married daughters and seven wonderful grandchildren. 

Patricia was born in Guyana, South America and migrated to Canada in 2001 to join her parents and siblings. She has a Master's Degree in Business Administration and is a Chartered Professional Accountant. In Guyana, Patricia was Executive Secretary for a Government owned Financial Institution.

Later, she became Director, Marketing and Sales of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Ltd. and served as a Director on the board of several corporations including the Guyana Power and Light Company. Since coming to Canada, Patricia has been building a rewarding career firstly with Home Outfitters, then Telus Mobility and for the last ten years, has been employed with the Federal Government as an accountant.

Patricia is a loving mother of three sons and a daughter-in-law and grandmother of two adorable girls.  She is very passionate about community work and over the last several years has volunteered with the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.  Patricia has also served as Director Social, Ecole Frere Antoine Catholic School, for several years.  Patricia is a volunteer instructor for the Board Development Program of the Government of Alberta.  Patricia has been a Director, MWSA’s Board for the past year.

Deb Alloway, Secretary

Deb is recently retired following successful careers as business owner of a web Based IT Education Company, Executive Assistant, and Office Manager for a large engineering company.

She also acted as Board Secretary for a blood banking Board.  Over the years she has held many volunteer positions in the community.  Some of those include President and Treasurer for several curling leagues and minor hockey teams, President of the annual Confederation Minor Hockey Christmas Tournament and 18 years volunteering for the MS Bike Tour.

As a retiree, Deb is passionate about the benefits seniors can enjoy through continuous learning, being active, socializing and exercising.  Her goal is to share her passion to benefit all members MWSA.

Deb Alloway was born and raised in Edmonton.  She is married with two children and three grandchildren.

Fred Sawka

An entrepreneur for most of his life, Fred Sawka was also the Computer Literacy Outreach Manager at MacEwan University for 15 years before his retirement.He joined Toastmasters in 2008 and earned his designation as DTM. 

“l am a firm believer in lifelong learning. Now that I am retired, I feel volunteering with MWSA will help satisfy my desire to give back from what I have learned through life.”  

Fred Sawka is running for a second term as a board member. In his first year he was the Chairperson of the Communications committee, member of the Bylaws and Policy committee and a member of the Fund Development committee.

Fred Sawka designed and implemented a Virtual Office where Board members and staff can access Important Documents, List of MWSA Personal, List of Committees, Chairs and members, Administrative Calendar, Forums, To-Do-List, Related Seniors Sites, Resources and most important, an Electronic File Room where all documents will be kept.

Fred Sawka was very instrumental in setting up the MySeniorCenter. He helped make a two month job into a two day job. He was also responsible for the technical side of the website at www.mwsac.ca. Fred added the “Volunteer With Us” form on our site, which has had over 40 on-line submissions.

Pat Thompson

Pat Thompson has served with the Board of the Mill Woods Senior Association for the past year as Chair of the Membership Committee and also been involved with the Bylaw Committee.

Pat was born in 1935 at Mountain Park, Alberta. She is the mother to 5, grandmother to 7 and great-grandmother to 11+. Pat just recently discovered that her mother's family arrived in Canada in the 1680's.

She worked for Telus for 27 years before she retired in 1995. And for the last 13.5 years, she has been employed with the Edmonton Catholic School District.

Pat has volunteered for many different organizations over the years, including the Fringe Theatre for 21 years and The Edmonton Christmas Bureau for 15 years. She has enjoyed driving for various groups such as: The Edmonton Folk Fest, The Indy, The 2005 Masters, 2007 Summer Games, FIFA, 2012 IIFA World Junior Championship, and 2013 Brier.

Pat was a Board member at the Beaumont Seniors Centre for 3 years. During those 3 years she organized the Casino in Camrose and learned to manage the Bingo program at the Beaumont Centre.