Meet the Team
Our Staff

Pamela McLean
Director
Biography
Pamela spent the first 27 years of her life in Ontario, growing up in London, and completing her undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature, and her master’s degree in Library and Information Science at Western University. After two years working in Toronto, she ran for the hills in the West and has never looked back.
Pamela has been an Information Management Business Leader in the Calgary oil and gas industry since 1993, working for national and international companies: Alberta Energy Company, EnCana, Statoil, TransCanada, Spectra Energy, and Enbridge. She has also operated her own consulting business, Creative Information Solutions Inc., specializing in Information Governance and Intellectual Property.
She moved to Okotoks in 2004 when she married the love of her life, Ken Colosimo, and immersed herself in the local community. She has served as Chairperson of the Foothills Country Hospice Board, Chair of the Artifacts Committee for the Friends of the Bar U Board, Member of the Okotoks Arts Council, President of the Foothills Humane Society, Fund Development at the Okotoks Public Library, and President of the St. James CWL.
In 2019, Pamela accepted the role of Executive Director of the Okotoks Food Bank. It is a job that continues to provide daily challenges and constant fulfillment. Suffice it to say it has transformed her life. When not working or volunteering in the community, Pamela relishes her time spent with family, friends, and the menagerie of three dogs, one horse, and too many bees to count.
“This is a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before.” – Maya Angelou

Christina Williams
Client Intake/Office Administration Coordinator
Biography
True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. – C. S. Lewis

Bente Yanota
Client Support Coordinator
Biography
Bente began volunteering at the Okotoks Food Bank where her role eventually grew into Client Support Coordinator and Community Garden Coordinator.
A passionate community advocate and volunteer, Bente has lent her time and talents to the Okotoks Toy Library, It Takes a Village, and to her children’s schools. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, cycling, and walking the family dog, Peaches. She is a member of the St. James catholic church.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

Carl Kennedy
Warehouse Logistics

Char Hansma
Volunteer & Event Coordinator
Biography
Char was born and raised in Calgary and completed her Child & Youth Care Diploma at Lethbridge Community College. She moved to the Foothills area in 2006 and to Okotoks in 2014. Char enjoyed volunteering at her children’s schools, with their sports teams, and in the community. Working in the non-profit sector in the Okotoks area for over 7 years, Char has enjoyed collaborating with many different organizations and was excited to join the team at the Okotoks Food Bank in November 2021. She counts it a privilege to serve the families of the Foothills by working with the generous and kind volunteers in this community.
“I am so grateful to be a part of an amazing organization which relies on our faithful volunteers to function every day. It brings me such joy to watch our volunteers find fulfillment and a sense of belonging at the Food Bank.”
Char loves any time spent with friends, singing with the Big Rock Singers in Okotoks, travelling to her trailer in BC and enjoying time with her husband of 21 years and 3 children who are 19, 17 and 15 years of age.
Meet our Board of Directors
Biographies
John Hartley - President
Church Affiliation: St. Peter’s Anglican Church
Soli Deo gloria
Gina Cook - Vice President
St. Peter’s Anglican Church
Phillippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Tanis Young - Treasurer
Okotoks Evangelical Free Church
Philippians 4:13…I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Lorraine McAree - Secretary
St. Peter’s Anglican
I don’t really have a favorite quote or mantra but I really believe that we should treat others in a way we would like to be treated ourselves. We all come from different walks of life, which affords different opportunities. Kindness, compassion, a little understanding, and a smile cost nothing. Pass it on!
Carol Price - Director
Okotoks United Church
John Sangster: Remember to be kind, and a little bit blind, and always look for the good in people.
Dave Wilson - Director
St James Catholic Parish
We cannot become what we want by remaining who we are.
Nanet Robson - Director
Grace Lutheran Church
Benjamin Franklin: Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.
Shelly Bjorge - Director
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Sindy Blair - Director
Sindy joined the Board in November 2017. Sindy has been a Pediatric Rehab Assistant with Alberta Health Services here in Okotoks for the past 10 years. She has volunteered with many of her children’s sports teams over the years, teaches Sunday School at her church, and volunteers on her Church’s Serving Team here at the Food Bank. Sindy has lived in Okotoks with her four children for the past 17 years and is a proud grandmother of a 4-year-old boy. She enjoys spending time with her children, catching up with friends over coffee or on a walk, and going camping in the Okanagan.
Okotoks Alliance Church
Accept what is, let go of what was, have Faith in what will be.