November 2024 – Letter from RCA Executive Director Jennifer Koole

As we reflect on a fantastic month of events and activities, I’d like to extend a personal and sincere thank you to our members, partners, and sponsors who make all of this possible.
November marked the successful completion of the 2024 RCA Circular Economy Conference in Banff—a huge thank you to everyone who made the event an unforgettable success. Your feedback has been incredible, and we are already gearing up for the 2025 conference at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge from October 22-24.
Exciting Announcements
At the 2024 RCA Conference, we proudly launched the RCA’s Vision 2030! This five-year strategic plan sets the course for advancing a circular economy across Alberta. You can read the full plan on our website, and we look forward to working with you to bring this vision to life.
At our November 15th Board Meeting, the RCA Board Executive was elected. Congratulations to the following members on their leadership roles:
- Jeannie Bertrand continues as President
- Shawn Samborsky steps into the role of Vice President
- André Joseph continues as Treasurer
- Jason Palamar joins the Executive as Secretary
We’re also excited to welcome new members to the RCA community. Your involvement strengthens our collective efforts and furthers our mission to advance sustainability across the province. Here is a feature on three of our newest members!
November Highlights
We hosted a very successful webinar, Organics Processing Capacity in Alberta, on November 21. This session brought together industry leaders to share their perspectives on growing Alberta’s organics processing landscape and is now available to watch for free on the RCA website, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors.
Looking Ahead
Don’t miss these exciting events coming up:
- December 11: RCA webinar co-hosted with Coast Waste Management Association on Technology & Innovations for Difficult-to-Divert Materials – Part 2.
- December 16: RCA Christmas Mixer in Red Deer from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Enjoy festive activities like DIY recycled wrapping paper and a Regift Table to swap treasures.
Additionally, I’ll represent RCA at two upcoming events:
- December 3: Calgary Mapping Workshop during Circular Cities Week, hosted by Platform Calgary.
- December 5: A presentation to Green Economy Calgary on CCRI’s Circular Procurement: Strategies for Circular Criteria, delivered by the RCA as a partner organization of the Canadian Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI).
Empowering Women of Waste (WoW)
The RCA is proud to partner on the Executive Presence for Women of Waste (WoW!) West course, a five-week, online cohort-based training program starting January 16th, 2025 designed specifically for women in the waste, recycling, and environmental industries. RCA partner organizations can access an exclusive rate of $225 (regular price $1,200).
Wishing You a Bright and Sustainable Holiday Season
As we wrap up a month filled with impactful events and initiatives, I want to express my deep gratitude to everyone who continues to support and collaborate with the RCA. Your contributions drive our collective mission to advance a circular economy across Alberta.
With the holiday season upon us, we look forward to connecting with you at our upcoming events and continuing to work together toward meaningful change in the months ahead.
Wishing you a joyful and sustainable holiday season!
Warm regards,
Jennifer Koole
Executive Director, Recycling Council of Alberta