Planning Staff
Bonnie Brunner, RPP, MCIP
Senior 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 extensive 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 Municipal District of Taber, County of Forty Mile, Village of Coutts, Village of Stirling, Village of Warner, Town of Milk River, Town of Raymond and Town of Vauxhall.
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 40 years. Mike brings an expansive knowledge of planning law and practice in Alberta to the organization. Over the years he has been an integral part of the creation of numerous regional plans, intermunicipal development plans, municipal development plans, area structure plans and other long-range planning documents. Mike is currently the planner for Cardston County.
Steve Harty
Senior Planner
Steve provides over 27 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, Lethbridge County, Municipal District of Ranchland, Town of Pincher Creek, Village of Champion and Village of Carmangay.
Diane Horvath
Senior 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 of statutory plans, growth studies and 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 Municipal District of Willow Creek, Town of Bassano, Town of Nobleford, Town of Coalhurst, Village of Arrowwood, Village of Barnwell, Village of Duchess, and Village of Milo.
Gavin Scott
Senior Planner
Gavin has been employed as a planner with ORRSC since March 2007. 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 is the full-time planner for the MD of Pincher Creek, City of Brooks, Town of Fort Macleod, Town of Stavely, and Village of Lomond.
Ryan Dyck, RPP, MCIP
Planner
Ryan is a southern Alberta native and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Urban & Regional Studies from the University Lethbridge. Prior to coming to ORRSC in April 2013, Ryan worked as a Planning Assistant with the Town of Taber, Development Officer with the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, and Planning Officer with the City of Medicine Hat. Ryan has a passion for small communities, redevelopment planning and a strong interest in planning law. Ryan presently provides planning services for Vulcan County, Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, Town of Magrath, Town of Cardston, Village of Hill Spring and Village of Glenwood.
Maxwell Kelly
Planner
Max graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta and a Master of Land and Property Development from Texas A&M. He began his journey with Oldman River in May 2019—compelled to return to his home province by the stunning landscapes in the Crown of the Continent. Invested in the future of southern Alberta, Max’s role includes researching topics that impact land use in the Rocky Mountain West.
Kattie Schlamp
Planner
Kattie came to Lethbridge from Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2009 to attend the University of Lethbridge. After obtaining her Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Studies, she started her career in planning with the Town of Taber. During that time, Kattie worked in a variety of roles related to planning and economic development, where she gained a wealth of knowledge on the interrelationship between planning and economic growth. Kattie received her Applied Land Use Certificate through the University of Alberta in 2023, and aspires to gain her Registered Professional Planners (RPP) designation in the coming years. She has a keen interest in new urbanism and how the built form shapes our daily lives. Kattie is the full-time planner for the Town of Vulcan, Town of Claresholm, Town of Nanton, Town of Picture Butte, Village of Cowley and Village of Barons.
Harsimran (Sim) Kaur
Assistant Planner
Harsimran (Sim) Kaur joined the ORRSC in August 2024. She holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture and a Master’s degree in Planning, specializing in rural planning and development, from the University of Guelph. Sim’s professional experience spans diverse planning and architectural projects, emphasizing sustainable practices. She is passionate about rural and small-town community planning and development, with a strong interest in long-range planning.
Rachel Schortinghuis
Assistant Planner
Rachel has lived in Southern Alberta most of her life, with a 9-year detour to the west coast where she met her husband and started her family. After returning to Alberta, Rachel has worked in both the legal and municipal worlds for several years including as CAO of the Village of Barnwell. She has enjoyed camaraderie with several different municipalities and looks forward to continuing in those relationships in future projects and work. Rachel is currently working towards her degree in Applied Business Management while joining the planning team here at ORRSC in March 2023.
Jiayi Wang
Assistant Planner
Jiayi graduated with a Master of Planning and a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from the University of Calgary. Her urban and rural living experience fuels her passion for building better communities and enriching rural life through planning. She honed her skills in communications, public engagement, and public relations working with a Community Association and further developed her urban planning expertise with the City of Calgary. Jiayi is excited to advance her planning career with the ORRSC and is committed to develop thriving communities across southern Alberta.
Subdivision Staff
Jennifer Maxwell
Subdivision Technician
Jennifer has been with the Oldman River Regional Services Commission since 2015. She has a Bachelor of Professional Arts Degree with a major in Governance, Law and Management from Athabasca University as well as an Applied Land Use Planning Certificate from the University of Alberta. Jennifer has previously worked at the City of Lethbridge and as the Development Officer for the Town of Coaldale. She is responsible for processing subdivision applications and managing the subdivision records.