The Advisory Council
Ken Black
CEO/Chair
I have had the privilege to serve on the ID#4 Council for over 20 years and have participated in ID initiated or supported projects that have served to enhance our community including: Playground and Water Spray Park (now VRC site), Acquisition of Crooked Creek Campground, Crooked Creek Campground operations oversight, Staff House (triplex) building, Playground and Water Spray Park relocation and construction on WCC site, Construction of new Waterton Golf Course maintenance building. (No ID component except through the WCJV), Crooked Creek Campground renovation (on going). Supporting the above projects were many community volunteers, ID Councillors and WPCA Directors, all of whom contributed to their successful completion. I have enjoyed working with them all.
Education and Working Career
- Geologist and retired P.Geol. (Alberta); MBA (UWO)
- My geological career included mineral exploration and exploration and production of oil and gas.
- My business career includes ownership / management of a group of companies in the business areas of Manufacturing – generally metal based products, serving several markets but primarily mining and transportation, Real Estate – commercial / industrial properties (principally Calgary) and Explosives (divested in 2010).
- I am now retired from all ‘day-to-day’ operating responsibilities but remain active on a Directors / Shareholders level.
Waterton Connection
Like many Waterton residents (cottagers and commercial operators) my family connection to Waterton is multi-generational. With her two sons, my grandmother started escaping the hot Medicine Hat summers in favour of the cool mountain air in the late 1910’s. My dad built a cottage which was sold around the time of WW2 and he bought back into Waterton in the mid 1950’s. From that time, our connection to Waterton has been continuous. Bonny and I purchased our cottage in the mid 1990’s and rebuilt in 1999. With the arrival of my granddaughter last month, we’re now on our fifth generation though my sister (Barbara) beat me in that department by a few years.
Brian Baker
Councillor
Brian Baker, a lifelong resident and 4th-generation Watertonian. His deep roots in the community trace back to his great-grandfather William J. Baker, who settled in Waterton in 1918–19. Brian and his family have operated the Park Transport Company for over 100 years, now entering its sixth generation.
Brian has served on the ID#4 Advisory Council since 1995, contributing countless volunteer hours to community development. His involvement spans over 50 years and includes leadership roles in:
• Waterton Chamber of Commerce (since 1974)
• Waterton Lakes National Park Advisory Board
• Waterton Recreation & Cultural Society
• Waterton Natural History Association
• Waterton Lakes Television Association
• Founding member and past President of the Waterton Park Community Association (WPCA)
Brian has played a pivotal role in regional tourism and strategic planning initiatives, including:
• Steering Committee for Waterton Community Plans (1990, 1998)
• Development of the first Community Tourism Action Plan
• Chinook Country Tourist Association (Vice-President, Marketing Chair, Finance Director)
• Founding member of:
o Glacier-Waterton National Parks Visitor Association
o Trail of the Great Bear
o Peace Park Partnership
o Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Heritage Tourism Council
• U.S. Congressional appointee to the Going-to-the-Sun Road Citizens Advisory Committee (5 years)
Brian is deeply committed to the sustainability, economic vitality, and cultural heritage of Waterton. His extensive municipal experience and dedication aim to ensure that ID#4 remains a well-managed, cost-effective, and thriving national park community.
Barbara Niven Clay
Vice Chair
I have been a summer resident of Waterton for over 50 years. My parents, Bob and Mary Niven, spent many summers here with their children. From summer jobs at Kootenai Lodge (now the Bayshore) and the Prince of Wales Hotel, to many hours riding trails on horseback, Waterton is a place I have loved and visited since I was a small child. My children have many wonderful memories of holidays here, and now my grandchildren and their children are making memories.
I was born and raised in Lethbridge. After earning my B.A. (University of Calgary), Bachelor and Master degrees in Library and Information Studies (University of Alberta), I worked at the Lethbridge College Library, the Lethbridge Public Library, and the University of Lethbridge Library, where I served in administrative roles. I also was a partner in an information consulting firm, MW Associates, in the 1970s and 1980s.
As a volunteer, I have served on many boards and committees, including the Waterton Natural History Association, where I was Chair of the Board.
As a long-time summer resident, I have an abiding interest in seeing Waterton continue as a vibrant community. I think it is very important to have local representation on the Council that includes all aspects of the community. If elected, I am willing to work hard to help the Council reach its goals and to represent you the voter and taxpayer.
Keith Robinson
Councillor
Keith B. Robinson is an active member of the Waterton community and a business owner/operator that has lived in Waterton year-round for over a decade. Together with his wife Mariajose, they consider themselves fortunate to be able to call this unique place home and raise their young family here.
Keith is a 3rd generation Waterton business owner/operator who can trace his family’s Waterton-presence back to the 1950’s. He grew up spending his summers in WLNP hiking, climbing, boating, biking, golfing, fishing, kayaking and stargazing (among other adventures). He began working in his family’s tour boat business at an early age and over the years he would become a professionally certified interpretive tour guide, climb all of the named mountain peaks and ridges in the Park, float/paddle many of the area’s waterways, earn a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm) degree in Tourism Management / Marketing (with special focus on Destination Management), and be named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, by Canadian Traveler Magazine.
Keith served the Waterton community in various capacities over the past two decades, including being part of the Improvement District No. 4 (ID#4) Council, the Waterton Park Volunteer Fire Brigade; assisting with the WPCA’s festivals/events; serving a term on the Waterton Natural History Association; maintaining relations with nearby communities via the Alberta Southwest organization; liaising with Travel Alberta; and serving as Vice President of the Waterton Park Chamber of Commerce. Prior to elected official capacity, Keith served on the ID#4 ad hoc Clean Lake Initiative committee that was instrumental in establishing the boat quarantine/seal program.
While still involved in a limited capacity with the daily operations of Waterton Inter-Nation Shoreline Cruise Co., and sitting on that company’s board of directors, Keith considers himself a true entrepreneur, having Co-Founded the Dark Sky Guides stargazing tour company (totally separate and independent of the family tour boats). Providing unique nighttime tour experiences that strive to assist people in connecting with the cosmos, DSG recently expanded operations by opening the Waterton Planetarium, located inside the old Parks Canada Falls Interpretive Theater. Most recently, Keith worked alongside his wife Maria to purchase the Evergreen Gifts store and undertaking a rebrand and grand re-opening in 2025 as Evergreen Boutique.
Inspired to share his knowledge of, and appreciation for, his home, Keith offers up an authentic local’s perspective to park visitors, residents, seasonal cabin owners, and their friends and families. As a steward of WLNP, he strives to encourage others to develop their own personal connection with this amazing place. Visiting and residing in WLNP is about memorable experiences and personally connecting with the destination, its offerings, and its people. Keith believes that in order to ensure that the community continues to offer memorable experiences for all, a balance must be struck between preserving the natural environment, celebrating the cultural/human history of the community, and looking to the future to embrace change and plan for a transforming tourism environment. It will be important to communicate and collaborate with all of the region’s stakeholders as this unique tourism landscape evolves over the coming years, and this is something that Keith is eager to be part of.
Mark Lenko
Councillor
My wife and I have been leaseholders in Waterton Lakes National Park since 1998. I have been a visitor to the Park since childhood and have always enjoyed all the activities it has to offer. Previously, I have been a Board Member of the Leaseholders Association for 6 years and the Community Association for 1 year.
I am a retired engineer who worked in the energy industry for over 30 years. In Calgary, where we call home, I have been involved with the Crowchild (now Northwest) Hockey Association, Varsity Community Association, and Girls Hockey Calgary, in each case as both a volunteer and board member. I have previously been an executive and board member of both public and private energy companies. Through these activities, I understand that operating and capital budgets, project management, and governance skills and experience would be helpful to the ID.
My interest in becoming a Counsellor for Improvement District No. 4 is to serve our community and friends and to gain a better understanding of the direction and operations of the ID.
Scott Barton
Chief Administrative Officer
Jeffrey Scott Barton is a seasoned municipal executive with over three decades of distinguished leadership in local government administration across Alberta. Known for his visionary approach, collaborative spirit, and unwavering commitment to excellence, Scott has shaped communities through strategic governance, regional partnerships, and transformative infrastructure projects.
Currently serving as the Chief Administrative Officer for Improvement District No. 4 (Waterton Park) and the General Manager/Executive Director of the Waterton Park Community Association. His service includes being the Chief Administrative Officer for multiple municipalities, including the Town of Raymond and Improvement District No. 9 (Banff National Park). Scott leads with integrity, inclusivity, and a deep sense of civic responsibility. His leadership extends to the Raymond Strategic Initiatives Team (RSIT), a regional consortium delivering services in municipal administration, finance, public safety, solid waste management, and water treatment.
Scott’s career is marked by a proactive and accountable management style, fostering trust and mutual respect among teams, councils, and communities. His strategic planning expertise has guided the development of municipal sustainability plans, emergency management frameworks, and infrastructure master plans.
A Certified Local Government Manager (CLGM), Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC), and Master Municipal Clerk Academy (MMCA) graduate, Scott holds an MBA from Athabasca University and multiple executive certifications from the University of Alberta and Royal Roads University. His academic foundation is complemented by a Diploma in Recreation Management from Lethbridge College.
Scott’s contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, Alberta Centennial Medal, and the Career Virtuoso Award from Lethbridge College. He has served on advisory committees for municipal education, environmental policy, and recreation, and is a respected mentor and facilitator in leadership development programs.
Driven by a belief in volunteerism, family, and a strong sense of place, Scott Barton continues to inspire excellence in municipal governance, building resilient communities through thoughtful leadership and collaborative innovation.
