Canmore Hospital Foundation Names New Executive Director

The Canmore Hospital Foundation has a new executive director who aims to advance its mission of inspiring community investment in health-care excellence in the Bow Valley.

Renée Krysko replaced former executive director Kristen Pauch-Nolin in December and now serves as the public face of the organization, overseeing its day-to-day operations and working closely with the board of directors to fulfill the mission and strengthen regional engagement.

The independent nonprofit funds projects and medical equipment at Canmore General Hospital that fall outside standard health-care funding. Since its founding in 2003, the organization has raised roughly $8 million for hospital initiatives and funds over $350,000 in life-saving medical equipment purchases every year.

Donations have helped upgrade medical technology, improve patient care spaces, and expand services within the hospital. In recent years, projects have included renovations to the emergency department and long-term care facility, as well as expanded capacity for women’s health services.

Krysko said the organization’s success reflects the strong support the hospital receives from the community, something she said drew her to the role.

“The Canmore Hospital Foundation is fortunate to be part of a community that cares deeply about its hospital and consistently shows up to support it,” said Krysko. “What drew me to this role is the strong foundation already in place: committed donors, engaged board members and volunteers, and a hospital team delivering exceptional care for our region.”

Krysko brings more than two decades of experience in communications, fundraising, and nonprofit leadership to the role.

Originally from Edmonton, she began her career at the University of Calgary after earning a degree in Canadian Studies. She worked on a curriculum redesign initiative aimed at better preparing students for life beyond university before going on to lead communications, recruitment, and outreach for the Faculty of Engineering.

Her nonprofit work later continued with the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, where she spent nearly 15 years in donor relations helping expand the conservation organization’s funding base. During that time, she helped cultivate more individual donors, balancing revenue between foundation support and individual contributions, a shift she said strengthened the organization’s financial stability and allowed it to plan for the long term.

Krysko aims to apply those skills at the Canmore Hospital Foundation by strengthening donor relationships and ensuring local support continues to support the hospital’s evolving needs as the Bow Valley grows and demand for health services increases.

“With an ever-growing community and increased tourism, it is inevitable that the needs of the hospital will continue to grow,” said Krysko. “My goal is to implement the right systems and infrastructure so that we can be efficient, meet the demands of our growing community, and steward our supporters with that personal and genuine feel one comes to expect in a small town.”

Four months into the role, Krysko said her immediate focus is on learning more about the organization and identifying opportunities for growth, while defining long-term success under her leadership as ensuring the foundation continues to serve as a strong connection between community generosity and the local hospital.

“Much of my focus is on listening, learning, understanding, and identifying gaps and opportunities,” said Krysko. “Success, to me, means a healthy, resilient, and trustworthy foundation that makes it easy for people to contribute in ways that are meaningful to them, while helping ensure our hospital has the resources it needs to continue providing excellent care now and into the future.”