As Executive Director of the RiverWatch Institute of Alberta since the summer of 2022, Jay Ball draws on more than 18 years of leadership in Alberta’s nonprofit education sector, shaping curriculum aligned programs that support teachers and connect students to meaningful, experiential learning.

Ball has led RiverWatch through a period of renewal and growth, strengthening its role as Alberta’s leader in river-based environmental education. Under his leadership, RiverWatch engages more than 10,000 students annually through curriculum-aligned water science programs and an additional 4,000 public participants through guided interpretive river tours. His focus on operational excellence, safety, and exceptional guest experiences has elevated RiverWatch’s reputation as an award-winning model for environmental education and sustainable tourism.

A native of Edmonton, Ball joined RiverWatch after serving as Executive Director of the Alberta Avenue Business Improvement Area (BIA), where he represented more than 200 local businesses through post-pandemic recovery, urban revitalization, and city advocacy initiatives.

From 2000 to 2014, Ball served as President & CEO of Junior Achievement of Northern Alberta (JA), where he helped redefine business education and financial literacy for over 250,000 students. During his tenure, he pioneered corporate volunteer programs that linked classrooms to real-world learning, impacting more than 30,000 students annually and building one of Alberta’s most recognized youth education organizations.

In 2014, Jay transitioned from education leadership to pursue a lifelong passion for professional sports. From 2015 to 2020, he held senior leadership roles in both international and domestic soccer, shaping major events and the growth of the game in Canada.

Working with FIFA and Canada Soccer, he served as Director of Corporate Sales for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, one of the largest sporting events ever hosted in Canada. He then joined FC Edmonton as General Manager, leading the club’s business operations through two seasons (2016/2017) in the North American Soccer League (NASL). From 2018 to 2020, Ball guided the team’s successful rebranding and relaunch into the new Canadian Premier League (CPL), helping establish a new era of professional soccer in Canada.

For nearly three decades, Ball has also been part of the Edmonton Oilers game operations team, supporting communications and media relations through more than 800 NHL games, 175 playoff games, two Heritage Classic events, and two Stanley Cup Finals.

Mark Taylor has been the cornerstone of safety and training at RiverWatch for over 15 years, serving as the organization’s lead Safety Officer responsible for certifying and recertifying all RiverWatch guides. With a career spanning more than two decades, Mark is nationally respected for his technical expertise, calm leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence in river safety.

Mark’s paddling journey began at age 18, when he landed a job renting canoes at the Bow Waters Canoe Club. That early spark ignited a lifelong passion that evolved from canoeing into whitewater paddling and kayaking. Since then, he has taken part in countless expeditions — including multiple Grand Canyon trips — and has trained hundreds of paddlers and guides across Canada.

As co-owner of The Rocky Mountain Paddling Centre, Mark plays a pivotal role in shaping paddlesports instruction in Alberta. He has helped write national canoe and kayak instructor programs, and he continues to mentor the next generation of instructors and river professionals.

Mark began working with RiverWatch in 2010, where he was instrumental in implementing comprehensive safety and training protocols. His training sessions are widely regarded as some of the highest-quality programs available, consistently setting the gold standard for guide preparation. Mark remains a valued partner to the RiverWatch team and Executive Director, contributing to a culture of safety, professionalism, and learning.

Lucas is entering his fifth season with RiverWatch and is now leads local float programming and plays a key role in supporting RiverWatch’s CreekWatch citizen science initiatives across Northern Alberta.

He began his journey as an Interpretive Guide and, over the past two seasons, has served as a Head Guide — leading crews, mentoring new staff, and ensuring safe, high-quality experiences for staff students and guests on the river.

His passion for water has taken him around the world — chasing waves to surf, snow to ride, and rivers and lakes to swim. That deep connection to water has shaped not only the adventurer he is, but the river guide and leader he has become.

Lucas is driven by a love for helping others discover their own connection to the outdoors. Whether guiding students on their first raft trip or supporting community programming, he believes in creating meaningful, impactful moments that build confidence and lasting memories.

To Lucas, every day is an adventure — and he brings that spirit to the river, encouraging others to explore, learn, and embrace the journey.

Rianne is entering her third season with RiverWatch and continues to grow as one of our most trusted leaders on the river. A 2025 graduate of the Environmental Technology program at SAIT, she brings both academic expertise and hands-on field experience to every program she leads.

With a deep love for the outdoors, Rianne began her RiverWatch journey as an Interpretive Guide before stepping into the role of Head Guide. in 2025 Today, she leads local float programming and plays a key role in supporting RiverWatch’s CreekWatch citizen science initiatives across Southern Alberta.

Rianne is passionate about connecting youth and community members to their local waterways. Whether she’s guiding a raft, or mentoring new staff, she brings energy, knowledge, and a strong commitment to environmental stewardship.

Her leadership reflects the heart of RiverWatch — science, safety, and meaningful experiences on the river.