Founded in 2013, Prairie Sky Strategy serves individuals, small and medium-sized organizations, not for profits and large international firms to help achieve their next level of growth in western Canada.
We specialize in local insights and strategy, government relations, public affairs, communications, business development and Indigenous relations.
Our name represents the wide-open, endless opportunities and optimism we believe is western Canada and beyond.
Our team is known for their get it done, common sense “prairie folk” attitude while being hyper-focused on getting you results.
Our focus is being the bridge to your sustainable growth.
We are a team of local professionals providing responsive and personalized services – meaning you get access to a local and experienced advisor.
We also don’t need to fly someone into a local area to gather local insights. We grew up here, have families here and built successful careers and networks here.
All of which saves your organization time, and leads to better results.
Prairie Sky’s growing team includes individuals with a complementary range of backgrounds and skillsets that have worked in the highest levels of government and business across western Canada and Ottawa.
President
Jeff brings 30 years of experience in the private, nonprofit and public sectors in Saskatchewan, BC and Alberta. Prior to starting Prairie Sky in 2013, Jeff spent five years as Chief Operating Officer at Impact Society and 15 years in the financial services sector with Investors Group and RBC Dominion Securities.
Experience:
VICE-PRESIDENT
Born and raised in Fort McMurray, Mat Steppan has more than 20 years of experience in government, post-secondary and the non-profit sector. Over his career, Mat has established a successful record of building positive relationships with elected representatives, government officials, and their staff on both sides of the government relations table and across the political spectrum.
Experience:
VICE-President
Richard is a highly respected veteran in Alberta’s political landscape, with over 30 years of expertise in public policy, advocacy, government relations, crisis and strategic communications, and issues management. His comprehensive skill set supports Prairie Sky Strategy’s clients in navigating and achieving their public affairs goals across Western Canada.
Experience:
Office Manager
Sacha is a dedicated professional with extensive administrative experience in the legal and public affairs consulting industry. Sacha plays a pivotal role in leading operations and ensuring the smooth functioning of the office. Her expertise in administrative management is complemented by her ability to support and coordinate with Prairie Sky’s consultants, facilitating their work and contributing to the overall success of the team.
Senior Strategy Advisor
Darin has diligently worked to improve quality of life for the people of Saskatchewan for his entire career. He brings more than thirty years of experience in the education and provincial government sectors as a school administrator, chief of staff and senior level civil servant.
He has highly developed expertise in stakeholder relations, public sector governance and public policy development and implementation.
Experience:
Senior Strategy Advisor
Theo has served in a variety of roles within the Saskatchewan government including the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Environment. He has experience in stakeholder relations, regulatory management, issues management and communications.
Experience:
Senior Counsel
After 20 years of government service and +20 years of business leadership, Jim Dinning brings his experience to PSS.
He is chair of Russel Metals Inc (RUS-T) and Desjardins-owned Zag Bank. He chairs Western Investment Company (WI-V) as well as Ontario Teachers-owned Heritage Royalty’s Advisory Board.
He is a trustee of the Killam Trust and director of the Muttart Foundation. For the last 10+ years, he has served as the lead faculty member of the Max Bell Public Policy Training Institute.
SENIOR STRATEGY ADVISOR
Kevin has vast experience in the private, public and not for profit sectors over the past 30 years. Kevin joined Prairie Sky Strategy in March of 2018 and enjoys working with a variety of clients. Prior to that, Kevin served as an MLA for Regina Northeast and served in Cabinet in several different capacities including Finance, Advanced Education, Parks, Culture and Sport and as Minister Responsible for SaskTel.
Experience:
Senior Strategy Advisor
Richard joined Prairie Sky after 40 years of experience in elected office, social work, community leadership, private business and academia in Alberta.
Most recently, Richard was elected for two terms as the MLA for Edmonton-Rutherford from 2015 to 2023, which included serving as Minister of Indigenous Relations and leading the cabinet committees for the Fort McMurray Fire and the Alberta Climate Leadership Plan.
Prior to elected life, Richard has been involved in social work in a variety of roles in academia, volunteer board roles, and over 12 years in private practice. He now lives on the Sunshine Coast in BC, working to support our clients across Western Canada.
Experience:
Senior Strategy Advisor
Rick has had a distinguished career in health care, public safety, elected office and as a community volunteer and leader over the past 20 years. Based in Alberta, Rick serves clients in AB and SK in the areas of health, public safety, education and social services.
Experience:
Senior Strategy Advisor
Whitney, a seasoned professional with a 35-year track record, consistently carves out pathways to success for her clients. Her deep-seated understanding of decision-making processes in business and government sectors, coupled with her expansive network, uniquely positions her to steer through the public policy terrain, effectively amplifying clients’ concerns to decision-makers.
With experience on both sides of the decision-making table, Whitney adeptly navigates success routes for the business and non-profit sectors alike.
Experience:
Associate
Dania is a recent graduate of the University of Calgary, completing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with Distinction. Throughout her studies, Dania gained experience working in varying roles including the 2021 Calgary municipal election, the 2019 University of Calgary Students’ Union general election, and the University of Calgary’s 76th Student Legislative Council.
Senior Strategy Advisor
Tom brings over 17 years of Federal Government experience to the Prairie Sky Team. He has gained extensive knowledge of all government departments and how they operate and has served in a number of strategy, marketing and business development capacities in Regina.
Experience:
Senior Strategy Advisor
Grant McLellan grew up working on his family’s grain farm in south central Saskatchewan. Grant’s career includes a decade within the provincial government, serving under both Premier Brad Wall and Premier Scott Moe. More recently, Grant was Chief Executive Officer of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association, representing the province’s 12,000 beef cattle producers.
Along with his strong connections to the municipal and agricultural sectors, Grant also provides his clients with a broad range of expertise spanning human services, governance, and trade policy.
Experience:
Senior Counsel
Paul’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to start his career in private business in the automotive service sector, where he gained experience in marketing, client service, and retention and managing a payroll. During his subsequent 13-year tenure as an elected official and cabinet minister, he held numerous diverse portfolios, showcasing his versatility and expertise, while gaining an in-depth understanding of the legislative process and the inner workings of the Legislative Assembly.
Paul’s broad range of experiences and unwavering commitment to his community have provided him with a unique perspective on Saskatchewan, including the intersection of businesses, the not-for-profit sector, and government.
Experience:
Senior Strategy Advisor
Dan Nielsen is a born and raised Edmontonian who brings over 15 years of experience working in municipal government with the City of Edmonton and through liaising with other municipalities – both urban and rural – across Canada, the United States, and around the world. He spent 13 years working in Edmonton’s City Hall with over eight years in the Mayor’s Office across two Mayors serving as a senior advisor. In addition, he has held leadership roles in campaigns ranging from school board trustees, municipal, provincial and federal elections.
Experience:
Senior Strategy Advisor
Prior to joining Prairie Sky Strategy, Bronte worked as an independent consultant to businesses and First Nations focused on building brand recognition and communication strategies.
She has extensive experience as a political and communications advisor, assisting clients in effectively communicating with target audiences.
Experience:
Administrative Assistant
Jessica brings over 17 years of diverse experience in the financial services industry, having excelled in frontline operations, customer service, administration, and head office executive support roles.
Senior Strategy Advisor
Ben brings his expertise in renewable energy and environment, energy, climate and electricity policy to provide strategic policy analysis and insights, government relations, and market intelligence advice to renewable energy and cleantech clients across Canada, the US and overseas.
Experience:
We leverage our many years of board experience and work in the not-for-profit sector to provide pro bono service and financial support to community and charitable groups.
Organizations our team has sponsored or volunteered with include local food banks in major cities across Western Canada, the Canadian Mental Health Association, and the Canadian Little League Baseball Championships.
We value the vital role non-profits play in communities and our goal is to help them strengthen their effectiveness and expand their impact.
April 24, 2025 Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN–S) kicked off its general election today with 16 positions on the ballot. As Métis citizens prepare to choose their
