September 2021 – HAMP Chair Allan Wesley congratulates long-time Board member Keith Purves at the naming of the portable air monitoring station after him, with Lamont Mayor Bill Skinner looking on.
Keith lived in Northumberland England and moved to Canada in 1963 after serving with the British Army’s Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Light Aid Detachment, attached to the Northumberland Hussars. In Canada he received a commission as a Lieutenant in the Air Force and assisted as a Parade Marshal for local Alberta communities.
Moving on to regular work occupations, eventually he worked for an Aboriginal agency for over two decades as a Program Director which he loved.
Throughout this stage of his career, Keith’s focus had always been on managing justice-related programs, and he did not have any experience with industry.
But one day, as he walked past the Fort Saskatchewan Air Monitoring Station, located just near his home, something piqued his curiosity. Approaching one of the technicians, he asked about the station—its purpose, its function. It was a simple question, but it planted a seed.
Not long after, Keith saw a notice in the local paper looking for volunteers to discuss air quality issues in the area. Keith applied, and soon afterwards, he found himself selected along with a group of other community members, along with industry and government, to start a conversation about the impact of local industry on air quality.
What began as a volunteer effort quickly gained momentum, and it wasn’t long before a more formal organization took shape. The group officially became the Fort Saskatchewan Regional Air Monitoring Society (FSRAMS), a community-driven initiative that, at the start, met regularly in Keith’s home.
Over time, FSRAMS evolved into the Fort Air Partnership (FAP). They hired an Executive Director and an Operations Contractor to manage the organization’s operations and the air monitoring network. In the initial years, countless hours were spent developing systems and controls, and building relationships between community members and local industry. Keith became the Board Chair in 2000 and served in that role for 11 years, as well as in the Vice Chair role for 9 years, between then and 2024.
For Keith, the most rewarding part of this role was seeing how people contributed their time and expertise, working together to tackle challenges. Keith also appreciated the personal growth he gained from the group. While he was able to provide experience from his previous roles, he was equally learning from others, especially in the area of air quality. The exchange of knowledge and the sense of shared purpose were very fulfilling.
Keith wants to ensure that the current and past members of Heartland Air Monitoring Partnership (FAP’s new name since 2024) recognize just how significant their efforts have been in achieving something meaningful for industry, government and community stakeholders. The work they have done over the past 25 years has made a real difference, and he hopes they can all feel proud of what they have achieved.
Are you interested in becoming a public member of HAMP’s Board? Email Executive Director Nadine Blaney for more information at info@heartlandair.org.
