Rick Smith
Senior Consultant
Hal Danchilla
Rick Smith is a senior public-sector advisor and community leader with decades of experience across education, municipal governance, infrastructure, and regional economic development in Alberta. His career reflects a deep commitment to inclusion, sustainable growth, and practical governance that strengthens communities and public institutions.
As a Senior Consultant at ISP, Rick supports clients by bringing extensive experience in municipal operations, community development, and stakeholder engagement. He is valued for his ability to connect public policy, infrastructure planning, and local economic priorities, ensuring initiatives are community-centered, feasible, and aligned with long-term objectives.
Before joining ISP, Rick dedicated 25 years to Alberta’s education system, with a strong focus on inclusive education and equitable access for all students. Beyond the classroom, he served as a local negotiator and pension consultant for the Alberta Teachers’ Association, contributing to policies that supported educators’ rights and long-term sustainability. He also served on the Lakeland College Board of Governors, with an emphasis on student services and opportunity development.
Rick later transitioned into municipal leadership, serving three terms as a Councillor with Leduc County over 12 years. During this time, he helped lead and fund a revitalized economic development department, supporting business attraction, retention, and sustained regional growth.
His governance experience includes 12 years with the Southwest Water Commission, including two years as Chair, overseeing the delivery of safe, reliable, and affordable water services. He also served with Arrow Utilities, the wastewater commission supporting 13 municipalities in the greater Edmonton region, contributing to essential infrastructure planning and environmental stewardship.
At the national level, Rick was appointed to the federal government’s Task Force on the Just Transition from Coal, where he focused on municipal tax impacts and workforce retraining, helping inform policy approaches to support communities through economic transition.
Rick is a proud Albertan and a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta, with deep family roots in the Edmonton region dating back to the early 1800s. He remains actively involved in his community, serving on the Board of Leduc Special Olympics and coaching swimming, bowling, and curling.
Rick Smith
Senior Consultant
Hal Danchilla
Rick Smith is a senior public-sector advisor and community leader with decades of experience across education, municipal governance, infrastructure, and regional economic development in Alberta. His career reflects a deep commitment to inclusion, sustainable growth, and practical governance that strengthens communities and public institutions.
As a Senior Consultant at ISP, Rick supports clients by bringing extensive experience in municipal operations, community development, and stakeholder engagement. He is valued for his ability to connect public policy, infrastructure planning, and local economic priorities, ensuring initiatives are community-centered, feasible, and aligned with long-term objectives.
Before joining ISP, Rick dedicated 25 years to Alberta’s education system, with a strong focus on inclusive education and equitable access for all students. Beyond the classroom, he served as a local negotiator and pension consultant for the Alberta Teachers’ Association, contributing to policies that supported educators’ rights and long-term sustainability. He also served on the Lakeland College Board of Governors, with an emphasis on student services and opportunity development.
Rick later transitioned into municipal leadership, serving three terms as a Councillor with Leduc County over 12 years. During this time, he helped lead and fund a revitalized economic development department, supporting business attraction, retention, and sustained regional growth.
His governance experience includes 12 years with the Southwest Water Commission, including two years as Chair, overseeing the delivery of safe, reliable, and affordable water services. He also served with Arrow Utilities, the wastewater commission supporting 13 municipalities in the greater Edmonton region, contributing to essential infrastructure planning and environmental stewardship.
At the national level, Rick was appointed to the federal government’s Task Force on the Just Transition from Coal, where he focused on municipal tax impacts and workforce retraining, helping inform policy approaches to support communities through economic transition.
Rick is a proud Albertan and a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta, with deep family roots in the Edmonton region dating back to the early 1800s. He remains actively involved in his community, serving on the Board of Leduc Special Olympics and coaching swimming, bowling, and curling.