From Founder-Led to Founder-Inspired: Carrying Safe Haven Forward With Care
As Safe Haven Foundation enters its 30th year supporting Calgary’s at-risk girls, we begin by celebrating the leadership that made these three decades possible.
This year marks a significant milestone for our co-founders, John Sherbut and Karen Sherbut, as John steps down from his role as Chair of the Board and Karen from her role as Past Chair.
For 30 years, their vision, generosity, and steadfast belief in young women shaped Safe Haven from a bold idea into a trusted home and community where girls can heal, grow, and thrive. Through seasons of growth, complexity, and change, John and Karen showed up with unwavering commitment — investing not only their time and leadership, but their hearts and personal resources into the mission.
Because of them, Safe Haven stands strong today — stable, respected, and positioned for the future.
While they are transitioning out of formal Board leadership, they will always remain our founders and inspiration. Their legacy is not ending — it is enduring. It lives in the culture of care, accountability, and courage that defines Safe Haven.
As we honour their decades of service, we are also marking an important next step in our journey — from founder-led to founder-inspired — where the values and vision that shaped Safe Haven from the beginning continue to guide us forward.
As part of this transition, we are pleased to share that Maria Paquet has stepped into the role of Chair of the Board.
Maria brings a steady, people-centred leadership approach shaped by two decades with Shell, where she currently serves as Vice President, Integrated Resourcing, accountable for all recruitment globally. Throughout her career, Maria’s work has focused on supporting people through change, strengthening organizational culture, and ensuring that values show up not just in words, but in day-to-day decisions.
She is known for her calm presence, her respect for lived experience, and her belief that organizations are strongest when they care well for the people they exist to serve.
At Safe Haven, Maria’s role is one of stewardship, caring for what has been built, supporting strong leadership, and helping ensure the organization remains stable, trusted, and mission-aligned for years to come.
As we celebrate 30 years of Safe Haven, this transition reflects who we have always been: an organization grounded in people, strengthened by community, and committed to walking alongside girls and young women as they build their own futures.
We invite you to look out for exciting announcements and opportunities in the months ahead as we continue to mark our 30th anniversary.
With gratitude for all that has been built — and all that lies ahead — we carry this work forward together.
