Locations
Alberta
Our Heroes Mending on the Fly Canada program in Alberta is led by a passionate team dedicated to supporting veterans and first responders through the therapeutic benefits of fly fishing. With activities tailored to the needs of participants, we provide guidance in fly tying, fly casting, and fishing outings across Alberta’s vast and beautiful landscapes.
Please use our contact form to get in touch so we can arrange an introduction and outing for you if you are a potential participant from Alberta!
Alberta Provincial Director
Owen Stevens
Alberta 2IC
Mark Smallbones
LETHBRIDGE PROGRAM LEAD
Andy Van Loan
Meet Mark
Mark served with the Canadian Armed Forces from 1994 – 1995 serving in Petawawa with the 2nd Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. While serving he completed a Peacekeeping tour in Bosnia with Andy. In 1995 Mark left the Canadian Armed Forces and moved back to southwestern Alberta where he attended the Lethbridge College. In 1998 Mark joined the Lethbridge Police Service and served almost 24 years with the service, serving in various roles with the police service. Mark retired in 2022 after being diagnosed with a non-cancerous brain tumour and subsequent surgery left him with disabilities. Mark started fly fishing in the waters around Southern Alberta when he was 15 years old and found fly fishing a big part of his healing and wants to help show others the healing powers of fly fishing. Mark has also completed Western Canada Guide School and Sweetwater Guide school. Mark also is a part-time fly-fishing guide for My Fly Guy Fly Shop (Coalhurst, Alberta) and Incept Adventures (Cardston, Alberta).
Meet Andy
Andy has served for over 34 years in the Canadian Armed Forces. He began his career as an artilleryman and then did a component transfer to the infantry as a non-commissioned member then was employed as a non-commissioned officer. During this period, he was a member in a rifle company in the First Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment. Between 1993 to 2000 he deployed to Cyprus, two missions in Bosnia and one tour in Kosovo. In 2001 he applied for commissioning and by 2003 completed a degree at the Royal Military College. From 2004 to 2006 he served as a platoon commander in the Third Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment. In 2006 he applied and completed selection for the Canadian Special Operations Regiment. From 2006 to 2025 he has served in various rolls within Canadian Special Operations Forces. During this period he had multiple operational deployments.
