Justin Thompson

Justin spent much of his childhood and youth in the foothills of southern Alberta, including time spent working on his family’s ranch near Pincher Creek.  This connection to the land influenced his decision to pursue a B.Sc. in Biology and a Masters in Public Policy, with an interest in shaping and implementing better environmental policy and practices.

Justin got to know SALTS when he started looking for options to preserve the agricultural values, wildlife habitat, and watersheds on his family’s ranch land.  Justin and several of their neighbours ended up doing conservation easements with SALTS.  His positive experience with SALTS and his passion for preserving Alberta’s natural landscapes led to him working full-time on private land conservation.  Justin has been the ED of SALTS for over a decade.

Prior to SALTS, Justin had a varied career in wildlife conservation, the electricity industry and his own home-building business.  He continues to run a small cow/calf operation on his land in partnership with his family near Pincher Creek.  Justin’s unique combination of business, non-profit, and agricultural experience is helpful in his role as he directs and implements the work of SALTS.

Justin likes to spend his free time with his wife and two teenage boys on their land in the foothills hiking, fishing, hunting, fixing fences and dealing with weeds.