Age: 38
Feel like chatting about the Calgary Stampeders and their defensive skills? Then Chet Reynolds is your guy. How about a conversation about public policy development? Call up Reynolds. Want to talk about Alberta’s health-care structure? Again, talk to Chet Reynolds. As the national director of government and industry relations for Nova Chemicals, part of Reynolds’ job is to build relationships. And that always starts with a conversation, which by the way, this affable Calgarian is very good at. But his gift for gab doesn’t involve empty words. This guy can talk about any topic and sound knowledgeable and intelligent while doing it. “I love distilling complex issues into a way that’s easily digestible and contextualized,” he explains. And Reynolds has built a very successful career out of doing just that.
Most recently, he provided leadership to help develop the Alberta government’s Integrated Energy Vision paper, and he worked to establish the Ethane Extraction Policy framework – both of which align closely with Nova Chemicals’ growth agenda in Alberta.
Reynolds says there are two things that really changed his perspective – his two children with wife Janet, and living in Africa for a year. “The question I always ask myself is: ‘How do I leave this world a better place?’ ” he says. “I know it sounds hokey, but it’s true.” Coming from this guy, it hardly sounds hokey. In fact, this transplanted Saskatchewanite sounds as genuine as they come.
In 1997, Reynolds graduated from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa with a master’s degree in international relations. During his Africa stint, he gained a real appreciation for the disparities that Third World countries face. “It should be absolutely mandatory for every Canadian to go to a place like Africa,” he says. “You see so much potential and hope that clearly isn’t realized.” Another great conversation starter that will simply have to be left for another day.
COMMUNITY WORK
Founding member, the Horsemen
Volunteer adviser, Alberta College of
Family Physicians
Volunteer adviser, Crowfoot Village Family Practice
On-ice volunteer, Bow River Bruins Hockey Club