About Us | ABAceAro

Our Story

The Society of Alberta Asexuals and Aromantics (SAAA) is dedicated to creating connections, increasing a-spec representation, providing educational resources, and raising awareness of issues that impact Albertan a-specs, both within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and the public at large. To date, we are the only registered society in Canada focused on advocacy for the a-spec community, and are driven to ensure the work we do in Alberta has broader impact across the country.

We were originally founded in 2014 as the “Calgary Aces and Aros” before expanding to other cities across the province, officially changing our name & becoming a registered society in 2020. Our members come from a wide variety of backgrounds and regions, and find community through our similar experiences as asexual and aromantic people.

Our Board of Directors

SAAA’s Board of Directors is elected on a yearly basis at the Annual General Meeting. Our board members tend to be active at events and are invested in getting to know the community; feel free to approach them or say “hi”! If you have questions or wish to connect with a specific board member, please email info@abacesandaros.ca.

President

Sasha Bauer (she/they)

Despite learning about asexuality quite young, it was a long journey of self-exploration before Sasha began confidently calling themself aroace. Now in her second term as president, she's heavily involved in advocacy work, using skills from their career in education to create resources and teach diverse audiences about a-spec identities. She is currently based in Calgary but regularly travels from Edmonton to Lethbridge to connect with SAAA members, attend events, and build community. In their free time, Sasha enjoys hiking along the Bow River, building Lego with her partner, and talking about mortality.

Vice President

Blake Johanson (he/him)

Bio Coming Soon

Secretary

Evan Kayne (he/him)

Born in Amiskwacîwâskahikan - otherwise known as Edmonton - Evan escaped to Calgary many years ago. A member of the Michel First Nation, he is Two Spirit (or in colonial terms, cis-gender male demisexual with same sex attraction). He has a background working in oil & gas, writing for local magazines, and now attempting to write fulltime. He also volunteers with IndigeSTEAM helping inspire First Nations to embrace technology and the STEM/STEAM fields. As Secretary he hopes to help further train his ADHD squirrels and hyperfocus in helping SAAA grow.

Treasurer

Noah Harper

Howdy folks! I’ve called Edmonton home for the better part of two years and I’m excited to get to know this city and its wonderful people more! I’ve known I was ace for as long as I can remember even when I didn’t have the vocabulary I have now. I’m neurodivergent and genderqueer as well. I’m a big fan of bees, native planting, birds of all shapes, and I’m a bit of an amatuer potter. I’m looking forward to helping build and maintain a sense of community in my role as Treasurer for SAAA.

Director at Large

Melissa Bettcher

Hi, folks! I was born and raised in the badlands of the Red Deer River Valley and have called Edmonton home for almost 30 years. I was a late diagnosed neurodivergent and also came to my Aceness just a few years after turning 40. I like to say I am a Triple A Threat. I have a background in Adult Education and a passion for taking care of Earth Mother. As a Director at Large, I want to bring greater awareness and positive change to the inequality that people like us face with the many institutions and norms society has around finances, housing, food security, and more.

Director at Large

Heather Covey

Hi everyone. I was born in the Okanagan and moved to the Calgary area when I was a young adult. Since my teenage years, I’ve known that I experience the world a little differently when it comes to attraction—but for a long time, I didn’t have the language to describe it. I just thought I was “weird.” It wasn’t until nearly two decades later that I discovered the concept of asexuality, and that’s when things really started to make sense. I realized I’m not alone and found my identity as hetero-demisexual. I’m currently pursuing a Master’s in Disability Management and am passionate about creating inclusive, informed spaces. As Director at Large, I’m passionate about—and especially committed to—raising awareness around asexuality and aromanticism, particularly in university spaces where visibility and understanding can make a meaningful difference. I believe that fostering inclusive spaces begins with education, visibility, and representation, and I’m dedicated to advocating for underrepresented identities in both academic and professional communities. Visibility matters, and I’m excited to contribute to work that ensures everyone feels seen, respected, and valued.