A familiar voice in Edmonton for more than 20 years, Carole Anne Devaney has built a career telling the stories that matter to our community. The BSSF is excited to welcome the Global Edmonton anchor and journalist to the Ben Stelter School Fundraiser’s 2026 Advisory Board, where she’ll bring her experience, perspective, and deep connection to Edmonton to support BSSF’s continued growth.
Aariz Mawji, Founder and Co-Director of the BSSF, says “Carole Anne is a great addition to the board and she brings years of journalism experience. She’s a very connected, well spoken and caring individual that we are truly grateful to have on our team, and the support she’s given to our mission over the past couple of years is incredible”
You might have seen her when turning on your television to Global News at 5 and Global News at Hour 6; as a major host and journalist at Global News Edmonton, Devaney’s a central figure for Edmonton’s scene of stories and journalism.
And her career is star-studded beyond the anchor’s desk. Devaney has interviewed the beloved Canadian Soccer icon Christine Sinclair and even introduced media star Oprah Winfrey on her visit to Edmonton at the sold out Northlands Coliseum.
And not only reporting for the city, she’s been an undeniable piece in shaping it. Devaney has mentored at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton and supports several passionate causes like the Give Me Shelter campaign, Read in Week, Kids With Cancer Society and the Edmonton Burn Treatment Society.
She was also an important figure in launching Global News’ Wardrobe sale, which has continued supporting many local charities.
This year, she’s helping write one of Edmonton’s most ambitious stories that has become a wave across Edmonton’s schools, becoming a board member at the BSSF.
The fundraiser, named in memory of the late Oilers fan Ben Stelter, has a goal for the city that could change things for every Canadian; the student-led organization is working to bring Proton Therapy, a life-saving cancer treatment, to Canada.
Devaney shares what Ben’s story and the organization mission mean to her, prompting her to join the movement.
“We grieved Ben’s loss together, and now we collectively get to carry his legacy forward. Seeing kids turn tragedy into action, to help other families, is really empowering. If I can play a small role in helping these students fulfill their mission, I’m happy to do it.”
The organization still makes a clear statement of being exclusively student run in its goal to fund the Ben Stelter Centre for Proton Therapy and Neurosciences in Edmonton. While maintaining the staple model, the BSSF has also strategically involved an adult Advisory Board since 2025.
Their Advisory Board consists of professionals across the city of Edmonton. This board currently includes Mike Morrison (Principal, Lillian Osborne), Jason Smith (Principal, Ottewell), Leanne Moncrieff ( Former Principal, Constable Daniel Woodall), Iain Jamieson (Principal, Namao), Ziyah Karmali (Media Relations & Communications, Explore Edmonton), Henry Madsen (Former Principal, Nellie Carlson), Tara Jones (Teacher, George P. Nicholson).
The board has a central focus on developing insights to expand the fundraiser’s outreach, strengthen student leadership, and enrich the fundraising experience.
Being composed of adults, it also provides the student initiative with expertise and certain unique abilities that come with their school or communications based roles.
And what Devaney is pulling with her to the BSSF as she joins the advisory board isn’t something other student-led fundraisers get when running one of the largest in Canada.
The gold-career journalist and TV host was asked what her 20 years of reporting on the most important news in the city could do for the initiative. Devaney showed us the results students could put out towards the BSSF’s mission with her help.
“[Students] already have the heart; I hope to help amplify their storytelling, through my years of experience as a journalist. Getting into more schools comes down to trust and visibility. They just need to keep pitching their mission in a way that makes people lean in. I hope that eventually every school knows exactly what this fundraiser is about, the minute they see the four simple letters: BSSF.”
For a fundraiser built by student talent, Devaney brings a major advisory board advantage: two decades on headlining articles and the television screen of making Edmonton listen.
And now more than ever, Edmonton has to listen; The Ben Stelter School Fundraiser is making moves to reach a goal of 100 schools by October 16th, with a prize visit from Oilers Captain Connor McDavid on the table, all in the effort to bring Proton Therapy to Canada.
That’s what Carole Anne Devaney is helping them do. But this story isn’t one she’ll just report on from behind the camera; she’ll help Edmonton’s students write to change Canada.
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