Dian McTaggart, Chair, (613) 225-4853, dian.mctaggart@sympatico.ca

Dian possesses a keen business sense and superior organizational skills, as well as, a good understanding of dog behaviour. Dian works with a property management real estate company as a financial administrative assistant. She has been a member with TPOC since 2002 and is the Team Leader for Ottawa West. An avid dog enthusiast, Dian lives with her two Labrador Retrievers, Sabrina and Chelsea. Sabrina retired from pet therapy visits in June 2008. Dian and the girls enjoy many activities such as obedience, agility and freestyle dance. Dian instructs dog training classes in the Ottawa area and is also a TellingtonTouch Practitioner. A member of the Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers, Dian expertly chaired their national conference held in Ottawa in April 2008.

Marg McEwen, Vice Chair, (514) 457-2904, mcewen99@sympatico.ca

Marg has had a lifetime of experience with both 2- and 4-legged animals! A graduate of McGill University with a B.Sc. (Agriculture) and of Queen’s University with a B.Ed., she has always valued the human-animal bond. For 30 years she has owned/trained her own Labrador Retrievers. Marg is currently working with her new Lab puppy, Duke, and hopes that he will follow in Casey’s paw prints so they can continue to visit the Veterans’ Hospital in Ste Anne de Bellevue. Her next goal is to obtain an open-door policy for pet therapy in the classrooms of the Quebec school system.

Terri James, Secretary, (613) 638-7653,

A graduate of Queen’s University with a B.Sc.(H), Terri’s interest turned toward the judicial system. Terri graduated from the University of Windsor Law School in 1993 and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1995. Terri is an Assistant Crown Attorney. In 1999 she opened her home to Darby, a yellow Labrador Retriever. Darby and Terri spend all their free time doing obedience, agility, rally obedience, tracking, cottaging, and hiking. Terri and Darby are experienced therapy dog visitors and enjoy visiting seniors in their community.

Peggy James, National Treasurer, (613) 824-2946,bjames@ca.inter.net

A retired secondary school level school math teacher, Peggy now enjoys spending time with her Labrador Retriever, Chivas. Peggy and Chivas are active in the sport of Tracking and other dog activities. Peggy enjoys the outdoors with golf, skiing and spending summers at the cottage.

Marcia Murray-Stoof, Director of Evaluators, (705) 436-4158, regalrouge@gmail.com

Marcia arrived in Canada in 1991 after studying at Oxford University in England. She has been involved with cats and dogs, as well as a myriad of other small pets, throughout her life. Over the last 25 years Marcia’s passion has been the training, showing, and breeding of dogs. At this time Marcia’s breed of choice is Dogue de Bordeaux. Marcia shares her home in Innisfil with her husband, two children and two Dogue de Bordeauxs named Teal’c and Tarkas. A Siamese cat, Kirah, keeps everyone on track. Marcia stays very busy with two part time jobs, one of which is teaching pet obedience classes and participating in many Rare Breed Conformation Shows in Canada and the USA. Marcia is never happier than when working with dogs or doing something dog related. She enjoys gardening with her big boys and appreciates their help pruning the trees and digging holes.

Judy Sauvé, Director of Team Leaders, (613) 632-6502, judysauve@xplornet.com

Founder of TPOC, Judy has participated in therapy dog visitation for about seventeen years. A professional dog trainer for twelve years Judy enjoys the opportunity of evaluating prospective therapy dogs and helping them get started in this wonderful activity. Judy is also the owner of Camp Dogwould, a weekend residential training camp for owners and their dogs in the Ottawa area and is a member of the Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers. She resides in Hawkesbury with her husband, Mike, of 42 years and a very affectionate DLH cat, Missy, a TPOC therapy cat. At the present time Judy has a beautiful Sheltland Sheepdog that is working towards being a therapy dog and a wonderful Papillon, Merit. Merit carries on the traditional of Judy’s five previous therapy dogs and he loves to visit seniors and make them smile.

Ed Aartman, GRAFIK COMMUNICATIONS, (613) 632-2197, ed.aartman@grafikcom.com

Ed graduated from McGill with a B.Comm., majoring in Marketing and Management and currently is responsible for overall management of GRAFIK COMMUNICATION, a small ad agency in Montreal. Ed is responsible for the design of the TPOC logo. Before becoming a small business operator, he worked in the large corporate field as national sales and marketing manager responsible for sales for a coast-to-coast transportation company. Ed enjoys landscaping and garden design, furniture design and cabinetry and designed the home he now resides in on the banks of the Ottawa River.

Don LeBlanc, (902) 861-1465, tpoc@eastlink.ca

Don is recently retired from the Canadian Coast Guard and lives in Fall River, NS. Don has been married for 32 years and has two daughters and two grandsons. He shares his home with a wonderful Labrador Retriever named Cody. Cody is an American/Field Labrador and he came into Don’s life when he was about 2 ½ yrs old. Don and Cody have been involved in obedience, agility and Drill Team. To the delight of the seniors, Don and friends, bring their obedience routine to music to their facility. Don has been very active with the Paws To Read™ program and offers the TPOC program to 8 libraries in his area.

Bob Lewis, CGA, (613) 678-3708, robertlewis@bellnet.ca

Bob has resided for most of his life in Vankleek Hill, a beautiful little village that is home to many artists. As an Accountant, Bob shares his expertise with TPOC and keeps us on the right path. Bob enjoys curling, cross country skiing, and walking on their 25 acre farm

Sharon McKeil, (613) 738-0119, smckeil@primus.ca

Sharon possesses a diversity of administrative experience demonstrating time management, organizational skills and strong interpersonal skills. As well as earning an Early Childhood Education Diploma and Ontario Teachers Certificate, she successfully completed a course in Computer Business Applications Specialist. Sharon is the President of BARK (Bytown Association for Rescued Kanines). Each year Sharon organizes a fundraiser Walk-a-Thon in Ottawa for BARK – a no kill rescue group. This is an extremely successful event and all proceeds are used to assist in re-homing and rehabilitating rescued dogs.

Cheryl Smith, (613) 258-1627, foreverfriends@bellnet.ca

Cheryl has been training dogs for over 25 years, and started her own school in 1989. Her classes at Forever Friends Dog Training are oriented to teaching life skills to owners, using humane effective techniques. Cheryl is a charter member of the A.P.D.T. (American Pet Dog Trainer) and the C.A.P.P.D.T. (Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers). She is a featured speaker at many conferences, mini conferences and conducts well-received seminars and workshops throughout North America as well as Japan. Cheryl is recognized as an expert witness by Canadian courts in the area of dog aggression. Cheryl developed the concept of “Growl Classes” which utilize humane behaviour modification techniques to retrain dogs with aggressive behaviour towards humans and or dogs.

Barbara Ann Chidiac, DVM, (705) 835-7005, drbarbie@sympatico.ca

Barb graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1985. She is PennHIP Certified and has a strong interest in canine reproduction. Barbara is a student of Veterinary Homeopath, Richard Pitcairn. She was a partner of Elmvale Veterinary Hospital 1988 until May 2003 and has now started Chidiac Animal Hospital, situated in Hillsdale.
Barb is a breeder of Golden Retrievers since 1985. She also raises and breeds Paint horses. Barb worked hard to change the rules on Canine Obedience so that disabled dogs are now able to compete. TPOC is proud to have someone with such passion and dedication for her work and the welfare of our canine partners supporting our program.