Board of Directors

Dian McTaggart, Chair

Dian possesses a keen business sense and superior organizational skills, as well as, a good understanding of dog behaviour. She has been a member of TPOC since 2003 and is the Team Leader for Ottawa West. She developed the visiting program in the Ottawa area with her Labrador Retriever Sabrina. An avid dog enthusiast, Dian lives with her Golden Retriever puppy Cody. Dian hopes that Cody will be the next visiting partner. Dian enjoys many activities such as Rally Obedience, agility and freestyle dance. Dian is a Tellington TTouch Practitioner and instructs dog training classes in the Ottawa area, and is a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers.

Marg McEwen, Vice Chair

Marg has had a lifetime of experience with both 2 and 4-legged animals! A graduate of McGill University with a B.Sc. in Agriculture and of Queen’s University with a B.Ed., she has always valued the human-animal bond. For over 35 years she has owned/trained her own Labrador Retrievers. Out of this respect for the breed, Casey’s Cause (offering advice and assistance to guardians and rescue organizations) was created in memory of an exceptional rescued Lab, who was a TPOC member and left his paw prints on the hearts of those they visited. Marg and her young Lab, Duke, continue to visit the Veterans’ Hospital in Ste Anne de Bellevue. Her next goal – to achieve an open-door policy for pet therapy in the Quebec school system – is in the early stages of acceptance and development.

Heather Laundry, Secretary

Heather is a graduate of the University of Waterloo (B.Math (H)) and Algonquin College with a certificate in Project Management. Heather works in the information technology field. She is a keen trainer having worked through the Karen Pryor Academy dog training program as well as having given private and group classes. Heather was the proud handler of Lucy (a Lab mix), who was a visiting TPOC therapy dog for a number of years before her retirement. She volunteers time to the Australian Shepherd Placement Helpline as a general help and as a foster home. She has two Australian Shepherds who dabble in a number of sports, most recently taking up skijoring.

Marcia Murray-Stoof, Director of Evaluators

Marcia was born and educated in England and came to Canada in 1991. She has been a Certified Professional Dog Training Instructor for over 25 years now. Marcia has had 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. Marcia runs her own business as “The Dog Nanny” providing dog training and behavioural solutions for the residents of the greater Barrie area. Marcia is also a breeder of the Dogue de Bordeaux. Marcia joined TPOC in January of 2005 as a Volunteer for the Barrie Team with Teal’C her first Dogue De Bordeaux, and continues to visit, doing the Paws To Read (R) program with Tars Tarkas. Marcia shares her home in Innisfil with her husband, her Daughter and her Dogue de Bordeauxs, including a Siamese cat, Kirah, whom keeps everyone on track. Marcia stays very busy with her business doing both Group Classes and Private Home Visits for her clients. She also participates in many Rare Breed & CKC Conformation Shows in Canada and the USA. Marcia is never happier than when working with dogs or doing something dog related.

Don LeBlanc

Don is retired from the Canadian Coast Guard after 36+ years as an Electronic Technologist and software trainer. He has been married for more than 34 years, has 2 daughters and 2 grandsons.

Don has been involved with Therapy Dog programs for the past 10 years and has made over 700 visits to numerous senior facilities, adult and children hospitals. As Team Leader, Don was responsible for starting and organizing the Paws To Read® program in the Halifax/Dartmouth area of Nova Scotia. Cody, an American/Field Labrador Retriever, has been Don’s shadow since he joined the Le Blanc family at 2 1/2 years of age. Prior to Cody’s retirement from therapy work at the age of 12, he was also involved in obedience trials, agility, a member of an Obedience Drill Team, tracking and therapy dog team mentoring.

Lara Ibrahim

With her 5 year old Shih Tzu, Chico, Lara Ibrahim enjoys many activities, such as agility competition and TPOC therapy visits. Holding a bachelor in engineering with an MBA, along with a project management certification, Lara works as a consultant in the life sciences industry (pharma, bio-medical).

Dianne E Chesebrough

RN (retired) Ontario- graduated from the Peterborough Civic Hospital School of Nursing and Loyalist College Gerontology program .With interests in behavioral health and quality of life issues , she continues to attend McMaster Centre for Gerontological Studies. As an Advisory Board member of the Hamilton Seniors Active Living Centre YWCA and The Hamilton Council on Aging ,she attends special events such as Health Fairs and Obedience demos with Therapy Dogs “Daisy” and “Lucy”. The roles of former Team Leader Kingston and presently Team Leader Hamilton register an eight year history of regular weekly visiting on behalf of TPOC.

Judy Sauvé, Founder

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.

Peggy James, National Treasurer

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.

Sharon McKeil

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

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.

Barb Kelly, Director

Barb Kelly Director of Children’s Programs
Barb Kelly is a native of Kingston, Ontario and has attended St. Lawrence College.
She has worked with children and dogs for many years in the community.
Barb lives with husband and three Golden retrievers in Amherstview, Ontario
She has visited with her dog Brent for over five years at a long term care facility and is the evaluator for the Kingston team. Recently Barb has as acted as the coordinator for the Children’s programs and will continue to develop and organize the Interaction with Children (IWC) program in her new role as Director.

Mark Grant, Director of Team Leaders

Mark serves on the Executive of the Halifax Kennel Club (HKC) and
coordinates the HKC’s All Breed Dog Shows and Trials, in addition to
several other dog shows in the region each year. Mark has been recognized
by organizations for this volunteer service. Most recently (April 20, 2011)
members of the Halifax Regional Council recognized Mark for his outstanding
volunteer service in the Halifax Regional Municipality.