Board of Directors
Board Director Kate Roome
Chairperson: Kate Roome was raised in the Cowichan Valley and has strong roots as a 4th generation member of the community. She is active in the equestrian community, the local BNI chapter, and the Chamber of Commerce. In addition to her contributions to the Children’s Miracle Network through RE/MAX of Duncan, Kate supports various other community events. Volunteering at CTRA is the favourite part of Kate’s week.		 Board Director Susan Harrison

Vice-Chairperson: Susan Harrison has volunteered at CTRA over the past 14 years as instructor, horse handler, and board member. She brings 40 years of equestrian skills to CTRA. Susan is an Equine Canada Examiner. Strong customer service, marketing, and management skills have been useful for her in past position as Executive Director for Equine Provincial Sport Organizations.

 Board Director Sylvia Berryman

Treasurer: Sylvia BerrymanSylvia was raised in Burlington Ontario and was drawn to BC to take forestry at UBC. Two daughters and two grandsons later Sylvia has resided on Van. Island since 1981. Family life took her out of the bush and into managerial/adminstrative work. She owned her own property management company for 7 years in the Cowichan Valley. Currenly Sylvia is doing financial and tax advising for small businesses and individuals. She is an artist at heart and is currently honing her glass blowing skills as a hobby.
Board Director Denise Hamilton

Secretary: Denise Hamilton has been with CTRA since 1994 when she started as a volunteer. Denise has been retired for a few years from the government. She is a mother of two and wife to a supportive husband. Denise has assisted CTRA with countless fundraising events.

 Board Director Jayne ShawDirector: Jayne Shaw has volunteered at CTRA since her return to the island in 2005. Learning about horses has been a real treat for Jayne, who has graduated from side-walker to horse handler. Jayne has a passion for our riders and a desire to ensure that our program continues to be effective and positive therapy. Jayne is a self-employed realtor with RE/MAX in the Cowichan Valley. Board Director Bill Buckeridge

Director: Bill Buckeridge spent his younger years in West Vancouver. He joined the Navy and attended the College Militaire de St. Jean and Royal Military College in Kingston. While enlisted in the Navy, Bill served in various locations, including Hamburg, West Germany. He settled in the Cowichan Valley in 1995 and has volunteered here at CTRA since 1996.
Board Director Irene Lintner

Director: Irene Lintner came to CTRA 12 years ago. Being the mother of a special needs child and horse enthusiast, she has seen the benefits of therapeutic riding first hand. Irene is a volunteer, a board member, and an instructor with CTRA. Irene brings a business/accounting background to her position in addition to her understanding of the huge impact this program has on the lives of people with disabilities. Irene also works at CTRA as a riding instructor and as the Financial Administrator.

 Board Director Diana Hamilton

Director: Diana Hamilton is married and recently retired from accounting. She has been involved with the Girl Guides both in Canada and overseas. Diana has also volunteered with PALS (Pet Accesses League Society) and would visit various senior’s residences. She was also involved in a very successful reading program where children would read to dogs.

 Director: Vicky Stickwood-Hislop has 20 years experience in senior management roles in the field of international business development. As the daughter of an owner/breeder/trainer in the thoroughbred racing industry, her role as Director has taken her full circle. Vicky worked for many years alongside her brother growing Post Time Technologies into one of the leading developers of technology based products and services for the global pari-mutuel racing industry. In 2010, Vicky moved with her husband to Vancouver Island. Vicky understands the deep personal healing relationships that form between humans and horses and hopes to combine her skills with those of the other members of the Board, and Staff, to help secure the financial viability of the CTRA for many generations to come.
Director Janna Jorgensen
Director: Janna Jorgensen is a seasoned organizational development consultant and facilitator with over a decade of experience working nationally and internationally with individuals, teams and organizations in the public, private, non-profit and governmental sectors. Janna specializes in shared visioning, strategic planning, multi-stakeholder engagement, leadership development and organizational change. She is especially well known for her capacity to design processes that help her clients to liberate and harnesses knowledge and expertise that is collectively held. Janna holds a Master of Arts in Leadership degree from Royal Roads University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Victoria.

Staff
Executive Director Jenn Barnes van Elk
Executive Director: Jennifer Barnes van Elk joined CTRA in 2011. Jennifer comes with a strong background in the horse industry and a Masters degree in professional communication. She has lived and worked on the island since 2003 and continues to train and compete on the local equestrian circuit.		 Operations Manager Colleen HuntOperations Manager: Colleen Hunt and her family have recently returned home to the island following her husband’s retirement from the Navy. Growing up just outside of Victoria in Metchosin she was bitten by the horse bug early. Colleen participated in her local pony club and showed all over Vancouver Island. She has a strong background in administration, fundraising and program management. She comes to us with lots of experience in not for profit agencies such as the Red Cross, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Nova Scotians, United Way and Multiple Sclerosis Society. Head Instructor Lisa Pink
Head Instructor: Lisa Pink grew up with horses in a very structured way. She has represented Canada as a show jumper, but loves eventing the most. Lisa is an Equine Canada Coach, a Pony Club Examiner, and a CanTra Coach. She have been with the program since 1987.
Stable Manager: Katrina Evernden
Stable Manager: Katrina Evernden started working for CTRA in 2007 as part of the barn staff. In 2008 I took a working student position at a training/breeding stable in Germany to gain more knowledge of the horse industry. Katrina likes being a part of an amazing team in such a positive environment. She comes to work every day with a big smile on her face!		 Weekend Supervisor/Stable Staff Beth Davies
Weekend Supervisor/Stable Staff: Beth Davies started working at CTRA in late 2008. She feels that working at CTRA has truly been “the ride of my life, that (she) never wants to dismount.” Beth feels that being part of the team has been an amazing adventure. She looks forward to coming into work each and every day.		 caretaker/stable staff: Barb Hill
Caretaker/Stable Staff: Barb Hill Barb’s past occupations include: mother of 2, home support worker, Junior High science teacher, director and teacher at an ESL facility, and 22 years as a Naval Reserve Officer. Barb feels she has now landed at of her more soul-satisfying jobs. She finds the opportunity to look after the needs of our wonderful horses as both stable staff and caretaker is very satisfying.
Instructor: Jane James
Instructor: Jane James is the founder of CTRA, and former Executive Director. Since retirement, Jane continues to work as an Instructor with CTRA along with her myriad duties as a representative for both provincial and national therapeutic riding associations. Jane is a CanTRA Coach/Examiner and a EC Coach 1.
Instructor: Margaret Rigby brings 50 years of working with horses to CTRA. Margaret has coached and trained at a variety of levels and has taken teams to national levels in several disciplines. Margaret is a CanTRA Coach, a Senior Pony Club Examiner, and a CanTRA Examiner. Margaret has run several equestrian centers, one of which was a large therapeutic riding facility. She believes that happy horses are the key to good therapy horses.		 Instructor: Sabine Molfenter
Instructor: Sabine Molfenter is a trained Psychiatric Nurse and former Educational Assistant with the Nanaimo School District. She is a life-long horsewoman who was able to combine her life-long passions through her work as a therapeutic riding instructor. Sabine holds certification as an Equine Canada Instructor of Beginners and as a CanTRA Intermediate Instructor. She actively competes in dressage competitions with her horses.
Instructor Katie MahonInstructor: Katie Mahon has been at CTRA since 2000 and has worked as volunteer, Stable Staff, and Instructor. Fondly known as the “Game Queen,” Katie has a criminology degree and is certified as a CanTRA Intermediate Instructor. Katie is also a business owner in the Cowichan valley. Instructor: Dani VipondInstructor: Dani Vipond graduated from an Austrian agricultural college that specialized in horses. She moved to Canada in 2003 and started out volunteering at CTRA. Dani has worked as a Stable Staff and as an Instructor. She holds certification as an Intermediate instructor.
Stable Staff: Nicole Nash-Little started out with CTRA as a volunteer in February 2009. An avid eventer, Nicole has been riding horses for 7 years and has trained with Olympic equestrians David O’Connor, Jill Henselwood, and Mike Winter. She currently owns 3 horses, which are at her home in Cobble Hill. Nicole enjoys outdoor activities, wilderness survival, reading, movies, music, and the Vancouver Canucks.
Stable Staff: Megan Winship
Stable Staff: Megan Winship started working in the barn at CTRA in 2011. She started riding at age 5 and joined 4-H at age 9 before joining Pony Club at age 14.		 Stable Staff Debbie McPheators
Stable Staff: Debbie MacPheators has been at CTRA for over 20 years. She started out volunteering and soon participated in riding, especially enjoying dressage. Debbie is very involved with Special Olympics and participates in a wide variety of sports.