Board of Directors

 

Prof. Miriam Carey, Board Chair

Miriam is the current Board Chair of Calgary Humane Society. She is a Professor in the Department of Economics, Justice and Policy Studies at Mount Royal University. After completing her first two degrees in Political Science at the University of Calgary, she earned her doctorate of politics from Edinburgh University in 1988, returning to Calgary in 2000. She has been at Mount Royal University since 2001 and was tenured in the Department of Policy Studies in 2005. Miriam decided to join the Calgary Humane Society board in 2011 because of her love of animals and the contributions CHS makes to the community through animal protection, adoptions, behavioral consultation, and training. In her spare time, Miriam is an amateur apiarist who loves the liquid gold that is Alberta wildflower honey! Miriam shares her home with her husband Errol, an accomplished artist, and their adopted fur kids including Ch’i, a male ragdoll cat, and Rafe, their male standard goldendoodle, both of whom were adopted from Calgary Humane Society.  She would like everyone to know that, along with adorable companion animals, CHS is graced with passionate and professional human staff whose love for animal welfare is beyond compare.

Deanna Steblyk, Past Board Chair

Deanna is currently Senior Special Counsel to the Vice-Chairs of the Alberta Securities Commission. She graduated from the University of Calgary in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) in English and graduated from the University of Alberta in 1998 with a Bachelor of Laws (with Distinction). Deanna worked as a civil litigator in private practice until 2008 when she began working at the Alberta Securities Commission. Deanna became involved with Calgary Humane Society due to her desire to make the greatest contribution in the animal welfare sector and so that she wouldn’t be faced with the constant temptation to adopt another animal! Deanna also volunteers for Legal Aid Alberta, the Law Society of Alberta, the Canadian Bar Association and the Association of Women Lawyers (Calgary). She shares her home with her two miniature Schnauzers, Emmitt (named after NFL all-time rushing leader, Emmitt Smith) and Troy (named after former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Hall-of-Famer, and broadcaster Troy Aikman) and her husband Harvey who is long-time volunteer dog walker for CHS.

 

Trish Riccio, Treasurer

Trish is a Senior Tax Advisor with ConocoPhillips Canada.  She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA) and member of the Tax Executives Institute. Prior to pursuing a career in Corporate Tax, Trish worked for several years as a Retail Account Manager with the Royal Bank.  A Board member since April 2009, Trish began volunteering with Calgary Humane Society in 2002 for the Behaviour Department as a Dog Training Assistant.

 

Michele Horne, Secretary

Michele has held several senior executive management roles during her career including President, Executive Vice-President and Vice-President of Bissett Investment Management. Most recently she was Senior Institutional Portfolio Manager at Mawer Investment Management. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and has a Bachelor of Arts with Specialization. Michele is also a member of the Investment Committee of the Calgary Foundation and Winsport and volunteered for PALS for over 10 years. Michele has a passion for animals from a very young age. She says that volunteering at CHS gives her satisfaction that she is helping to make a difference in the lives of the animals under our care. Her hobbies include golfing, tennis, boating and spending time with her loveable, adorable Golden Retriever, Toula.

 
 

Tim Doruch

Tim is a Senior Manager in the Financial Advisory practice at Deloitte Canada. With over 15 years of experience in strategic, financial, and operational roles across a variety of industries, he leverages his deep insights into business to help clients solve their most pressing issues. Tim holds an MBA from the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary as well as undergraduate degrees in Finance (B.Com.) and International Relations (B.Arts) from the University of Calgary.

 
 

Lisa Kindree

Lisa is one of our newest board members. Lisa has been working in the non-profit sector since 2001 in various capacities. She is the Co-Executive Director of Youth Central, a non-profit dedicated to providing leadership and volunteer opportunities to young people. She has degrees in Environmental Studies and Anthropology from York University. Lisa enjoys helping others and working with those who may need help or in the case of animals, are unable to help themselves. Lisa adopted her first dog from Calgary Humane Society in 2001. A lover of travel, cooking reading, skiing and hiking, Lisa shares her home with her husband, son, their dog Tucker and highly dangerous goldfish named Sharky.

 
 

Sue Scully

Sue is one of our longest serving board members at Calgary Humane Society. Her goal is to work with other board members for the betterment of animal welfare. Over the years Sue has adopted many animals including seven dogs, two cats, 20 rabbits, 10 chickens and a hedgehog. Sue is an avid hiker, camper and CrossFit enthusiast who also loves gardening, reading and puzzles. She shares her home with her husband and two dogs.
 

Dale Sutherland

Dale joined Calgary Humane Society’s Board of Directors in 1998 and has served as Treasurer, President/Chair, Past Chair and Vice Chair. He is also a member of the CHS Finance and Audit Committee. Dale is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University with a Bachelors of Business Administration (Honours). He has also volunteered with Hospice Calgary and the Victorian Order of Nurses where he served as Treasurer.

 
 

Drew Van Niekerk, Veterinarian

Dr. Van Niekerk was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba where he completed a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at the University of Manitoba in 1988. Following this he studied Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, and graduated with a DVM in 1992. Drew moved to Calgary and joined the Calgary North Veterinary Hospital emergency team in May 1992. Shortly after he started the ultrasound and endoscopy departments at Calgary North, now known collectively as Diagnostic Imaging. His clinical areas of interest are primary care, ultrasound, endoscopy, internal medicine (especially cardiology and gastroenterology), emergency and critical case management. He has been serving on the Board of Directors for the Calgary Humane Society for 16 years, and is a hard working member of the humane community in Western Canada. Drew lectures in veterinary business and clinical medicine across Canada, and has spent his entire career promoting the Veterinary Profession and healthy pet care, guest-hosting a variety of media programs in TV, radio and print columns.

Andrew Wilson

Andrew is also a newer board member at Calgary Humane Society. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Waterloo, a Bachelor of Laws from Dalhousie University and a Master of Laws from Cambridge University.  He was an associate at Bennett Jones LLP for 9 years. He was Litigation Counsel – Enforcement at the Alberta Securities Commission for four years before becoming a Partner at JSS Barristers in 2015. Andrew was inspired to join the board of directors due to his love of animals and his legal experience which focuses in part on corporate governance. Andrew also volunteers as a foster parent for Beagle Paws and volunteers with Calgary Legal Guidance. Andrew’s hobbies include soccer, running, travel and home brewing beer. He shares his home with his wife and their beagles, Darwin and Winston.