Breana Schuurman, Volunteer Coordinator
Breana is responsible for recruiting, training, and scheduling volunteers for our Evening Enrichment and Weekend Sitter program, as well as acting as a point of contact for administrative and event volunteer opportunities. Breana’s love for animals and interest in helping people is what drew her to start with NSD as a volunteer. The most rewarding part of working at NSD is knowing that the dogs are helping those in need. Outside of work, Breana enjoys staying active outdoors and spending time with friends and family, including her Border Collie, Shelby.
Cathy Jurchuk, Senior Trainer
Cathy keeps busy training the dogs in our Advanced Training program, running Team Training classes, and facilitating in-home and school placements. Cathy became involved with NSD after attending an open house at NSD in 2000 and soon began Puppy Raising. Cathy particularly enjoys watching the first time hook up with the child, and witnessing the difference a service dog makes for the entire family. When she is not busy training NSD dogs, she enjoys researching training methods, baking, quilting, and reading.
Chris McArthur, Puppy Program/Companion Dog Coordinator
Chris is the go to person for becoming a Puppy Raiser or applying for a Companion or Career Changed Dog. Chris’s love of children and dogs inspired her to get involved by volunteering in many areas at NSD, primarily with Puppy Raising, breeding, and the NSD Board of Directors in which she was a member prior to her current staff position. The most rewarding aspect of her position is the happiness the dogs bring to NSD’s clients, whether it’s a Certified Service Dog, Skilled Companion, Companion or a family pet. Chris loves to spend time with family and friends, read, walk, and take special care of Yoshee and Ricki, two of NSD’s breeding females.
Danielle Forbes, Executive Director
As the Executive Director, Dani is responsible for the successful leadership and management of the organization, ensuring the organization’s mission and the strategic direction set by the board of directors is achieved. Dani loves working with dogs and people and got her start as a service dog trainer/instructor, learning the business from the ground up. As an NSD founder and past president of the board of directors, Dani has worked in every area of NSD’s operations as a volunteer or staff member. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family, horse, and dogs, NSD breeding dog Tesla and Ambassador Dog Ekcoe.
Garry Stephenson, Breeding and Puppy Program Manager
Garry is responsible for breeding our puppies, placing them in foster homes through our Puppy Program, and developing our weekly puppy training classes. Garry began training dogs in 1966 and progressed to working with Seeing Eye Dogs in 1980. Dogs are a lifelong passion for Garry and seeing a trained dog help a client is his biggest motivator. Outside of work, Garry is kept busy running his hobby farm, and he has a passion for anything that moves. His personal dogs and fancy chickens keep him busiest, but he always finds time to fit in animal rescue work.
Jillian Petty, Apprentice Trainer
Jillian trains the dogs in our Advanced Training Program, runs Team Training Classes, and facilitates in-home and school placements. She is taking on more responsibility each day and is excelling in her apprenticeship role. Her love of dogs and her desire to do something meaningful after high school drew her to NSD. She started as a Puppy Raiser, raising her first NSD dog Kipper, and was soon hired as an Apprentice Trainer. Jillian enjoys having puppies in the office and the fact that the dogs are always happy to see you no matter what! In her spare time, Jillian trains her NSD puppy, Ice, plays ringette, hikes and hangs out with friends.
Laura Scott, Fund Development Manager
Laura is accountable for the research and development of grant proposals, planned giving programs, and facilitating major gift and donor stewardship programming. Laura’s love of animals and enthusiasm for National Service Dogs’ vision and integrity are what drew her to the organization. NSD’s vitality and genuine commitment to serve the people who depend on it continue to inspire Laura each day. In her spare time, Laura enjoys spending time with family and friends, including her cat, Lily!
Lindsay Havlin, Communications & Stakeholder Relations Manager
Lindsay keeps busy planning our annual events, and helping third party volunteers and partners enhance and promote their events too. She also keeps our Facebook page fresh and exciting, manages our website, writes “The Scoop,” and handles sponsorship and media inquiries. Lindsay’s love of dogs is what drew her to NSD, but working with our clients and partners is what motivates her every day. Outside of work, Lindsay enjoys trying new vegetarian recipes and spending time with friends and family, including her Siberian Husky, Nikita.
Margie Rolston, Bookkeeper
Margie has been NSD’s Bookkeeper since 2001. She continues to keep our books in order while also handling our payroll and tax receipting. Working for NSD has become a love for Margie, not only with our adorable and lovable four legged wonders, but the two legged dedicated staff as well. In her spare time, Margie loves scrapbooking, spending time with her hubby and daughter, and making others smile!
Tamara Leniew, Program Coordinator
Tamara provides support and information to all Certified Service Dog and Skilled Companion Dog applicants during our intake process. She helps facilitate the Skilled Companion Dog placements, and provides follow-up support and recertification testing for our working Certified Service Dog Teams. Her experience in family support and mental health provides her with the people skills to help balance out our team of canine professionals. Tamara definitely enjoys the dogs at NSD, perhaps a little too much, right Garry? As a proud mother of two girls, Tamara is always busy outside of work life with family activities and loving her rescued pet dog, Jackson.
Vicki Zettler, Apprentice Trainer
Vicki is learning more and more everyday about what it takes to train Certified Service Dogs. She’s currently training our Advanced Training dog sand shadowing our trainers as they facilitate in-home placements and follow-ups. Vicki’s passion for dogs led her to begin volunteering with NSD in the evenings, which then led to becoming a Weekend Sitter, and providing a finishing home for mature dogs in their final months of training. Vicki’s favourite part about working for NSD is the variety, as every dog is so different. Outside of work, Vicki enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and friends, as well as her Cockapoo, Sophie.