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We are proud of the people who keep the doors open at Powell River Therapeutic Riding.
biographies
- Program Coordinator - Vanessa Sparrow
- Vanessa moved to Powell River in May 2010 and became the Program Coordinator in September. She has worked previously in community development and project management roles for non-profits in Sydney, Australia and, since immigrating in 2004, in BC.
- Vanessa has a passion for growing her own food, kayaking and generally being outdoors, so Powell River is proving to be just the ticket.
- Program Administrator - Joyce Lennox
- Joyce is the part-time Administrator. She began working for the organisation in August 2006. Her initiation to the regular program was short as we were gearing up for the 2007 BC Disability Games. Joyce hit the ground running and became the Sport Chair for the Equestrian component of the Games which were hosted by PRTRA and holy cow, what a learning curve! She has volunteered as a Horse Handler and Side Walker in the Adult Program, been an exercise rider of the therapy horses, and even tried to get her own horse into classes, but he had other ideas, as horses do!
- Joyce can usually be found tied to the desk (or hiding under it!) in the office.
- Volunteer Coordinator - Dusty Reid
- Dusty returned to Powell River in November of 2010 with her family and, having volunteered with PRTRA in the past, wanted to be a part of it again. She started in March of 2011 and is amazed every day at the dedication of the staff and volunteers here. Her love of horses, kids and people makes this the perfect job for her and she is happy to have to come to work in her horsey clothes! Her family, dogs and horse love the outdoors, gardening, beachwalks and the fabulous sense of community they have found here on the coast.
- Head Instructor – Shannon Durant
- Shannon has been in love with horses since she was a girl and spent the best years of her youth with a beautiful horse named Shawna. Shannon has been instructing at PRTRA since 2009 when her family made the move to Powell River from the Sunshine Coast. She loves coming to work everyday because of the kids.
Shannon is almost fearless. She is not afraid of bears on the trail, cranky horses or getting lost. When Shannon is not busy horsing around or being a hockey and karate mom, Shannon and her family can be found exploring Powell River’s back country. - Assistant Instructor - Cathy Kelly
- Cathy was a volunteer at PRTRA prior to taking on the role as Assistant Instructor and brings many years of horse experience with her.
She likes to kayak and cook (and makes the best carrot cake ever – Ed) and keeps track of orcas in her spare time. - Barn Manager - Tammy Aiello
- Tammy recently returned to Powell River after 12 years, many of which were spent in the professional rodeo world. She was honoured to represent Canada six times as a flag-bearer opening rodeos. She brings lots of horse knowledge and experience to her role as Barn Manager and loves her new job. Her spare time is spent with her girls or on her horse practicing the barrels and pole bending. She also enjoys camping, fishing and swimming with family and friends. .
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a few words
It's easy to make a buck. It's a lot tougher to make a difference.
-- Tom Brokaw
Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.
-- Edmond Burke
It is our collective and individual responsibility to protect and nurture the global family, to support its weaker members and to preserve and tend to the environment in which we all live.
-- The Dalai Lama
Volunteering is so pervasive it's invisible. We take for granted all the things that have been pioneered by concerned, active volunteers.
-- Susan J. Ellis