Welcome!
• Home • FAQs
• Site Map
Weather
• Contacts
Free Service Appreciation
Find out about advertising with us!

2009 Equine Canada Annual Convention a Success

February 27, 2009

Ottawa, ON --- Equine Canada is pleased to report that the 2009 Annual Convention was a great success courtesy of contributions from convention delegates, valued sponsors, Equine Canada staff and local horse enthusiasts.

Held February 1–9, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ottawa, ON, this year’s convention was made possible by the generous sponsorship of Equine Canada Members First in partnership with John Deere Canada, BMO Financial Group/BMO Mosaic, BFL Canada and Just Add Horses.

Highlights of this year’s convention included the Welcome Ceremony and the 2009 Annual Awards Gala. Both were very well attended, and the guests included meeting delegates, award recipients, representatives from the convention sponsors and members of Ottawa’s equestrian community.

The Annual Awards Gala started with a brilliant dance performed by Vanessa Arbour, 11, and Ashley Arbour, 14, of the Sue Fay Healy School of Traditional Irish Dance. The Gala recognized the 2009 National Award Winners: Equestrian of the Year—Eric Lamaze, Junior Equestrian of the Year—David Arcand, Volunteer of the Year—Mike Gallagher, Susan Jane Anstey Media Award—Kimberly Logue of hoofbeats! Radio, Equine Canada / Just Add Horses Environment Award—Pam Asheton, and the inaugural Equine Canada Sponsor of the Year—BFL Canada. Eric Lamaze and Equine Canada past-president Al Patterson, were both awarded Equine Canada’s most prestigious honour, the Equine Canada Gold Medal Award for their tremendous achievements for equestrian sport in Canada.

Also receiving awards during the Gala were Angele Paquette—Canadian Adult Amateur Champion 18 -35, Bianca Lafontaine—Canadian Junior/Amateur Jumper Champion and MacKenzie Clark—Canadian Large Pony Champion. Other prestigious awards presented included the 2009 Endurance Canada Hall of Fame Award to Christy Janzen and the Endurance Canada Ron Janzen Memorial Award to Keith Thorne. Jump Canada presented the Jump Canada Sponsor of the Year award to Greenhawk Harness and Equestrian Supplies, which was accepted by Louise Casselman, Store Manager of the Ottawa Greenhawk retail outlet. Jump Canada also announced its Volunteer of the Year—Lisa Cieplucha and Official of the Year—David Ballard. Dressage Canada presented the International Grand Prix Freestyle Champion Award won by Jacqueline Brooks and Gran Gesto, which was accepted by Christine Peters, manager of dressage.

Award Gala attendees also enjoyed the popular annual year in review video and an extraordinary Olympic video montage prepared by Chef de mission Michael Gallagher, during the three-course dinner. The Annual Silent Auction was also a great success and included over $14,000 worth of generously donated items. A full listing of silent auction donors can be found at www.equinecanada.ca in the Convention Silent Auction section.

On February 7 a full-day of equine information sessions were held which featured leading industry professionals Pam Asheton, Dr. Yves Rossier and Heather Sansom, who outlined the inner workings of the rider and the horse to achieve a better training and riding experience.

The Equine Canada convention offered the following clinics: Jumper Judges’ Clinic with judges Tom Michiel (FEI—I) and Marjorie Dennis (FEI—I), and a Hunter, Hunter Seat, Equitation and Hack Judges’ Clinic with Barbara Mitchell, EC Senior Judge. Also featured was a General Stewards’ Clinic with EC/FEI Steward Jan Stephens, as well as a General Performance Judges’ Clinic given by Gary Yaghdjian and Lorraine Gilchrist. New this year was a two-day Hunter/Jumper Course Design Clinic featuring speakers Chris Brandt and Evie Frisque, both EC Senior Course Designers, and a Para-Equestrian Canada Coaching Clinic with CanTRA Coach, Examiner and EC Certified Level II Coach, Fionna Christensen.

On the business side of things, a record number of convention delegates from across the country met at this year’s annual convention, attending meetings, discussing current issues and making decisions on both current and future projects. Presentations on the Long-Term Equestrian Development (LTED) model were very well received and the continued development of the program will be essential to the future of equestrian athletes and coaches.

Discussions about renewing Equine Canada were ongoing throughout the convention. A consensus was reached on the way forward, and the Equine Canada Board was charged with the task of moving ahead on this path over the next year.

A detailed report on the activities from each division from the Convention will be available on the Equine Canada website.

The next Equine Canada Convention will be held January 31 – February 8, 2010, in Montreal, QC. Stay tuned for the details!

About Equine Canada

Equine Canada is a member-based association that represents, promotes and services Canada's equine community and industry. Its core areas of activity involve sport, equine health and welfare, education and safety, governance and marketing, representation and communication. Equine Canada is recognized by Sport Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Coaching Association of Canada as the national organization representing equestrian sport and equine interests in Canada. For more information about Equine Canada, please visit www.equinecanada.ca

To February 2009 News Articles Index | To Quebec Equine ...On-Line Home