Thank you to our wonderful team!
All our members are an essential part of making TROtt run smoothly. Without the expertise and knowledge each individual brings to the organization, we wouldn’t be where we are today!
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors is entirely volunteer based and meets once a month. The board is comprised of local community members who bring forth a wealth of knowledge from backgrounds in finance, public relations, business development, marketing and operations.
John Ross
Chair
Building on an animal science degree from the University of Guelph, John has been privileged to work with Canada’s livestock, poultry and equine sectors for almost 50 years. He has provided strategic planning, program delivery, governance and financial management guidance to a wide range of government and non-governmental organizations. This included participation on the Canadian Poultry Research Council and 4-H Canada boards of directors. He has been actively engaged as a volunteer with the Therapeutic Riding Association of Ottawa Carleton (TROtt) since 2023.
Jacquie Slavin
Board Secretary
Jacquie joined TROtt’s Board of Directors in September 2023. With a background in marketing and communications, Jacquie is currently working for a large real estate brokerage in the Ottawa and Eastern Ontario area. She has had a lifelong passion for horses and competed in show jumping for many years. TROtt felt like the perfect place to blend her professional background with the sport that has given so much to her! Jacquie is excited about TROtt’s future and to contribute to its mission.
Cilla Perry
Director
Cilla joined the TROtt Board of Directors in March 2017, having started with the program as a volunteer in the summer of 2016. It didn’t take long for her to realize that this is the perfect place to combine her life-long passion for horses with her desire to give back to the community. She enjoys every minute!
Fabian Schwarz, MD, MPH
Director
Dr. Fabian Schwarz is a family physician with global medical experience, a background in public health, and teaching experience at the University of Ottawa. He mentors medical students and internationally trained physicians, supporting initiatives to enhance primary care and community health. With expertise in primary care research, Fabian brings strategic insight to help TROtt strengthen its impact on community well-being.
Dr. Hilary Mellor
Director and Horse Committee Chair
Dr. Hilary Mellor joined the TROtt Board of Directors in 2021 and serves as Chair of the Horse Committee. The Horse Committee assists TROtt with the difficult task of finding special horses for our programs.
Prior to TROtt, Hilary enjoyed a long and rewarding career in veterinary medicine. Throughout her journey as a small animal clinician, medical director, and practice owner, Hilary gained a wealth of leadership experience and a multitude of other skills required to run a successful small business.
Hilary has served in volunteer leadership with the American Animal Hospital Association and has worked as a veterinarian with Community Veterinary Outreach. A passionate equestrian, she finds joy and fulfillment in blending her love for horses with her commitment to community.
Maria Charron
Treasurer
Maria joined TROtt’s Board of Directors in January 2025 as Treasurer. She currently works as Director, Finance at Harris Computer. Maria has 8 years of experience in financial accounting, with 6 years of experience in auditing at EY.
She grew up riding horses and values relationships with all animals, especially horses. She is excited to use her financial knowledge to assist with an organization as meaningful as TROtt.
Alison Shaker
Director
Alison is a former librarian with the Federal Government. She transitioned to family responsibilities with child and elder care and has volunteered throughout this time in a variety of organizations an roles. After serving as Secretary to the TROtt Board, Alison has recently joined the Fundraising arm and looks forward to connecting with the generous members of the local business community.
Staff
Dianne Urquhart
Executive Director
Dianne joined TROtt in 2023, bringing her experience from a long career in the charity sector and as a horse owner.
Diana Garrett
Volunteer Coordinator since 2023
Diana moved from being a TROtt volunteer to volunteer co-ordinator.
France Laliberte
Rider Intake Co-ordinator and Instructor (CanTRA Intermediate Instructor
After 16 years as a paediatric nuclear medicine technologist, France wanted to join her passion for horses with her desire to help children and adults with disabilities. She started volunteering at TROtt in 2007. She became a CanTRA (AI) instructor in April 2009 and then a CanTRA intermediate instructor the following year. She started with the rider coordinator position in November 2021. France is also a TROtt Riding Instructor.
Instructors – Therapeutic and Adaptive Riding
Shawna Carlton
Team Lead – Mounted Pograms, Instructor and Volunteer Training Facilitator. Equestrian Canada Competition Coach, CanTRA Intermediate
Instructor
Amanda Gaudet
Instructor (CanTRA Intermediate Instructor)
Nicole Meyer
Instructor and Volunteer Training Facilitator (CanTRAIntermediate Instructor, Horse Powered Reading® Facilitator
Anna Ribberink
Instructor (CanTRA Instructor)
Facilitators – Equine Assisted Learning
Tracey Bender
Team Lead – Unmounted Programs, EAL Facilitator and Instructor (CanTRA Intermediate)
Amanda Pratt
EAL Facilitator
Leanna Haythorne
EAL Facilitator
Chrissy Warden
EAL Facilitator
Stable Staff
Rhonda Roberts
Barn and Equine Co-ordinator
Barn Staff
Brent Botti, Casual Barn Staff
Eilish Connors, Casual Barn Staff
Ikram Khan, Casual Barn Staff
Jessica Oakman, Casual Barn Staff
Michele Sterling, Casual Barn Staff
Emily Veinot, Night Check and Barn Support
Administrative
Joanne Stanley
Bookkeeper
Laura Coburn
Communications advisor
laura.c@ottawatherapeuticriding.ca
Judith Holman
Communications Advisor