Companion Animal Health Fund

CAHF ADVISORY BOARD, 2009-10

BRITISH COLUMBIA

• GAYLIA CORDONA, Vancouver, B.C.
Born and educated in B.C., Gaylia Cardona has owned a bevy of pets throughout her life. In 1988, Cardona’s love for all kinds of animals led her to volunteer at Dr. Dennis Jackson's Granville Island Veterinary Hospital — a role she filled until Jackson's passing in 2003. As well, she has volunteered at the BCSPCA Animal Hospital and the Vancouver Animal Emergency Clinic for more than a decade. Cardona retired from her three-decade career as a medical librarian at the University of British Columbia Medical School library in April 2005. When she isn’t volunteering at animal clinics, Cardona can be found on the golf course or bicycling around Vancouver where she lives with her husband Edward and their beloved orange tabby, Peanut.
Tel: 604-879-8926

• DR. LYNDELL LEVITT, Vancouver, B.C.
After receiving her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the University of Florida in 1982, Dr. Lyndell Levitt undertook a one-year internship at WCVM. That experience led to a surgical residency at the College and the completion of a Master of Veterinary Science degree in 1987. For the next seven years, Levitt practised small animal surgery in Vancouver and Florida. After becoming a diplomate with the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1994, Levitt established Pacific Spirit Veterinary Surgery Ltd. — a small animal mobile surgical referral practice in B.C. As well, Levitt volunteers her expertise and time to perform surgeries on a variety of species at the Vancouver Aquarium, the Vancouver Zoo and at local wildlife rehabilitation groups.
Email: llevittown@aol.com

ALBERTA

• ANITA CAIRNS, Calgary, Alberta
Anita Cairns is a licensed judge for the Canadian Kennel Club and the CKC director for Zone 10 (Alberta-Northwest Territories-Nunavut).
Tel: 403-279-4812 or 403-279-6062
Email: cairnsa@aol.com

• DR. JENNIFER STELFOX, Spruce Grove, Alberta
Dr. Jennifer Stelfox, who completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from WCVM in 1986, practises at the Spruce Grove Veterinary Clinic and is the president of the Animal Cancer Therapy Subsidization Society (ACTSS). Dr. Stelfox was highly instrumental in helping to establish WCVM's radiation oncology program, and she continues to have a strong interest in promoting the College's oncology resources and services.
Tel: 780-962-3233
Email: foxreid@telusplanet.net

• DR. JACK WILSON, Calgary, Alberta
Dr. Jack Wilson, who graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1972, is one of five small animal veterinarians practising at the 17th Avenue Animal Hospital in Calgary. Away from his practice, Wilson is involved in field trialing for hunting and pointing dogs. Wilson has represented Calgary veterinarians on the Companion Animal Health Fund’s advisory board for more than 10 years and brings numerous skills and experiences to the Fund.
Tel: 403-228-4165 or 403-281-4318

SASKATCHEWAN

• DR. JIM RANDALL, Regina, Saskatchewan
Dr. Jim Randall graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1976 and co-owns Airport Animal Hospital — a companion animal practice in Regina. Randall is one of the founding members of the Companion Animal Health Fund’s advisory board. He was also instrumental in establishing the CAHF memorial program that encourages western Canadian veterinarians to honour the lives of their clients’ pets by making donations to the Fund.
Tel: 306-522-7387 or 306-789-4964

• JACQUELINE SHUMIATCHER, Regina, Saskatchewan
Jacqueline Shumiatcher has loved and appreciated pets all of her life, and special dogs have been part of the Shumiatcher home for more than three decades. The Regina businesswoman and well-known philanthropist is a longtime member of the Companion Animal Health Fund’s advisory board and hopes her involvement will encourage other pet owners to support WCVM’s companion animal health research program.
Tel: 306-525-6432 or 306-522-7027

• JOHN ROSS, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
John Ross is a former Canadian Kennel Club director in Saskatchewan who has shown dogs since 1968 and has been an approved, all-breed dog show judge for many years. As a founding member of the Companion Animal Health Fund’s advisory board, Ross believes the organization serves an important role in the pet community. He hopes the Fund will continue to grow and annually support even more studies than it has in the past.
Tel: 306-382-6224

• PAT PATTERSON, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Pat Patterson’s dog breed and showing career began in 1982 when she purchased her first Dalmation. Her interest in breeding and showing dogs, combined with her former job at WCVM’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, led to her involvement with the Companion Animal Health Fund’s advisory board in 1994. Patterson now works for the University of Saskatchewan’s Facilities Management Division and is semi-retired from the world of dog showing — but she’s still very interested in companion animals and advances in health care for small animals.
Tel: 306-966-4463 or 306-343-7855
Email: pat.patterson@usask.ca

• KATHLEEN ANDERSON-WULFF, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Kathleen Anderson-Wulff has been involved with dogs since 1978. She owns and shows (but no longer breeds) bulldogs and Norwich terriers, she’s an active member of the Saskatoon Kennel Obedience Club and is a licensed judge for the Canadian Kennel Club. As well, Anderson-Wulff is the former CKC director for Saskatchewan. Anderson-Wulff, who is a staff member in the University of Saskatchewan’s Office of Research Services, has been a member of the Companion Animal Health Fund’s advisory board for the past six years.
Tel: 306-966-8578
Email: kathy.wulff@usask.ca

MANITOBA

• DR. IAN SMITH, Winnipeg, Manitoba
In addition to his duties as Director General of NRC’s Institute for Diagnostics, Dr. Ian Smith conducts research in applications of complex physical methods to problems of biological and medical significance. Nearly a decade ago, Smith combined his interest in dogs and his expertise in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to develop a less expensive MRI unit for veterinarians. In 1998, his concept led to the creation of a joint venture company whose partners included the University of Saskatchewan, NRC and private investors. The company developed an MRI prototype that was installed in WCVM’s new MRI and radiation therapy centre nearly four years ago. Today, the MRI unit at WCVM continues to play an invaluable role in the College’s clinical, research and teaching programs.
Tel: 204-983-7526
Email: ian.smith@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

• DR. GORDON GOODRIDGE, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Dr. Gordon Goodridge received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1975. Goodridge owns and operates Centennial Animal Hospital, an award-winning small animal hospital in Winnipeg. The small animal veterinarian has a special interest in veterinary dentistry, veterinary oncology and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Besides his veterinary practice, Goodridge is an affiliate scientist at the National Research Council and performs MRI scans at NRC’s Institute for Biodiagnostics. During the past decade, Goodridge worked alongside Dr. Ian Smith in developing the MRI unit for veterinary use and was one of the partners in the joint venture company that produced the first MRI prototype.
Tel: 204-269-8162
Email: ggoodridge@shaw.ca