ABOUT PADS
PADS breeds, raises, and trains fully certified assistance dogs.
Our service (mobility & PTSD) and hearing dogs provide life-changing independence to those with disabilities. Our accredited facility dogs work with professionals, such as teachers, RCMP officers and psychologists to help support healthy communities.
Mission
PADS supports people with disabilities and community care providers by partnering them with certified assistance dogs.
Vision
Be YOU. With Us.
PADS is committed to equality across race, gender, age, religion, identity, ability and experience. We invite you to bring your whole self to our team, helping us to change lives, one dog —and person—at a time.
Values
Respect | We hold in high esteem those who support our mission with their time, their money, or their actions. We are kind to our dogs and always consider their dignity and health.
Accountability | We exhibit a high level of care and conduct when considering or taking action.
Integrity | We are sincere and genuine when we consider or take action.
Trust | We appreciate those who place their confidence in us, and we act in ways to maintain that level of faith in our mission.
Transparency | We conduct ourselves openly and consider stakeholders and the community as our partners in the fulfillment of our mission.
PROUD TO BE CANADA’S 1ST FULLY ACCREDITED ASSISTANCE DOG INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
PADS achieved full accreditation from Assistance Dogs International (ADI) in 2002. ADI is the international body that sets standards for assistance dog training, placement and client care. ADI has a comprehensive accreditation system and members have to be regularly assessed to ensure they meet the high standards expected of assistance dog programs. We strive to meet or exceed the standards and ethics developed by the ADI Standards and Ethics Committee.
Andrea Wright
Chief Executive Officer
Keryn Turner
Director of Programs
Libby Mathew
Director of Finance & Operations
Kaylie Foster
Senior Manager
Breeding & Medical
Chelsea Baird
Senior Manager
Puppy Program
Jacob Rodgers
Senior Manager
Client Care
Jill Wurflinger
Senior Manager
VOLUNTEERS
Meredith Areskoug
Senior Manager
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Kristy James (North Vancouver, British Columbia)
Chair
Kristy James is the President & CEO at Burnaby Hospital Foundation.
She is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital & health care industry. Skilled in Planned Giving, Nonprofit Organizations, Capital Campaigns, Event Management, and Volunteer Management. Strong business development professional graduated from British Columbia Institute of Technology / BCIT.
Lisa Hoglund (Delta, British Columbia)
Vice Chair
Lisa Hoglund is the CEO of Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation. With over 20 years in the non-profit sector, she has led impactful community engagement and development initiatives, driving major milestones for the Foundation. Her previous roles at BC Women’s Hospital Foundation and Boys and Girls Clubs of South Coast BC built her expertise in fundraising, strategic planning, and donor relations.
Lisa’s commitment to advancing healthcare in Delta continues to strengthen donor partnerships and address critical needs. She earned her Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation in 2021 and was honored with the King Charles Coronation Medal in 2024 for her leadership and service.
She is honoured to be on the PADS Board of Directors as the organization builds its capacity to serve people with disabilities and community care providers.
Brenda Lee (Vancouver, British Columbia)
TREASURER
Brenda Lee is a Chartered Professional Accountant with an MBA and over 20 years of combined experience in accounting and IT. She began her career at KPMG and later served as Director of Finance at ContainerWest Manufacturing, where she led financial strategy and tech modernization. Now a financial consultant, Brenda blends accounting expertise with tech knowledge to deliver integrated solutions.
A dedicated volunteer, she’s supported tax clinics, marine rescue efforts, and CPA education initiatives. Brenda enjoys outdoor adventures, training her miniature schnauzer, and contributing to causes that promote community wellbeing.
Leah Babington (Penticton, British Columbia)
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Leah Babington is a wealth advisor with CIBC Wood Gundy and brings over a decade of experience within the financial services industry. Growing up as a figure skater and having had the opportunity to travel the world with Disney On Ice, Leah brings a breadth of experience in high performance environments that shaped a leadership style grounded in accountability, resilience, and a commitment to continuous growth.
Leah’s dedication to helping people achieve their goals both financially as well as personally brings a collaborative mindset and a focus on sustainability, community impact, and organizational development at the board level.
Leah is beyond grateful to be on the PADS Board of Directors as her involvement is driven by her genuine love for dogs and her passion for helping people live at their highest level of independence and wellbeing, all while supporting the organization’s mission and contributing meaningfully to PADS’ continued growth and impact across communities.
Chris Beaton (Calgary, Alberta)
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Chris Beaton is a Calgary-based advisor and Partner at Redcap&Truss, where he works with business owners and investors on mergers and acquisitions, capital strategy, and long-term value creation. He brings a strong foundation in finance and strategic planning, with a career focused on helping organizations navigate complexity and make thoughtful, disciplined decisions that support sustainable growth.
Chris has a long-standing commitment to community involvement, with a particular passion for service through PADS. Since 2014, he and his family have been dedicated volunteer puppy raisers with PADS, supporting the development of multiple assistance dogs from early training through to placement. This hands-on experience provides Chris with a unique perspective on the mission of PADS and the critical role volunteers play in transforming lives. In addition to his work with PADS, Chris has contributed his time to youth sports leadership and coaching, reinforcing his belief in building strong communities through service.
Howard Blank (Vancouver, British Columbia)
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Howard Blank has a distinguished background in entertainment, media, and the nonprofit sector. He is the founder and CEO of Point-Blank Entertainment Ltd. and has helped raise over $1 billion for charities across North America. He serves on numerous public boards in BC and acts as ambassador for organizations including ZLC Financial, White Spot Restaurants, and the Cerebral Palsy Association of BC.
Howard is a recipient of multiple honours, including the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, BC Community Achievement Medal, and the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteerism. He was recently awarded the King’s Coronation Medal and named to BIV’s Top 500 Executives.
Kim Bowie (Vancouver, British Columbia)
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Kim Bowie is a communications executive with more than 20 years of experience in public relations, marketing, and corporate communications. She currently serves as Director of Communications at Flair Airlines, where she leads enterprise-wide communications strategy and executive positioning for one of Canada’s fastest-growing carriers.
She holds an Honours BA in Political Science from McGill University, with minors in History and Economics. Kimberley brings expertise in crisis communications, stakeholder engagement, and governance-aligned communications advisory, and is also the founder of a boutique PR agency supporting senior leaders and organizations.
An ardent advocate for animal welfare, Kim is actively involved in advancing responsible pet ownership and sterilization education to support public health and animal wellbeing. She has also served on the boards of Cystic Fibrosis BC & Yukon and Casa Sheila B.C.S., Mexico, providing strategic oversight on communications, stakeholder engagement, and fundraising initiatives.
Andrew Carroll (Calgary, Alberta)
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Andrew Carroll is a Professional Engineer with extensive business management experience in the areas of Strategic Planning, Corporate Services, Mergers and Acquisitions and Operations Management.
He started his career as a Production Engineer in the oil sands operations in Western Canada. He then moved on to more senior management positions in several fuel delivery, service and manufacturing businesses in the energy industry. His most recent experience was in the Alberta hi-tech sector managing several AI and fibre optic business operations. He has broad experience managing Corporate Services groups including engineering and quality control, Facilities, fleet and transportation, procurement and warehousing and project management. In addition, he has managed numerous acquisitions and divestiture transactions over his career.
Andrew has a Bachelor’s of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Calgary and an MBA from the Richard Ivey School at the University of Western Ontario.
Debbie Carver (Calgary, Alberta)
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Debbie Carver brings over 25 years of expertise in corporate communications and investor relations, working with public, private, and nonprofit organizations across Calgary. She is currently part of Graham Construction’s Investor Relations Team, supporting their employee ownership program.
A graduate of the University of Calgary with a Business Management Certificate, Debbie is a long-standing member of the Canadian Investor Relations Institute. She also has 35+ years of volunteer leadership with Cystic Fibrosis Canada and serves on the Calgary Stampede Promotion Committee.
Outside of work, Debbie enjoys travel, wine tasting, and time with her rescue pup, Frankie.