Ottawa, ON, April 30, 2026 – The Equestrian Canada (EC) Nominating Committee (NOM) is pleased to announce a slate of seven (7) candidates who were selected for presentation to EC’s 26 Voting Members from the three (3) categories and to appear on the ballot for electing Directors to fill the vacancies on the 2026 EC Board of Directors.
In accordance with Equestrian Canada’s By-laws the Nominating Committee’s mandate is to ensure EC has a rigorous nomination system each year that allows for the recruitment of qualified individuals to stand for election as Directors. The number of Directors elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) corresponds to the number of terms expiring in that year. A total of thirteen (13) qualified candidates submitted nomination packages by the close of the nomination period on March 27, 2026.
As a result of the resignation of Board Director Nathan Reeve, effective at the close of the 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM), Equestrian Canada will include one additional Director position in the 2026 election cycle. Accordingly, four (4) candidates will be elected, with the top three (3) candidates each serving a full 3-year term ending in 2029. The fourth candidate elected to fill the vacancy created by the resignation will serve the remaining two (2) years of that term ending in 2028. Seven (7) candidates will be presented to the Category Voting Members on the ballot for the 2026 election. The election of Directors is the responsibility of EC Voting Members.
The EC Nominating Committee members are as follows:
Todd Walsh, (Director and Chair) – St. Albert, AB
Nick Sutcliffe, (Director and Vice-Chair) – Hockley Valley, ON
Elise Blais – Brossard, QC
Kris Foley – Sackville, NS
Joan Macartney – Manotick, ON
Melissa MacKenzie – St. John, NB
Mallory McKewen – Burford, ON
Doug Orr – Rocky View County, AB
After an in-depth review of all the applications, as well as interviews with shortlisted applicants, the Nominating Committee has unanimously agreed to put forward the following individuals for consideration by the Voting Members (listed alphabetically):
Bernd CHRISTMAS – Queenston, ON
Crystal KISSEL – Cochrane, AB
Gilles LEVASSEUR – Ottawa, ON
Victoria MCDONALD – Georgetown, ON
Diane RATIGAN – Toronto, ON
Sergio RODRÍGUEZ – Toronto, ON
Marcia THOMPSON – Toronto, ON
Further information on the candidates, including candidate profiles, can be found at https://equestrian.ca/governance
The next step in the 2026 EC Board election will be for the EC Voting Members to cast their ballots during the AGM on May 26, 2026. The results of the election will be announced to the public on May 27, 2026.