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Equine Canada Announces Mike Gallagher as President

February 12, 2009

Ottawa, ON --- Equine Canada is please to announce Mike Gallagher of Saint John, NB, as it's new President. On February 8, Gallagher was elected president of Equine Canada for a one-year-term.

Over the years Gallagher has shown enormous commitment to equestrian sport in Canada. He has taken on a remarkable number of roles over the years—including competitor, coach, horse show organizer, judge, eventing technical delegate. He has also been the chair of the Canadian Eventing Committee, president of Horse Trials Canada, chair of Eventing High Performance, chair of Equine Canada Sport Council and a member of the Equine Canada Board of Directors.

Since 2000, Gallagher has been the director of the Canadian Olympic Committee representing equestrian sport on the COC Board of Directors, and he has also represented Canada on a number of occasions at the Federation Equestre International (FEI) General Assemblies.

Gallagher has also taken on the role of Chef de mission for the Canadian Equestrian Team at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games, 2006 World Equestrian Games and 2007 Pan American Games.

“I believe Equine Canada has come to a decisive moment in its history when we are all ready to move forward to build the organization we have all dreamed of,” said Gallagher.

Gallagher replaces outgoing president, Al Patterson of Millgrove, ON, who has held the position since 2005.

“Over the past four years I have been able to rely on the experience and support of a great team of directors, staff and volunteers which made it possible for me to have the privilege of representing Equine Canada in many successful areas,” said Equine Canada immediate past-president, Al Patterson. “I am confident that with this continued support Mike Gallagher will embrace this privilege of leadership and will one day look back on the many successes of his presidency. I wish Mike and the board of directors the very best of success and my continued support."

Under the current format, a fully elected 13-member Board of Directors manages Equine Canada. Two members are elected from each of the four divisions for a total of eight directors. The individual membership of Equine Canada and all of its affiliate associations annually elect one director to a three-year term during the Directors-at-Large elections.

This year’s new director-at-large representative is Canadian Olympian, Dr. Rob Stevenson, a cardiologist from Saint John Regional Hospital, from Saint John, NB.

“It is an honour to be elected to the position of director-at-large,” said Stevenson. “There will be much for me to learn. I do hope that I will be able to contribute in some way to the governing body of the sport that has so dramatically shaped my life.”

"The Board is the final governing authority over Equine Canada, and this year, we enjoy a powerful mixture of experience and fresh perspectives amongst our Directors,” said Equine Canada CEO, Akaash Maharaj. “As volunteers, our Directors come to their roles solely for their passion for the cause of Canadian equestrianism, and I know they will serve our country with distinction."

The new board came in to power at the Equine Canada Convention AGM, February 8, 2009, in Ottawa, ON.

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

The following are the members of the 2009 Equine Canada Board of Directors
 
Mike Gallagher 	Saint John, NB, 	President Board of Directors
Robert Thompson 	Dewinton, AB, 	Treasurer Board of Directors
John Harris 	Burlington, ON, 	Sport Division Representative
To be determined 		Sport Division Representative
Dean Leifso 	Elmwood, ON, 	Breeds & Industry Division Representative
To be determined 		Breeds & Industry Division Representative 
Lynn Shinkewski, 	Esterhazy, SK, 	Recreation Division Representative
Jack De Wit 	Brooklyn, ON, 	Recreation Division Representative
Mary-Ann Olson 	Saskatoon, SK, 	Provincial Division Representative
Barbie Lewis 	Centre Burlington, NS, 	Provincial Division Representative
Robert Stevenson 	Fredericton, NB, 	2009 Elected Director-at-Large
Michael Belcourt 	Toronto, ON, 	2008 Elected Director-at-Large
Edward Kendall 	Saskatoon, SK, 	2007 Elected Director-at-Large / Board secretary
 
Akaash Maharaj	Ottawa, ON	Equine Canada CEO, ex officio member 
Corlin Bordeaux	Surrey, BC	Advisor to the Board of Directors (observer)

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