Board of Directors
The Horse Protection Society of BC is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprising 5 members. Directors are selected from the horse community and are elected at our Annual AGM. The term runs for one year, re-election is annual. Member titles include: President, Treasurer, Managing Director, Director at Large.
Directors:
1. Karen Cook, President: Karen met Melva in 1979 and created several pen and ink drawings for The Gait Post magazine covers. She joined HPS at the very beginning in 1984 and became a director in 1992. She was nominated to President in 1999, when Melva was no longer able to actively participate. Karen has owned, trained and shown appaloosas and pintos from 1976 to 2001. She has also always taken a personal interest in being present when our horses have been transported, leased or adopted. Karen has always made herself available to investigate reports of horse neglect and has a friendly and diplomatic way of talking to people. Karen has taken special care to carry on the HPS work in Melva’s memory.
2. Pia Muller, Treasurer: Pia’s life-long passion for horses started out in riding clubs in Sweden and followed her to the US where she continued riding and working with horses. It was while working in California that Pia acquired a rescued horse, which she had for 24 years (bringing him to Canada with her). Pia has been on the Board of Directors for HPS since 1990, and held the position of Treasurer since 1996. She is also a former director with Canadian Wild Horse Society and takes pride in supporting horse protection issues.
3. Sharon Wells-Ackermans: Managing Director: Over 40 years of experience with horses, including riding, training, breeding and caring for a variety of breeds and disciplines. She has also worked as a volunteer for therapeutic riding programs in Alberta and BC. Sharon oversees the care of horses at the facility with her husband, who has extensive farming background. She also brings expertise in the non profit arena and in small business operation.
4. Patricia Oswald: Director at Large: Receiving a pony as a 10th birthday gift in England kept her equine interest growing for more than half a century. Patricia’s personal efforts to make a difference for one needy horse at a time have made many horses very happy. Her dedication to horses has been inspirational to all board members, in addition to her rescued dogs that frequently accompany her to HPS meetings. Patricia joined the board of directors in 1993, and continues to help animals in her community today.
5. Irene Schenk: Director at Large: Irene has always been drawn to horses and rode every chance she got growing up. She volunteered years several years ago at a therapeutic riding facility, eventually taking on the position of Volunteer Coordinator responsible for recruiting and training volunteers. Later on Irene becoming the Resource Manager, responsible for public relations, grant writing and fundraising. Irene currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Langley Horse Federation and volunteers at community horse shows as a scribe, tack checker and many other duties. She also enjoys working with and sponsoring a special rescue horse through HPS.
6. Tammy Nicol: Tammy’s career is in health care but her passion is in horses. Returning to riding after her children were teenagers, Tammy is a dedicated rider, enjoying the show ring and working hard for the protection and welfare of horses. Tammy is also our social media administrator and assists with barn management chores as well.
