About

Dr. Denna M. Benn received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Ontario Veterinary College, and her Diploma in Small Animal Medicine and her Masters of Science degree at the University of Guelph. Dr. Benn's career has focused on the use of animals in research and teaching, serving as the clinical veterinarian and director of animal care services at the University of Guelph for over 31 years.

Dr. Benn has been involved in a number of professional and community-based organizations, including: the Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Science; the Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Medicine; the Association for Assessment and Accreditation for Laboratory Animal Care (currently an ad hoc consultant); the International Council for Laboratory Animal Science; and the Guelph Humane Society.

Additional CCAC Involvement
Vice-Chair, Board of Directors (2023-2025)
Chair, Governance and Nominations Committee (2023–2025)
Member, Governance and Nominations Committee (2019-2023)
Member, Categories of Invasiveness Subcommittee (2018-2024)
Board Liaison, Public Affairs and Communications Committee (2013-2023)
Chair, Planning and Finance Committee (2012-2013)
Member, Planning and Finance Committee (2011-2012)

Dr. Jeffrey Richards is a professor and head of the Department of Zoology at the University of British Columbia (UBC). His research program aims to understand how organisms respond to environmental change, particularly the evolution of low oxygen tolerance in diverse organisms and the biochemical and physiological mechanisms that enable some organisms to maintain function under low oxygen conditions. Dr. Richards has published over 100 peer-reviewed research articles, books, and book chapters.

Dr. Richards served as chair of the UBC animal care committee between 2017 and 2022 where he worked to provide effective ethical oversight of animal-based research, improved transparency around animal research, developed animal care committee policies, modernized pedagogical-merit review, and engaged with community stakeholders. Dr. Richards was also the founding director of InSEAS, which is a state-of-the-art aquatic animal research facility at UBC. Dr. Richards has served in leadership roles in the broader scientific community through his involvement in national and international societies and as a member of the editorial board for numerous journals, including the Journal of Experimental Biology.

Additional CCAC Involvement
Board Liaison, Assessment and Certification Committee (2023–2025)
Board Liaison, Standards Committee (2020-2023)

Dr. Lucie Côté is the director of the Animal Resources Division at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC). In this role, she is responsible for RI-MUHC’s compliance with regulatory requirements and oversees all animal care operations and associated finance, budget, personnel, space, assets, and facilities planning.

She also volunteers with several organizations, including the Ordre des médecins vétérinaires du Québec, the Canadian Association of Laboratory Animal Medicine (CALAM) as their president, and the European Animal Research Association, as their first non-European board member.

Dr. Côté holds a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the Université de Montréal, a Certificate in Laboratory Animal Medicine from the University of Guelph and an Executive Master of Business Administration from the Université du Québec à Montréal. She is a versatile veterinarian who has worked in multiple sectors and her expertise and knowledge of public health research, biology, and the environment allow her to understand the challenges specific to different aspects of animal welfare and science. A collaborative and unifying leader, she leads a large multidisciplinary research team. Dr. Côté was awarded the 2022 CALAM Veterinarian Award for outstanding contributions to the field of laboratory animal science in Canada and the CALAS 2025 Tecniplast Veterinarian of the Year Award.

Additional CCAC Involvement
Chair, Finance and Operations Committee (2024–present)
Board Liaison, Standards Committee (2023-2024)
Chair, Assessment and Certification Committee (2022-2023)
Member, Assessment and Certification Committee (2020-2022)
Member, Taskforce on Transparency and Confidentiality (2018-2020)

Since joining the Ordre des Agronomes du Québec in 1997, Mr. Beaudoin has made his mark on the agri-food sector through his dedication to animal welfare. Between his certification as a Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization animal welfare auditor and his active participation on ethics committees, he demonstrates an unwavering commitment to improve animal husbandry and slaughtering practices. His role as a director of the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI) (2022-2025) underlined his ability to positively influence public perception of the Canadian agri-food system and ensured that animal welfare remained high on the CCFI's radar.

As president of Magon Inc. and Gestbeau Inc., Mr. Beaudoin works to promote the humane treatment of animals, proving his ability to lead and innovate in the field. His achievements, including the development of training and certification programs for animal welfare, as well as his active participation as a trainer and consultant, demonstrate the practical and theoretical application of his knowledge to the benefit of the CCAC. He has also shared his expertise through multiple publications and television appearances, consolidating his role as an effective communicator and change agent.

Dr. Jean-François Cloutier is a professor in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at McGill University and at The Neuro – Montreal Neurological Hospital and Institute. His active research program focuses on the molecular mechanisms that regulate the formation and function of brain circuitry in neurotypical brains and in neurodevelopmental disorders. Having supervised over 50 trainees, he is dedicated to the training of the future generation of scientists through his research program and teaching responsibilities at McGill University.

Dr. Cloutier has participated in several committees overseeing animal welfare at his institutions. He serves as chair of the Neuro Animal Care Committee and of the Animal Policy and Welfare Oversight Committee of McGill University. In these roles, he has fostered strong relationships and collaboration with all stakeholders involved in animal research at the Neuro and McGill University, thereby promoting their engagement in the animal care program mission.

Dr. Cloutier has extensive expertise in the review of research involving the use of animals through his long-standing involvement in federal grant review panels. He has also served on the editorial board and as a review editor for several international peer-reviewed journals, including The Journal of Neuroscience and Frontiers in Neural Circuits.

Additional CCAC Involvement
Member, Governance and Nominations Committee (2023-present)

Dr. Michael Czubryt is a professor in the Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, principal investigator at the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, and executive director of research at St. Boniface Hospital. His research program focuses on the underlying mechanisms of gene regulation in heart failure, with a focus on cardiac fibrosis, and the translation of these discoveries to novel therapeutic interventions in the clinic, and has published nearly 80 research articles and chapters on the topic.

Dr. Czubryt has an extensive record of service in the animal ethics community at the local, national, and international levels, including seven years on animal protocol review committees, and thirteen years on the University of Manitoba Committee on Animal Care. He has served as a reviewer, scientific officer, and chair for numerous peer review committees, and has held leadership roles in professional organizations such as the American Physiological Society and the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences. Dr. Czubryt also maintains an active training program that encompasses high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, with more than 50 trainees mentored to date.

Additional CCAC Involvement
Member, Finance and Operations Committee (2023-present)
Chair, Board of Directors (2021-2023)
Vice-Chair, Board of Directors (2019-2021)
Chair, Governance and Nominations Committee (2019-2021)
Member, Task Force on Strategic Planning (2019-2020)
Member, Task Force on Transparency and Confidentiality (2019-2021)
Member, Governance and Nominations Committee (2018-2019)

Dr. Richard Dyck is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary. He is a behavioural neuroscientist with training in psychology and neurobiology, studying the animal brain as a model system for understanding normal and abnormal human behaviour.

His major research focus is directed to understanding the development and plasticity of the brain’s cerebral cortex, and its ability to change on a moment-to-moment basis to adapt to its environment through experiences. He is currently conducting research programs that address different facets of these issues in wild type and mutant/transgenic mice.

Dr. Dyck has been involved (at several levels) in animal care and use committees at the University of Calgary for over 10 years of his 20+ year career in academia, including as a member, co-chair, and chair of animal protocol review committees. He has also served on local, provincial, and federal grant review panels related to animal use.

Additional CCAC Involvement
Member, Governance and Nominations Committee (2021-present)

Mr. Dan Fryer has been a proud community representative on the animal care committees of two CCAC-certified facilities for over 10 years. Mr. Fryer also supports the Assessment and Certification Committee with site visits and has assisted in both large and small assessments across the country.

At present, he is a regional operations director for VCA Canada, a privately owned, veterinary health corporation, and oversees multiple veterinary hospitals across Eastern Ontario.

Additional CCAC Involvement
Finance and Operations Committee (2024–present)

Ms. Caila Henderson is the aquatic facility manager and the animal care coordinator at Saint Mary’s University (SMU). Ms. Henderson holds an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science and a Master of Science degree in fish ecology and aquaculture from Mount Allison University, where she was also a laboratory manager during her graduate degree tenure.

Ms. Henderson joined SMU’s Department of Science in 2016 as aquatic facility manager and technician for the Environmental Department of Science. Shortly after beginning in this role, she led the recommissioning of the SMU Aquatic Facility. This project was integral in restoring the SMU Animal Care program’s Certificate of GAP-Good Animal Practice®. The facility was operational within four months and continued to improve systems and procedures to meet CCAC standards and receive GAP certification. To further her goals of improving the facility, Ms. Henderson oversaw the design, procurement, installation, and start-up of two custom recirculation aquaculture systems in the facility. The systems meet many of the needs of the facility by automating many systems which in turn reduce manual labour and human error, while optimizing animal housing conditions.

Ms. Henderson facilitates a strong relationship between researchers working in the aquatic facility and the animal care committee, wherein communication is transparent and collaborative in nature. She is enthusiastic about continuous education on CCAC policies and practices and trains all animal care committee members and student researchers, encouraging a science-based approach of optimizing the health and welfare of research animals. She also chairs monthly aquatic facility meetings with researchers and staff to discuss safe work practices, review SOPs, forecast and prepare for upcoming projects, and problem solve issues.

A member of the Faculty of Science Safety Committee, Ms. Henderson actively develops safe work practices in her department and facility. She is also a member of the Canadian Animal Ethics Coordinators Council, a productive group of Canadian institutions that discusses best practices and strategies for guideline implementation.

Dr. Vanessa Oliver is a laboratory animal veterinarian who completed a residency and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine and currently serves as the associate university veterinarian for the Health Sciences campus at the University of Calgary. In this role, she provides leadership and strategic advice on animal care program operations and regulatory compliance. She is the director of the Institutional Animal User Training program, overseeing curriculum development, refinement, and training proficiency metrics at the university. In addition, Dr. Oliver holds an adjunct appointment in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, teaching laboratory animal medicine to undergraduate and graduate-level trainees, as well as serving on graduate supervisory committees.

Outside of her role as associate university veterinarian, Dr. Oliver has research interests in rodent anesthesia, analgesia, pain assessments, and euthanasia. She has developed, validated, and published postoperative pain assessments in a variety of rodent models with a focus on practical, cage-side assessments. Over the years, Dr. Oliver has also participated on standards subcommittees for the CCAC.

Additional CCAC Involvement
Board Liaison, Standards Committee (2024–present)

Ms. Catherine Rushton is a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants and a Fellow Chartered Accountant, and has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Manitoba, as well as a Bachelor of Arts with Honours from the University of Toronto. She has over 35 years of progressive experience as a senior financial executive in the post-secondary and not‑for‑profit sector.

Ms. Rushton was the senior vice-president, Corporate Services, and chief financial officer at Loyalist College. She also spent 16 years as the vice-president, Finance and Administration, at Red River College (this period included eight months as interim president).

Past volunteer experience includes the United Way of Winnipeg, United Way of Hastings and Prince Edward County, and serving as a founding member of the board of directors of the Canadian Animal Blood Bank in Winnipeg.

Additional CCAC Involvement
Chair, Board of Directors (2023-2025)
Vice-Chair, Board of Directors (2021-2023)
Chair, Finance and Operations Committee (2018-2022)
Chair, Governance and Nominations Committee (2021-2023)
Member, Task Force on Transparency and Confidentiality (2019-2021)
Member, Task Force on Strategic Planning (2019-2020)

Dr. Albrecht Schulte-Hostedde is a full professor in the School of Natural Sciences at Laurentian University and was a Tier 2 Canada research chair in applied evolutionary ecology (2011-2021). He has three decades of experience conducting research at the interface of animal ecology, behaviour, and physiology, particularly related to behavioural ecology, urban ecology, and parasite/pathogen interactions with wildlife. Of note is his work in zoo conservation, especially with the Toronto Zoo, with which he has been collaborating for over a decade.

Dr. Schulte-Hostedde has served the animal care community in a variety of contexts. He was a member and subsequently chair of the animal care committee at Laurentian University. He has twice served as the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution representative for the CCAC. Dr. Schulte-Hostedde has previously served on the CCAC board, and has presented at the CCAC’s national workshop on the challenges for wildlife researchers in navigating an animal care system that is mostly geared towards laboratory animal models.

Dr. Andrew Winterborn is the university veterinarian and director of Animal Care Services at Queen’s University, as well as an expert in the development, handling, and care of preclinical models. He has a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from McGill University (2000), a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Université de Montréal (2005), and a residency in laboratory animal medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center (2007) where he received extensive training in research methodology and nonhuman primate models of human disease.

Since joining Queen’s University in 2008, Dr. Winterborn has overseen all operations of animal care services, and manages all animal use, at both on- and off-campus sites. He has led a program of enhancements comprising significant renovations with the objective of reducing animal stress and improving research reproducibility. His expertise and his organizational skills led to an expanded role, in 2013, as the director of human research ethics compliance under Queen’s University Research Services.

Dr. Winterborn’s contributions as a veterinarian to laboratory animal science and medicine have been recognized on both national and international stages. He is a diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, was distinguished as Charles River Veterinarian of the Year by the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science in 2017 and, subsequently, as Tecniplast Veterinarian of the Year by the Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Science in 2018.

Additional CCAC Involvement
Board Liaison, Public Affairs and Communications Committee (2023–present)

Mr. Pierre Verreault joined the CCAC as executive director in 2017. With a strong background in standards and policy development, he is committed to fulfilling the CCAC's strategic goals and objectives and ensuring the long-term stability and viability of the organization.

He has more than 25 years of experience in managing national, member-based organizations. Prior to joining the CCAC, Mr. Verreault worked for a non-profit association of food producers, developing policies and strategies to support the industry and its workforce, and spearheading the development of a professional standards and certification system. He was also responsible for reorganizing the national office and developing a new funding strategy. Mr. Verreault has worked as a management consultant for small and medium firms, and has served on the board of directors of multiple national and international organizations.

Mr. Verreault holds a Master in European Affairs, European Commercial Law and Business Administration degree from Lund University, Sweden, and a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Relations degree from the Université Laval.