About

About the CCAC

Volunteers 2025-2026

The CCAC’s work is made possible through the contributions of a diverse community. Scientists, educators, veterinarians, animal care professionals, animal welfare specialists, and public representatives from across Canada generously share their time, insight, and experience to support the ethical care and use of animals in science. Their contributions strengthen every aspect of the CCAC program by supporting guideline development and revision, participating in assessments and certification activities, and helping deliver training and outreach initiatives. Through this collective effort, volunteers help ensure that ethical standards for animal care and use continue to evolve and remain rigorous and transparent.

While we recognize a number of volunteers below, they represent only a small part of a much larger community. We are deeply grateful to the many individuals who serve on institutional animal care committees, review guidance documents, and offer their knowledge and perspectives throughout the year. Their commitment, professionalism, and passion continue to shape the CCAC program.

Member Representatives

The CCAC’s member organizations each appoint one representative to attend the annual general meeting with the authority to vote on the member organization’s behalf.

Member Representatives

Dr. Sylvain Bourgoin | Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada
Dr. Philip Byrne | Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Dr. Shannon Digweed | Council of Canadian Departments of Psychology
Ms. Kathy Duncan | Humane Canada
Dr. Carissa Embury-Hyatt | Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Ms. Megan Fuller | Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Science
Dr. Daniel Graf | Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry
Dr. Ashok Jadhav | Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Medicine
Dr. Digvir Jayas | Universities Canada
Dr. Martha Navarro | Health Canada
Dr. Angel Petropanagos | Canadian Bioethics Society
Dr. Tammy Rodela | Canadian Society of Zoologists
Mr. John Ross | Animal Health Canada
Dr. Cathy Schuppli | Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
Dr. Céline Ster | Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Dr. Craig Wilkinson | Deans Council – Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Medicine
Mr. Scott Unger | Environment and Climate Change Canada
Dr. Ellen Watkiss | Defence Research and Development Canada
Dr. Risini Weeratna | National Research Council Canada

Other Member Organizations:

Canadian Cancer Society
Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
Innovative Medicines Canada

Standing Committees

The CCAC’s five standing committees play an invaluable advisory role by providing guidance and recommendations to the board on their areas of expertise.

Assessment and Certification Committee

Dr. Daniel Graf, Chair | University of British Columbia
Mr. Don Barton | Calgary, AB
Dr. Sylvain Bourgoin | Université Laval
Dr. Anne-Marie Catudal | Université Laval
Dr. Jean-Francois Cloutier, Board Liaison | McGill University
Dr. Chereen Collymore | Charles River Laboratories
Dr. Shannon Digweed | MacEwan University
Dr. Carissa Embury-Hyatt | Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Ms. Francine Giroux | Saint-Simon-de-Bagot, QC
Mr. Andrew Hebda | Saint Mary's University
Dr. Ashok Jadhav | Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
Ms. Anna Jimenez | McGill University
Dr. Scott MacDougall-Shackleton | Western University
Ms. Aleah McCorry | MacEwan University
Dr. Thomas Prévot | Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Mr. Scott Unger | Environment and Climate Change Canada
Dr. Ellen Watkiss | Defence Research and Development Canada
Dr. Risini Weeratna | National Research Council Canada
Mr. David Wilton | Woodstock, ON

Finance and Operations Committee

Dr. Lucie Côté, Treasurer and Chair | Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Mr. Stéphane Beaudoin | Gestbeau Inc. / Magon Inc.
Dr. Michael Czubryt | St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre
Mr. Dan Fryer | Ottawa, ON
Ms. Catherine Rushton, CPA, CA | Belleville, ON

Governance and Nominations Committee

Dr. Jeffrey Richards, Chair | University of British Columbia
Dr. Richard Dyck | University of Calgary
Ms. Caila Henderson | Saint Mary's University
Dr. Albrecht Schulte-Hostedde | Laurentian University

Public Affairs and Communications Committee

Ms. Katie Gray, Chair | Toronto Zoo
Ms. Kathy Duncan | Humane Canada
Ms. Megan Fuller | Innovakine Therapeutics Inc.
Mr. Jamie Hall | University of British Columbia
Dr. Digvir Jayas | University of Lethbridge
Ms. Meaghan Thurston | McGill University
Dr. Quentin Tsang | McMaster University
Ms. Estelle Vazquez | Charles River Laboratories
Dr. Andrew Winterborn, Board Liaison | Queen’s University

Standards Committee

Dr. Cathy Schuppli, Chair | University of British Columbia
Dr. Philip Byrne | Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ms. Mélanie Denommé | St. Catharines, ON
Ms. Leigh Gaffney | University of Victoria
Dr. Vanessa Oliver, Board Liaison | University of Calgary
Dr. Angel Petropanagos | William Osler Health System
Ms. Suzanne Richardson | University of British Columbia
Dr. Tammy Rodela | St. Francis Xavier University
Dr. Céline Ster | Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Guidelines Development Subcommittees

Members are selected for their expertise on a specific animal, topic, or practice. These volunteer experts are drawn from both the scientific and animal welfare communities and represent a wide array of knowledge and skills.

Animal Use Protocol Review

Dr. Madeleine Stephens, Chair | Douglas College / Trinity Western University
Mr. Jason Allen | Trent University
Ms. Maya Bodnar | University of British Columbia
Dr. Maryse Boulay | Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal
Ms. Émilie Chouinard | Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec
Ms. Dorothyann Curran | Centre for Rehabilitation Research and Development
Dr. Jolene Giacinti | Environment and Climate Change Canada
Mr. Henrik Kreiberg | Nanaimo, BC
Dr. Aileen MacLellan | Ottawa, ON
Ms. Daphnée B. Ménard | University of Ottawa
Dr. Guillaume Pelletier | Health Canada
Ms. Amanda Plante | University of Saskatchewan
Ms. Pamela Raposo | University of Alberta
Ms. Suzanne Richardson | University of British Columbia
Dr. Emily Truscott | Western University

Dogs

Dr. Cathy Schuppli, Chair | University of British Columbia
Dr. Sarah Baert | University of Guelph
Dr. Anthony Carr | University of Saskatchewan
Ms. Christina de Rivera-Wagar | InterVivo Solutions
Ms. Mae Drolet-Giroux | Montréal, QC
Dr. Simon Gadbois | Dalhousie University
Ms. Jennifer Heathcote | Telemark Veterinary Consulting Inc.
Dr. Rebecca Ledger | Langara College
Dr. Albert Licollari | Nucro-Tecnics
Dr. Alexandra Protopopova | University of British Columbia

Ethics Principles

Dr. Andrew Fenton, Co-chair | Dalhousie University
Dr. Christopher R.J. Kennedy, Co-chair | University of Ottawa
Dr. Marc Cattet | Government of Yukon
Dr. Gillian Crozier | Laurentian University
Mr. Shawn Eccles | British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Ms. Karen Gourlay | McMaster University
Dr. Mathias Leblanc | Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Dr. Georgia Mason | University of Guelph
Dr. Yfke Pasman | Toronto, ON
Dr. Toolika Rastogi | Humane Canada
Mr. Troy Seidle | Humane Society International
Dr. Stephen Sims | University of Western Ontario (emeritus)
Dr. Valerie Smid | Public Health Agency of Canada
Ms. Monica Tighe | St. Clair College

Euthanasia

Dr. Hélène Héon, Chair | Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal
Ms. Anik Boileau | Sept-Îles, QC
Dr. Philip Byrne | Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ms. Karen Dubé | Laboratoire national de biologie expérimentale
Dr. Sylvie Fortier | Université de Montréal
Dr. Shereen Hamza | University of Alberta
Ms. Jessica Hutta | McGill University
Dr. Céline Isaaz | Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs
Dr. Andrew Iwaniuk | University of Lethbridge
Ms. Madeline Klaver | Amgen British Columbia Inc.
Dr. Joanna Makowska | University of British Columbia
Dr. Michelle Reichert | Charles River Laboratories
Dr. Timothy Ryan | McMaster University
Dr. Cathy Schuppli | University of British Columbia
Dr. Keith Sharkey | University of Calgary
Mr. Scott Smith | Ottawa, ON

Farm Animals

Dr. Ed Pajor, Chair | University of Calgary
Dr. Akilu Alemu | Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Dr. Bettina Bobsien | Galiano Veterinary Services
Dr. Anna Bolinder | University of Guelph
Dr. Stephanie Collins | Dalhousie University
Dr. Sylvie Fortier | Université de Montréal
Dr. Deborah Johnson | TELUS Agriculture Solutions Inc.
Dr. Emma McGeough | University of Manitoba
Ms. Annie Pelletier | Université Laval
Dr. Kathryn Proudfoot | University of Prince Edward Island
Dr. Frank Robinson | University of Alberta
Dr. Céline Ster | Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Dr. Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt | Université de Montréal
Dr. Frank van der Meer | University of Calgary
Dr. Ines Walther | Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Ferrets

Dr. Rachel Vistein, Chair | Western University
Dr. Logan Banadyga | University of Manitoba
Dr. Mariana Baz | Université Laval
Ms. Jaselyn Becz | University Health Network
Ms. Meghann Cant | British Colombia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Ms. Stéphanie Grenon | Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Dr. Jennifer Kylie | Charles River Laboratories
Dr. Stéphane Pillet | Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec
Dr. Valerie Smid | Public Health Agency of Canada
Mr. Kevin Tierney | Public Health Agency of Canada

Fish

Dr. Steven Cooke, Chair | Carleton University
Mr. Donald Barton | Calgary, AB
Dr. Tillmann Benfey | University of New Brunswick
Dr. Paul Craig | University of Waterloo
Dr. David Deslauriers | Université du Québec à Rimouski
Dr. Ian Forster | Centre for Aquaculture and Environmental Research
Ms. Leigh Gaffney | University of Victoria
Dr. Chris Harvey-Clark | Dalhousie University
Dr. Christine MacWilliams | Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Dr. Jon Midwood | Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ms. Alicia O'Neill | Environment and Climate Change Canada
Dr. Trevor Pitcher | University of Windsor
Ms. Émilie Proulx | Université Laval
Dr. Simon Reader | McGill University
Dr. Sean Rogers | Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre
Mr. Jason Treberg | University of Manitoba
Dr. Shona Whyte | University of Prince Edward Island

Hamsters and Guinea Pigs

Dr. Coral Murrant, Chair | University of Guelph
Dr. Michael Antle | University of Calgary
Ms. Kate Cooper | National Farm Animal Care Council
Dr. Aurore Dodelet-Devillers | Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Ms. Andrea Dubuc | Saint-Bruno, QC
Ms. Nicole Fletcher | University of Guelph
Dr. Martha Navarro | Health Canada
Dr. Lee Niel | University of Guelph
Dr. Vanessa Oliver | University of Calgary
Dr. Timothy Regnault | University of Western Ontario
Ms. Andrea Smida | University of Saskatchewan
Ms. Julie Todd | Health Canada

Other Projects

Subject matter experts are appointed to focus on specific issues and provide guidance to the board.

Recognition Awards Task Force

Dr. Denna M. Benn, Chair | University of Guelph
Mr. Don Barton | Calgary, AB
Dr. Jeffrey Richards | University of British Columbia
Ms. Suzanne Richardson | University of British Columbia
Ms. Estelle Vazquez | Charles River Laboratories

Translation Advisory Group

Dr. Sylvain Bourgoin | Université Laval
Ms. Maryse Dansereau | Université de Montréal
Dr. Isabelle Desprez | Western College of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Sylvie Fortier | Université de Montréal
Dr. Geneviève Fortin-Simard | Charles River Laboratories
Ms. Kristyn Fournier | University of Guelph
Dr. Julie Gervais | Institut de recherche en immunologie et en cancérologie
Ms. Jennifer Henri | McGill University
Ms. Catherine Lecompte | Université de Montréal
Ms. Kiana McFadden-Houle | Collège Boréal
Dr. Stéphane Ménard | Université de Montréal

Training

National Workshop

The CCAC’s national workshops would not have been possible without the dedication of the following member organization representatives, researchers, animal care committee members and coordinators, and animal health professionals.

Dr. Po-Yan Cheng | University of British Columbia
Dr. Chereen Collymore | Charles River Laboratories
Dr. Shawn Davis | University of Toronto Mississauga
Dr. Shannon Digweed | MacEwan University
Dr. Liisa Galea | University of Toronto
Mr. Sam Laxer | Western University
Ms. Catherine Rushton | Belleville, ON
Dr. Catherine Schuppli | University of British Columbia
Dr. Jonathan Spears | University of Prince Edward Island
Dr. Madeleine Stephens | University of British Columbia
Dr. Janet Sunohara-Neilson | University of Guelph

Virtual Learning Series Webinars

Dr. Alyssa Goldstein | University Health Network
Mr. Marc-Antoine Gillis | Institut de cardiologie de Montréal

Members of CCAC Assessment Panels

CCAC assessment panels play the vital role of carrying out visits to institutions participating in the CCAC’s program.

* Names marked with an asterisk are those of members who have served as chairperson on an assessment panel.

Community Representatives

Community representatives are not required to have any specialized knowledge of animal health or welfare, but rather represent the Canadian public.

Mr. Don Barton | Calgary, AB
Mr. Tim Battle | Edmonton, AB
Ms. Kathy Duncan | Ottawa, ON
Mr. Dan Fryer | Ottawa, ON
Ms. Francine Giroux | Saint-Simon-de-Bagot, QC
Mr. Arthur Goldsmith | Arnprior, ON
Mr. Ira Greenblatt | Ottawa, ON
Mr. Andrew Hebda | Maitland, NS
Ms. Melissa Logan | Edmonton, AB
Mr. Serge Marquis | Trois-Rivières, QC
Mr. Luc Préfontaine | Laval, QC
Mr. Jacques Thibault | Bathurst, NB

Scientists

Scientists are selected for their experience and expertise with specific types of animals or experimental procedures.

Dr. Justin Arthur | University of Calgary *
Dr. Clover Bench | University of Alberta *
Dr. Sylvain Bourgoin | Université Laval *
Dr. Kenneth Collins Welch | University of Toronto
Dr. Will Costain | National Research Council Canada *
Dr. Simon Hirota | University of Calgary *
Dr. Robert Laprairie | University of Saskatchewan *
Dr. Scott MacDougall-Shackleton | Western University *
Ms. Alicia O'Neill | Environment and Climate Change Canada *
Dr. Ed Pajor | University of Calgary *
Dr. Thomas Prévot | Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Dr. Katherine Wood | University of Guelph *

Animal Health Professionals

Animal health professionals are selected for their experience and expertise with specific types of animals or experimental procedures.

Veterinarians

Dr. Fernando Alvarez | Université de Montréal
Dr. Alanna Backx | Queen's University
Dr. Nitin Bhardwaj | Hospital for Sick Children *
Dr. Maryse Boulay | Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal
Dr. Dean Sean Brown | University of Calgary
Dr. Philip Byrne | Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Dr. Anne-Marie Catudal | Université Laval *
Dr. Julie Chevrette | McGill University
Dr. Chereen Collymore | Charles River Laboratories *
Dr. Kathleen Delaney | McMaster University
Dr. Aurore Dodelet-Devillers | Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre *
Dr. Geneviève Fortin Simard | Charles River Laboratories
Dr. David Hanwell | University of Toronto *
Dr. Ashok Jadhav | Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
Dr. Ovidiu Jumanca | Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal
Dr. Leo Kenny | University of Manitoba
Dr. Lena Levison | University of Guelph
Dr. Shelly McErlane | Genevant Sciences Corporation
Dr. Deborah Pakes | University of Toronto
Dr. Anne Pellegrin | Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Dr. Jonathan Spears | University of Prince Edward Island *
Dr. Janet Sunohara-Neilson | University of Guelph *

Technicians

Ms. Kiana McFadden-Houle | Collège Boréal *
Mr. Marc-Antoine Gillis | Montréal Heart Institute *
Ms. Zoe Henrikson | University of Saskatchewan
Ms. Vanessa Lalonde | Charles River Laboratories
Ms. Aleah McCorry | MacEwan University *
Ms. Katie McDonald | Queen's University