Four New Directors Elected on Equestrian Canada Board

Dressage

Canada

The Equestrian Canada (EC) Nominating Committee announced the results of the EC Board of Directors election and the four directors who were named to the Board at the Annual General Meeting on May 26, 2026.

There were four Director positions to be filled for 2026. Due to the resignation of a Director, effective at the close of the 2026 AGM, one additional Director position was included in the 2026 election. As a result, four Director positions were filled: three (3) for 3-year terms ending in 2029, and one (1) for the remaining 2-year term of the vacated seat, ending in 2028.

The four candidates elected are):

Name/Hometown/Result

Gilles Levasseur/Ottawa, ON / Elected for a two (2) year term
Victoria McDonald/Georgetown, ON / Elected for a three (3) year term
Sergio Rodríguez/Toronto, ON / Elected for a three (3) year term
Marcia Thompson/Toronto, ON / Elected for a three (3) year term

Victoria McDonald, Sergio Rodríguez and Marcia Thompson are joining the EC Board for the first time. Candidate Gilles Levasseur was an incumbent on the election ballot for 2026.They will join the following Directors to round out the 2026-2027 EC Board:

Todd Walsh, AB
Marion Cunningham, BC
Andrea Hayward, BC
Nick Sutcliffe, ON
Stephanie Leblond, QC
Mac Cone, ON

During the call for candidates, a total of thirteen qualified applications were received by the close of the nomination period on March 27, 2026. Following an in-depth review of all candidates, the EC Nominating Committee put forward seven candidates to the ballot.

The EC Category Voting Members cast their ballots on the day of the AGM, May 26, 2026.

The EC Nominating Committee members are as follows:

Todd Walsh, (Director, Chair) – St. Albert, AB
Nick Sutcliffe, (Director, 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

The EC Nominating Committee members are responsible for:

Presenting a slate of candidates for the position of EC Board Directors in accordance with EC’s Bylaws.
Ensuring there is an election each year.
Ensuring EC has a rigorous nomination system.
Recruiting qualified individuals as Directors

Photo © Astrid Appels - depicting Canadian dressage rider with Canadian flag and helmet at the 2021 World Young Horse Championships