Our Organization
Our Mission
The mission of the BC & Alberta Guide Dogs team is to meet the growing demand for professionally trained Guide Dogs, Autism Service Dogs, and OSI (Operational Stress Injury)-PTSD Service Dogs for citizens of British Columbia and Alberta.
At all times, we meet or exceed international standards as established by the
International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International.
Volunteers
Total Grads
Active Teams
Communities Served
We Are A Registered Charity
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs endeavours to change the lives of individuals who are blind or have low vision, children with autism, and Veterans and First Responders with Operational Stress Injuries.
It takes two years and upwards of $35,000 to produce one certified dog, provided free of charge to the recipient. For these reasons, we rely heavily on our generous and loyal donors.
British Columbia Guide Dog Services
Registered Charity #: 89131 1763 RR0001
Alberta Guide Dogs, Autism Support Dogs and VICD Service Dogs are divisions of BC Guide Dog Services.
Our Story
The organization was founded in 1996 and began professionally training Guide Dogs for British Columbians who are blind or have low vision. In the years following, we have expanded so we can serve unmet needs.
Our Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers are dedicated to improving the availability of Guide Dogs, Autism Service Dogs, and OSI-PTSD Service Dogs, including breeding, raising, and training more dogs, and continuing to give care to dogs that are currently with human partners.
Our Timeline
Our Team
The BC & Alberta Guide Dogs Management Team
William Thornton
CEO & Co-Founder, GDMI
Linda Thornton
Director, Breeding, Canine Health Care & Co-Founder
Mike Annan
Director, Service Dog Program
Matthias Lenz
Director, Puppy Raising
Jane Chua
Controller, CPA, CGA
Board of Directors
Chair: Linda Reid
Vice-Chair: Tammy Winters
Treasurer: Kelly Guichon
Secretary: Peter Roaf
Director: Peter Hrdlitschka
Director: Steve Darling
CEO: William S. Thornton, GDMI
Advisory Board
C. Wayne Reeves, B.Arch
Charlotte Keller, DVM, DACVO, DECVO
Daniel Schwartz, DVM
Graham T. Lewis, DVM, DIP, ACVO
Irene O’Brien, DVM
Norman E. Sayfy, B.Comm
Rupert Bullock
Founding Patrons
British Columbia
– William & Linda Thornton (co-founders)
– † Bette & Percy Adlington
– Diamond Foundation
– Dorothy & Rondy Dike
– Dr. Hugo Sutton, MD, FRCSC
– Gordon & Suzanne Thornton
– † Leah & † Howie Meeker, CM
– † Irene Lyttle
– Janet Li
– John Hardie Mitchell family foundation
– Nestlé Purina Pet Care
– Novartis Animal Health Canada Inc.
– Robin & Kathryn Thornton
– The Fisher Foundation
– The Nemetz Foundation
– Vancouver Foundation
– Victor & Anna Kern Foundation
– Victoria Foundation
Alberta
– Allard Foundation
– Eldon & Anne Foote Fund at Edmonton Community Foundation
– The Arthur J.E. Child Foundation
– The Calgary Foundation
– The Robert Tegler Trust
– Wild Rose Foundation
Autism Service Dogs
– BC Guide Dog Services
– Diamond Foundation
– Grand Chapter of Alberta – Order of the Eastern Star
– Grand Chapter of British Columbia and Yukon – Order of the Eastern Star
– The Allen & Loreen Vandekerkhove
– Family Foundation
– Variety – The Children’s Charity
OSI-PTSD Service Dogs
– Mike Annan
– Deborah Maddocks
– BC Guide Dog Services
– Barbara McLaughlin
– Candy Ashbridge
– Mary Jane Alyward
– BC/Yukon Command of the
Royal Canadian Legion Foundation
– Wounded Warriors Canada