Leadership Team

Carolyn is a fundraising and communications professional with extensive experience in grant and proposal writing, donor relations, marketing, CRM and website management, social media, and event planning. She spent more than 13 years with the Safe Haven Foundation and has provided contract support to organizations including AUArts and Calgary Counselling Centre.

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A born and raised Calgarian, Carolyn brings a strong understanding of Calgary and Alberta’s philanthropic communities. She is a SAIT hospitality and tourism graduate with earlier experience in sales, marketing, and equine program management.

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Carolyn is passionate about meaningful work that makes a difference. She now serves as Contract Executive Director of Community Therapy Dogs Society, bringing her skills and experience to help strengthen impact for people and communities.

Anu Chiarelli is a registered nurse and counselling therapist who retired from Alberta Health Services after 24 years of service. She also taught nursing and served as a liaison with clinical sites. She continues to work in her private counselling practice. 

In 2022 Anu adopted Rebecca, a rescue dog from Cancun, to join her counselling practice as a therapy dog. They joined CTDS in May 2023 and together volunteer at the Peter Lougheed Centre. 

As the Hospitals and Group Homes Coordinator for CTDS, Anu oversees and supports all handlers and their dogs who volunteer in hospitals, group homes, and emergency health services, and acting as a liaison between CTDS and the facilities. 

Kathy Clark is the Operations Team Secretary She has been a CTDS member since 2022. 

Kathy gets involved with CTDS projects and is often to be seen working on the CTDS table at community events. She also hosted the successful CTDS Garage Sale and helps with the Annual Growing Smiles plant

fundraiser. 

She lives in Chestermere with her Irish Setter, Ry-der and her Maine Coon, Rishi 

Lynn Giesler serves as the CTDS Seniors Homes Coordinator. She, her husband Bill, and their 150 pound Leonberger, Gus, relocated from Ontario to Alberta in 2020 to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Not long after settling in, they crossed paths with Steve King during one of his well-known bottle drives. His stories about the beginnings of CTDS, his vision, and his hopes for the future immediately captured their interest. 

Lynn stepped into the newly created role of Seniors Homes Coordina-tor, but she soon found herself wanting to contribute even more. After three attempts, Gus officially became a therapy dog, and the pair eagerly joined the Listening and Visiting Programs—reading with elementary students, spending time with seniors, and making special appearances whenever needed. Sadly, Gus’ time as a therapy dog ended before reaching his first anniversary. Hearing how deeply he touched the lives of so many seniors and students has been incredibly heart-warming for Lynn, and she’s excited to “get back in the saddle” once Boone, their Bernese Mountain Dog, has been assessed." 

Marlene Juss joined the CTDS team in July 2022 and currently chairs the Operations meetings. When not working at her full-time AHS job, she helps with many of the CTDS events, like the annual plant fundrais-er, the Day of the Dog activities and the Volunteer Appreciation event. Marlene also oversees ordering of the volunteer CTDS clothing. 

“I joined CTDS as I loved the value of Helping people one dog at a time and , she says, I look forward to helping for many years ahead”. 

Clare King, a full-time nurse, has been involved informally with CTDS for many years but has recently stepped into the role of Volunteer Coordinator. As such she is often the first personal contact for people interested in joining the organization. She liaises with the Assessment team to set up appointments and guides new members through the orientation process. 

Clare chairs the Coordinators meetings. 

She is currently dog mom to Willow and Ju-no and proud to say that Willow is also one our newest therapy dogs. 

Marilyn King is the Co-founder of CTDS along with her late husband, Steve. She has been an active member for over 14 years since Steve announced that he had heard about a program called Reading with Rover and felt this was something we could introduce at our local library. Her current roles include Schools Coordinator and producing the CTDS Newsletter. As a valued member of the Operations team she is prepared to “jump in” wherever needed. A retired teacher, Marilyn recognises the benefits that our therapy dogs can bring to young children and youth, whether it be through reading to them or gaining comfort from contact with a friendly pet. 

Marilyn is grateful for the connections she makes with our volunteers and believes that supporting others and recognizing their contribution is key to a happy and well-run organization. 

Dawn Seguin joined CTDS after many years of continuous volunteering with Chestermere Lions Club . She is a member of the Operations team with the chief role of Events Coordinator. Dawn is the point of contact for many other animal-related events. Dawn is often seen setting up presentation tables which providing an opportunity for CTDS to “spread the word”.

We are always looking for new community events and partnerships so please contact us if you know of events in you area that would be a good fit for our therapy dogs and handlers.

Sunny Vance joined CTDS in 2019 as a handler and transitioned to the Operations Team overseeing Therapy Dog Trading Cards in 2021 following her dog's retirement. Her primary responsibilities include administrative tasks such as onboarding new volunteers via Microsoft Teams, maintaining master lists and databases, tracking volunteer hours, posting volunteer opportunities, and updating the CTDS website. Sunny and her therapy dog, Jace are regular volunteers at The Prince of Peace Seniors Home and the Peter Lougheed Centre.