Our People

John Wheelwright, LLB, Executive Director

A practicing lawyer in Alberta for many years, John has been an active volunteer in the not-for-profit sector. Moving to Alberta in 1975, John attended the University of Alberta and the University of Wales. Growing up around dogs and horses, he credits childhood experiences with animals for his life-long interest in working dogs in particular. John began his association with Dogs with Wings as a volunteer puppy raiser, and became Executive Director in 2008. He has served on the Board of various arts, educational, political and social organizations in Edmonton. The Executive Director has overalll responsibility for Dogs with Wings, and reports to the Board of Directors.

Elisa Irlam, GDMI, Director of Client Services

Elisa's dream of establishing an Assistance Dog School in Alberta began with training in Palm Springs, California in 1988. She completed her Certified Guide Dog Mobility Instructor at Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind in 1993. Returning to Edmonton with her new family, Elisa co-founded Western Guide Dog Foundation, now known as Dogs with Wings. To this day, Elisa's motivation remains the same: to see the difference our Assistance Dogs can make in the lives of our clients.

Maria Illes, PhD, GDMI, Director of Training

Dr. Illes holds a Masters degree in Educational Programming and a PhD in History from the University of Comenius. Following a teaching career of 12 years in Slovakia, Maria qualified as a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor. She worked in the field in Slovakia prior to relocating to Edmonton with her family in 1999. Since her arrival, Maria has been training and placing dogs in all of the program areas offered by DWW. She has also conducted Puppy Class, working with our volunteers. Maria is fluent in 4 languages.

Lise Benoit, Volunteer Coordinator, Edmonton

Lise is a recent arrival in Alberta with her husband and young daughter. Prior to arriving here, Lise worked for many years at Quebec's MIRA Foundation, where she performed similar duties. Lise is also an experienced service dog trainer and holds a certficate in Animal Health Technology. DWW is delighted to have Lise with us with her approachable, and organized work style. In her new role, Lise is responsible for sourcing volunteers for our puppies and adult dogs in training, scheduling of puppy classes, and runs our Puppy Cuddling program.

Paula Bildfell, Volunteer Coordinator, Calgary

Paula Bildfell is pleased to have re-joined forces with DWW in our Calgary office after a few years away raising her family. Paula has a degree in Human Service Administration and her passion is organizations like DWW that serve the disability community. If you are in the Calgary area, and want to get involved with us, Volunteer Co-ordinator Paula Bildfell is the one you want to speak to! Paula can be reached at 403.815.3649, or calgary@dogswithwings.ca.

Michelle Linklater - Kennel Assistant

We are very pleased to have Michelle as our Kennel Assistant. Michelle has audited the complete Animal Health Technologist course at NAIT, and has many years experience working with animals both at local veterinarians and shelters.

Apprentice Trainers

Dogs with Wings offers a 3 year apprentice program, leading to an Assistance Dog Instructor designation. This program combines theoretical and practical training modules in all areas relevant to the breeding, whelping, training and placement of Assistance Dogs. Our training staff regularly upgrade their skills and attend seminars in both Canada and the States. Dogs with Wings has a collaborative approach, and draws on the experience of other schools to help define best practices.

Shannon Northcott

Shannon’s diagnosis of Ankylosing Sondylitis (a rheumatic form of arthritis) and the adoption of a Springer Spaniel pup with severe behaviour issues were the beginnings of her journey to Dogs with Wings. Unable to work due to pain, her little dog challenged her to keep moving physically, and she began to learn about training techniques that would help Bentley become a valued member of her family. Bentley sparked Shannon’s current passion in canine development.

She began as a volunteer with DWW in 2008, assisting with fundraising, boarding and then became a puppy raiser. In 2009, Shannon joined the organization formally as an apprentice trainer. She helped launch the Puppy Early Education Program (PEEPS) at Dogs with Wings, and is now supervising the whelping program, teaching puppy classes, overseeing the puppy programs in Edmonton, Red Deer and Grande Prairie. She will graduate as a Puppy Program Instructor in 2013.

Shannon and her husband Greg live on an acreage north of Spruce Grove where she and Greg enjoy their 3 dogs, Bentley, Breton and Clipper and 1 cat, Sophie. They are looking forward to adding a baby to their family in the near future.

Moira Wegner

Moira fell in love with Dogs with Wings in 2008 when she became a volunteer puppy raiser to DWW Freedom. She saw the incredible effect service dogs have when Freedom graduated as a Facility dog. DWW Freedom now works in the school system with a Chartered Psychologist, touching many children's lives. Moira joined the DWW staff in 2009 as an apprentice trainer, and in the spring of 2013 became an accredited Autism Service Dog Instructor. In her private life, Moira enjoys spending time with her husband, 3 boys, 2 Labradors, Kia and Shadow, and Gimli, the cat. You can almost certainly find her with her dogs at the off leash park with a latte in her hand. (A skinny vanilla bean just in case you want to know!)