ARAC’s executive board is composed of dedicated professionals who bring a wealth of expertise in veterinary medicine, animal rehabilitation, non-profit leadership, and community advocacy. Each board member plays a vital role in guiding the organization’s mission to advance animal welfare and rehabilitation practices across the country. With diverse backgrounds in clinical care, research, education, and organizational management, the board ensures strategic decision-making, ethical standards, and strong governance. Together, they provide the vision and leadership necessary to support rehabilitators, promote best practices, and foster collaboration within the animal rehab community across Canada.
Donna LaRocque-Hennig Chair and Treasurer
Donna LaRocque-Hennig has 35 years of experience as a physical therapist treating humans. She graduated in 1979 from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. Donna has taken many post-graduate courses since that time, including her certification in Acupuncture, Cranial Sacral Therapy, Muscle Imbalance, Joint Mobilization and Manipulation, and many others. Several years ago, Donna began to be interested in using human techniques on her own pets when they were injured with great success. This led to an interest in more formalized Animal Rehabilitation training and a more specialized knowledge in the anatomical differences between humans and animals. Donna has worked successfully in providing rehabilitation programs for canines, small pets, horses, and llamas, with a variety of injuries.
Donna completed the course work at the Canine Rehabilitation Institute in 2006, as well as the Animal Rehabilitation Institute in 2009, and is now a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist, as well as a Certified Equine Rehabilitation Therapist, respectively, in addition to her Canadian credentials.
From her office location near Spruce Grove, AB, Donna provides a variety of animal rehabilitation services to her clients located in the Edmonton, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Devon, and County of Parkland areas.
Laurie Edge-Hughes Lobby & Advocacy Lead
Laurie Edge-Hughes is a physiotherapist from Calgary, Canada. She began working with animals in the early 90’s (while studying physical therapy at the University of Alberta) and holds a Certification in Canine Rehab and a Master’s Degree in Animal Physiotherapy, as well as two certifications in medical acupuncture (human and small animal). Laurie taught the first canine physiotherapy courses in Canada, the USA, and Australia. She is a sought-after lecturer and instructor in North America and abroad. Her primary teaching platform is now FourLeg.com, an online educational website.
Laurie co-owns and practices out of The Canine Fitness Centre in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She also owns and operates Two Hands Physiotherapy (a small clinic dedicated to physiotherapy needs of dog owners!) In 2020, she was awarded the inaugural Veterinary Rehabilitation Therapist Award by the International Association of Veterinary Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy and in 2021 was awarded a Medal of Distinction by the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. In her spare time she sits on the boards of the Animal Rehab Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, various Animal Owners’ Associations, and the Registry of Allied Animal Health Practitioners of Canada. Additionally, she tends to a husband, kids, dogs, chickens, and cows. Sleep and socializing are over-rated!
Inderdeep Dhugge Secretary
Inderdeep is a graduate from the University of Toronto where she completed both an Honours Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Physical Therapy. Currently, she works in private practice in Bolton treating both humans and dogs. Inderdeep has always had a love for animals and is excited to further extend her care to them as a physio. She has taken canine rehabilitation courses through the Animal Rehab Division (ARD) of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA), and is a member of the ARD executive committee as well.
Inderdeep recognizes the importance of continuing education in order to develop new skills and provide evidence-based care for her patients. As a physio, Inderdeep has completed many courses since graduation to expand her services including vestibular rehabilitation, acupuncture, aquatic therapy, and arthritis management; all of which are applicable to dogs as well.
Lee Hall Promotions
Lee began her career in health care as a physiotherapist with a passion for orthopedics and sports medicine . Always seeking more professional growth and expertise Lee went on the undertake a two year certification as a Canadian Health executive focusing on her leadership strengths ,then moving into a Masters program for Health and business to position her into senior leadership roles across health care in several provinces.
As well over the next two decades Lee provided team lead roles for Accreditation Canada and Accreditation international teaching and evaluating health care standards and practises both nationally and internationally to ensure safe and high level expertise in health care based on best practise and national standards.
Always passionate for quality health care Lee shifted her focus to health care for equines , another lifelong passion. Through the Canadian Physiotherapy Association Lee completed the comprehensive two year diploma for Animal Rehabilitation with a focus on equine care.
ACHIEVE PHYSIOTHERAPY was created with a stated mission “to optimize performance for riders and their equine partners through assessment, professional therapeutic treatment and individualized rehabilitation.” As CEO, Lee provides support and expertise to many stables , encompassing riders and horses experiencing acute or chronic injuries with any performance related issues.
With a strong team approach Lee works closely with veterinarians, farriers , saddle fitters .massage therapists and others providing treatment and rehabilitation and supporting the owner to be an active care team member for their equine partner.
Lee also shares her expertise and passion by assisting teaching and mentoring physiotherapists within the Animal Rehab diploma program .
When not providing physiotherapy treatment and rehab to her clients she enjoys time with her two geldings Jag and Daunte trail riding, competing in obstacle challenges and western dressage.
Barbara Lee
Barbara graduated as a physiotherapist in England before coming to Canada in 1985. She has worked in orthopaedics, private practice, homecare and long-term care in both clinical and management roles.
She is a member of the Animal Rehab Association of Canada (ARAC), previously the Animal Rehab Division. In 2005, she took the Introduction to Equine Rehab, using the skills she learned on her own horses. In 2012, she started her Diploma in Canine Rehab through the CPA, completing it in 2014. She has also completed the Advanced Manual Therapy for the Canine Spine and her Certification in Small Animal Acupuncture and Dry Needling.
In 2016 she opened the Niagara Canine Conditioning Centre in partnership with Keri Evers DVM. She worked and ran the business until 2024 when she “retired”, selling her shares in the business, but continued to work 1 day a week, joined the Board of ARD/ARAC and is teaching The Introduction to Canine Rehab in Eastern Canada. She is very active in promoting Animal Rehab and has been involved with College of Veterinarians, Ontario (CVO) on various committees since 2017.
As a physiotherapist, she feels extremely lucky to have practiced in many areas of the profession but, loves animal rehab and cannot think of a better way to practice her profession in her final working years.
Nicki Cunningham
Nicki’s journey began with a childhood surrounded by animals living in rural England and growing up with a love of dogs.She started her professional career as a human physiotherapist after graduating with a Diploma and Master of Science (MSc) degree in the UK. After building over thirty years of extensive physiotherapy experience in both Canada and the UK, she decided to shift her focus to animal rehabilitation. Nicki has set up Mobile Animal Rehab Services in Toronto and is a lifelong learner, an active member of the Animal Rehab Division and ARAC along with other local, Canadian, and international animal rehabilitation focused community of practices. Nicki has a keen interest in supporting senior and rescued dogs and is an active volunteer with several organizations including ElderDog Canada and Hopeful Tails Rescue.
Stella Barnett Education
Stella is a physiotherapist registered with the College of Physiotherapy of Ontario for the assessment and treatment of people. She trained as a physiotherapist in England and has been qualified since 2001. Stella works in private practice and has predominantly treated sports injuries, musculoskeletal injuries and neurological conditions in people. Stella has been working in canine rehabilitation since 2013, is a member of the Animal Rehabilitation Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association and is on the Registry of Allied Animal Health Practitioners of Canada. Stella has completed a Diploma in Canine Rehabilitation through the Animal Rehabilitation Division, along with several other courses. Stella aims to work closely with your veterinarian to ensure the best care for your dog.
Stella trains and competes in agility, scent detection and rally obedience with her dogs, as well as doing the usual dog things like swimming and hiking . Whether your dog is a member of your family or a canine athlete, Stella can help with rehabilitation and recovery from an injury or illness.
Sue Van Evra Lobby & Advocacy Committee
Sue obtained her Physiotherapy Degree from McMaster University in 1993 after completing both Honours and Masters degrees in Physiology from the University of Western Ontario. Sue has spent over 30 years working in outpatient orthopaedics with humans, and because she is a huge dog lover, she also began studying canine rehabilitation and completed her Diploma in Canine Rehabilitation in 2017. Sue is passionate about learning and problem solving, and has completed many advanced courses, for both human and canine rehab, to better be able to assess and treat patients effectively. As of the fall of 2024, Sue is now solely working with animals.
If you ask Sue what things she could not live without, one of her answers would be a dog! Her passion for the canine world makes her excited to be able to work with dogs and use her experience and in-depth knowledge of physiotherapy principles to rehabilitate the canine population.
When Sue is not working, she can be found running, road biking, swimming, or skate skiing with her husband, Steve. Sue currently works in Calgary at the Canine Fitness Centre and in Canmore at the Canmore Vet Hospital rehabilitating dogs.
Kayleigh Koufis Student Rep
Kayleigh is a first-year Master of Science in Physical Therapy student at the University of Toronto and a student rep with ARAC. She is passionate about dogs and hopes to one day be a canine physio. Kayleigh has volunteered at the Niagara Canine Conditioning Centre which fueled her interest in animal rehabilitation. She has plans on deepening her knowledge in the field as her studies continue and advocating for animal rehab as she begins her career and onwards.
