2009 Equine Canada Annual Convention

Ottawa, ON—The 2009 Equine Canada Annual Convention is set for February 1–9, 2009 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ottawa, ON. For nine days in February, the equine community from across Canada will be able to participate in a selection of clinics, seminars and forums tailored to the unique issues affecting each of Equine Canada’s three divisions—Sport, Recreation and Breeds & Industry.

Clinic sessions boast a Jumper Judges’ Clinic with judges Tom Michiel (FEI Level—I) and Marjorie Dennis (FEI Level—I), and a Hunter, Hunter Seat, Equitation and Hack Judges’ Clinic with Barbara Mitchell, EC Senior Judge. Also featured will be an Officials’ Clinic with EC/FEI Steward Jan Stephens, as well as a General Performance Judges’ Clinic given by Gary Yaghdjian and Lorraine Gilchrist. New this year is a two-day Hunter/Jumper Course Design Clinic featuring speakers Chris Brandt and Evie Frisque, both EC Senior Course Designers, and a Para-Equestrian Canada Coaching Clinic with CanTRA Coach, Examiner and EC Certified Level II Coach, Fionna Christensen. For more information, registration forms and costs, please visit the convention section of the Equine Canada website.

The 2009 Convention will also play host to the 2008 Equine Canada National Awards Gala, taking place Saturday evening, February 8. Join Equine Canada for this full evening of fine dining and entertainment, and help recognize contributions to the industry as we honour our national award winners. Equine Canada’s most prestigious awards—Equestrian of the Year, Junior Equestrian of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, Media Award and the NEW Equine Canada/Just Add Horses Environment Award—will be presented during the gala dinner. For more information and criteria, please visit the awards section of the Equine Canada website.

For those planning on attending the 2009 Convention, reservations can be made by calling 1-800-2CROWNE or 613-237-3600 x 6200. A special guest room rate of $126 plus taxes for non-smoking rooms and $146 plus taxes for smoking rooms has been secured for all attendees who reserve their guestroom by January 9, 2009. When reserving a room, please mention “Equine Canada Annual Convention” to receive the preferred rate.