In 2012, when the City of Ottawa and the National Capital Commission ended the lease on the Nepean National Equestrian Park and the Ottawa Municipal Campground and announced they were accepting Requests For Proposals, Karen Sparks led the Wesley Clover Foundation’s charge to obtain the site. Her vision was to create a community and recreational hub that residents, both local and from across Canada, could utilize. She has accomplished that goal in spades.
The Wesley Clover Foundation is a private not-for-profit philanthropic corporation begun by high-tech entrepreneur Terry Matthews, and of which Karen is a founding Board member. As executive director of Wesley Clover Parks, she has overseen all activity and development on the site including the extensive construction plans, assembling a team, and expanding the programming. ‘The Parks’ now sports a competition grounds hosting the annual Ottawa Equestrian Tournaments since 2015, the Ian Millar School of Horsemanship, a tack shop, sports fields, trails, camping, riding day camps, winter activities, workshops and other educational programs.
Always deeply involved in the industry, Karen has previously held the position of director at Equestrian Canada, and remains active on many committees within the organization including the National Awards Committee and the Jumping discipline committee. She currently sits as chair at the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation and board member at The Child and Nature Alliance. In the private sector, Karen is also on the board of KRP Properties, Brookstreet Hotel and The Marshes Golf Club.
Karen is also an accomplished equestrian, finding time in her busy schedules at work and as a mom to compete in grand prix classes with mounts Teddy du Bosquetiau and Calvin Klein.
Foreseeable Future
“For The Parks, we want to keep growing and serving both the equestrian community and the Ottawa community. Our goals have always been creating an outdoor recreational hub for Ottawa residents and visitors while keeping the equestrian history at the heart. Specifically for 2020, we’d like to continue the tradition of quality shows from our local grass roots competitions to our larger-scale international events and help our equestrian community grow. I’m so proud of our riding school; I would like to see us pioneer the best introduction to our sport that we can.
“For myself, always my number one goal is to be the best mother I can be! On top of that, I’d like to ride some clean rounds in grand prix competitions on my Teddy Du Bosquetiau, successfully develop my new mount Lugano to the grand prix level and have fun along the way! I continue to volunteer my time within the industry, and my goal with that is simple – I need to do my part in creating a stronger equestrian industry for us all.”
Mission Possible
“I see The Parks as an essential part of a thriving eastern Canadian equestrian industry, and beyond that to a robust North American landscape. I hope to see hundreds of thousands of people enjoying our property and programs in whatever capacity serves them, from live music, equestrian competition, outdoor running, and cross-country skiing, to walking their dog.”
