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Board of Directors 2025 - 2026​

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Meet the hard-working and dedicated people who currently make up our elected / acclaimed officials. 

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Historical Record of Boards from 2005 - 2018

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The Executive

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Sylvia Dorosh

President

Sylvia and her husband acquired their first Vizsla in 1978 and have been hooked since.  She's been a VSO member since the 80’s, a founding member (1992) of Vizsla Canada Inc., a lifetime member of the Canadian Kennel Club and a Vizsla Club of America member since 1991.  She was also a contributor to Dogs in Canada magazine [now defunct] for about 5 years.  She has been VSO Editor since 2009, President since 2015 and manages the website.  After moving to rural Milton ON in 1988, she bred 10 litters of Vizslas under the Varazs prefix; her last litter was born in 2011.  Sylvia is also a member of the Rio Salado Vizsla Club and Jumping Chollas Agility Club in Phoenix AZ (Arizona). Sylvia currently owns a six-year old male Vizsla named "Rez" and trains and competes in agility, field, obedience, rally, sprinter, chase, and scent detection in Canada and the US.  In 2024, "Penny", a Vizsla that was relinquished to the VSO decided that she wanted to stay with Sylvia after being unsuccessfully rehomed twice.  Now Sylvia has two Vizslas to occupy her time and drain her bank account!

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Gary Krammer

Vice-President

Gary became a VSO member 17 years ago after his wonderful “Vadasz” joined his family in 2003  and then later "Quest" born in 2008.  Gary has participated in conformation, obedience, rally and field with his Vizslas in Canada and the US.  He was a member of the North York Obedience Club for 15 years, as well as a trainer in their obedience classes and also served on their Board as Training Director, Treasurer, Trial Chair, and Training Secretary. While no longer on the NYOC Board, he is still on the training staff.  In his past working life, Gary spent many years travelling the world in university and in various jobs, including at American Express in the US.  He returned to York University for their certification program for Teaching English as a Second Language.  Vadasz passed away on January 7, 2019 at the age of grand age of 16 years, 6 months and 2 weeks and Quest in 2021.  Gary joined the VSO Board in 2021 as Director and has been nominated as VP for the past 3 terms.  He adopted "Whiskey" a challenging dog that was relinquished to the VSO for rehoming.

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Marcia McNabb

Treasurer

This is Marcia's 4th term on the Board as Treasurer after joining the VSO in 2015.  In addition to “keeping the books”, she has actively supported and assisted the club at field tests and Fun Day.  By profession, she is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Accountant (CA) and has worked for the last 10 years as VP Finance for Luminato, a not-for-profit arts festival in Toronto.  She has been owned and loved by four Vizslas since 2005.  Currently she and her husband share their home in Toronto with Willa and Willa's puppy Libby, born in 2018. 

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Lynda Friendly

Secretary

I have been a member of the Vizsla Society of Ontario since 2010 when I became the proud owner of my first Vizsla, Sherman.  I joined the Board of Directors in 2015 and have served 5 terms as Secretary.  In this capacity, I work closely and harmoniously with all Board members.  I record and distribute the Minutes from all meetings and help to prepare the Agendas and other materials. I attend and volunteer at many different VSO events, including Specialty and Booster Shows, Field Tests, Fun Day and more.  I also volunteer on the Rescue Committee and help with other important tasks to aid the VSO.  I have enjoyed a successful career in the entertainment, design and  hospitality industries.  I now have an active male Vizsla 2 year old named "Spirit" to raise and train. 

Directors

Stella Barnett

Director

Stella joined the Board in January 2025 and volunteered to take on the role of Awards Coordinator for the club's two prestigious award programs: The Tibor Reiter Versatility and Obi Field Awards.

I came to dogs later in life, getting my first dog in 2007. He was a very intelligent and active mixed breed that needed a lot of physical and mental stimulation. As a result we got into training and competing in agility and my passion for dog sports began!  He achieved his AAC Canadian Agility Trial Championship and many titles beyond that. 
 
I found the wire haired vizsla when researching for the ‘next dog’ as I was looking for an athletic breed and I’m a sucker for the scruffy dogs!  I got my first wirey boy in 2019 and a second in 2021.  I have been a member of both the CKC and VSO since 2019. We train and compete predominantly in agility and scent detection, along with rally, conformation, tricks and limited fieldwork due to lack of access to training space and partners. My dogs also spend time just being dogs - hiking in the woods and snuggling on the couch.  While I am not a breeder, I care very much about preserving our smooth and wirehaired vizslas and maintaining healthy and diverse breeding programmes. 
 
When I’m not training and competing with the dogs, I split my time between working as a Registered Physiotherapist and as a Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (dog physio). I am passionate about canine fitness and sport specific conditioning. 

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Rachael Chadwick

Director

Rachael joined the VSO Board of Directors at the end of 2023 and is the current Membership Director. Rachael was inspired to get involved with the VSO upon retiring from a career in the legal and technology industry. She has many years of experience being on various work-related boards for non-profit organizations, including leadership positions of Director and Vice President. Rachael and her husband Jeff got their first Vizsla, Cedar, when introduced to the breed by Eileen Wilkes (Ferngold). Cedar (who passed in 2018) participated in conformation and field trials, but excelled at being a wonderful companion and pet to their active family. They now have their second Vizsla, Phoebe, who is the Energizer bunny.  Phoebe has dabbled in agility, scent and field work, and has obtained her FDJ and has one leg of FD.  Rachael is looking forward to continue learning the ropes of the VSO Board and pitching in wherever needed.

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Raven Ivany

Director

I have been a Vizsla owner since 1998 and long time VSO member. Being of Hungarian decent, the Vizsla is the breed I love most, and I have owned several amazing Vizslak over the years. I enjoy training & competing with my dogs, many who have earned multiple titles in a variety of CKC sports or other titling organization, including Titan who was #7 dog in all of Canada in 2015 in Rally-O! I have done conformation, obedience, rally-o, agility, tracking, scent detection, field & much more with my Vizslak.

I emphasize the breed’s original purpose as a hunting dog and am an avid upland hunter. I believe the other qualities of the Vizsla are important too: health, temperament, and conformation.  I have been a past board member in both the VSO and Vizsla Canada clubs, have volunteered my time in various capacities, am always educating the public about the breed and promoting the club’s importance. I am also a CKC and Ruffed Grouse Society of Canada Member.

In my personal life I am married and have a daughter. I am currently owned by 3 male Vizslas that are all related! My day job is an office manager for an accounting firm in Muskoka for the past 16 years, so I am familiar with administrative tasks. I look forward to being on the board again for the next term. 

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Ray Murdoch

Director

Ray and his late wife Judy have been owned by four Vizslas all of which were rescues or rehomes and all through their association with the VSO since 2001. Two of their rehomes were seniors. Ray has also pulled V’s from shelters in the US and Canada and adopted them to good homes. Ray has been familiar with the breed since 1973 when his best friend in school got two Vizslas. Ray recently moved to a home with lakefront and a pool which the dogs are welcome to use. It is a very large yard with lots of room and a fenced area. When he retires from his job in Safety with the Army he plans on getting two Vizslas. Ray is also a professional photographer. He also has experience as a member of the Kitchener Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as well as experience writing for newspapers and experience in live television and talk shows. Ray plans to use his talents to further the Vizsla breed in Ontario and help the VSO achieve its goals.

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Natalie Warren

Director

Natalie joined the Board in January 2025 . 

I have been involved in dog sports, CKC breeding and training my whole life. My parents bred GWP, Standard WH Dachshunds & WH Fox Terriers while I was at home, they competed in NAVHDA and the show ring with them all.  We are currently and have always been involved in rescue and foster care for bottle babies & adult animals of all sorts. We have a dog training, grooming, daycare & boarding facility as part of our working farm here in Burlington Ontario.

We currently have one CKC show champion WHV Viszlavilla’s Sunny that competes in CKC Field Trials and NAVHDA as well. We are also involved in Lure Coursing, Big Game tracking, Therapy work, Agility & Obedience and plan to head into Barn Hunt. Our Sunny is handled most of the time by my 15 year old daughter Maeve, we are passionate about sharing the benefits of junior handling and the joy it can be for young people. Because of Maeve’s handling experience we have been closely tied to the Smooth Vizsla world and we have grown to adore this breed as well.

I have been on various boards for schools, learning disability associations and city councils, I am an active member in our community and an advocate for the proper breeding and improvement of the Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla and all purebred dogs alike.  My current job as an Executive Director for a not for profit organization gives me experience in accounting, marketing and event planning therefore making me a great candidate for the position.

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