OUr Speakers for January 09, 2026 are with BC & Alberta Guide Dogs, an organization that we have worked with before.William (Bill) ThorntonCEO & co-founder of BC & Alberta Guide DogsBill became an accredited Guide Dog Mobility Instructor in the U.K. after several years serving with a police K9 squad. In 1986, he founded Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind in the Ottawa area and served as CEO for 11 years. In 1996, Bill and his wife Linda relocated to Delta, where they founded British Columbia Guide Dog Services. Bill has served as CEO for the last 30 years.
Bill is a Charter Member of the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF), a 98-member global organization founded in 1988. He has served the IGDF for many years as a board director and currently serves as Board Chair. In 2006, Bill received the IGDF’s Ken Lord Award in recognition of his exceptional service to the international guide dog movement.
Jason Hulbert (Not shown in photo)Development Manager for BCJason joined BC & Alberta Guide Dogs just in October. With many years of experience building partnerships between individuals/corporations/service clubs, and nonprofit organizations, Jason is a welcome addition to the team. He is committed to ensuring donors receive meaningful impact reporting and the information they need to stay connected to the work they support.