Co-Founder & Executive Director

Justine has a background in social work and a decade of experience working in the social service and nonprofit sector. She is passionate about building safe, inclusive and engaging communities. Justine's dog Marshall is a massive ball of love who is particular about the humans and dogs he shares space with. You'll often see Justine advocating for his space in the community, with Marshall sporting his basket muzzle when appropriate. In her free time, you'll find Justine enjoying the outdoors with Marshall, spending time with close friends and family, & practicing yoga, and more often then not, hibernating at home with a good book (or 100).

Director of Events & Education

Meet Lili, local trainer/owner at Leader of the Pack Professional Dog Services in KW. With a passion for relationship-based balanced dog training and practicing calm socialization, Lili is dedicated to helping dogs and their owners thrive. When not working, Lili enjoys hiking and hanging out on dog-friendly patios with her partners in crime, Lady and Winnie! Lady, an active 12-year-old husky mix, finds joy in sticks, squirrel watching, and the occasional chicken nuggie. And of course, there's her newest addition to her pack Winnie, a 3-year-old husky mix from Mexico! She prefers the slow lane of life and loves a leisurely stroll followed by a well-deserved nap!

Director of Operations & Policy

Rachel is the proud mom to her adorable doodles, Luffy and Sabo, named after her favorite characters from "One Piece." This fun-loving duo is always a hit at dog-friendly events in KW, known for their fluffy tails and matching outfits. And just so you know, despite looking like twins, they're not actually related.

Luffy is all about those organized group walks, making waves as a therapy dog, and getting into a variety of dog sports and tricks, from dock diving to barn hunt. Sabo, the softer one of the two, loves hanging out with his dog and human friends, enjoys trick training, treats, and dives into dog sports like barn hunt, scent detection, and agility.

When she's not living the dog mom life, Rachel works as a Registered Nurse, focusing on Indigenous health, health policy, nursing education, and harm reduction. But Rachel's heart is so big that two dogs just aren't enough; through her dog boarding business, Woof Whisperer, she opens her home to even more furry friends, mixing her love for dogs with a perfect blend of fun and structure.

Director of Marketing, Branding & Design

Link is genetically a Samoyed, but don’t let that fool you. He is 100% floof. Adopted at 18 months - he has spent his adolescent and adult years perfecting his puppy eyes to solicit the pets from any nearby human. While he may seem like an angel boy - he wasn’t always and is a great example of how an old dog can learn new tricks!

Victor is Link’s dog dad. When he’s not liaising Link and allowing him to visit his fans he works hard to make other dogs and humans look and feel their best at Victor Rose Photography! He’s a big advocate for community and small businesses and is intent on supporting the local dog friendly landscape for both dog and small business owners!

Co-Founder & Chair of the Board of Directors

Mackenzie is one of the Dog Friendly KW founders and an instrumental part of taking Dog Friendly KW from an Instagram account to highlight dog friendly spaces to the educational, informative and interactive organization it is today! She recently became a Pilates instructor and you can find her leading some Pupilates classes this year! She works hard to give the best life to her two adorable Italian Greyhounds Willa and Alydar while supporting all kinds of different aspects of today’s Dog Friendly KW!

Board Member

Juneau is a white German Shepherd who likes to go on all the adventures. Whether it’s a long hike, patio, or dog-friendly store, he’s there for it. Juneau started out as a fear reactive pup, but with training (lots of training) he has grown into a much more confident and neutral dog. Although we still advocate for his space when he needs it, he’s always impressing us with how far he has come from his terrible puppyhood days! Juneau has tried a number of dog sports and his favourites are urban rat race, dock diving, and lure coursing.

When she’s not adventuring with the dog, Juneau’s mom, Dee, works as a psychologist in the community. She also enjoys photography (or more accurately, taking pictures of Juneau), hiking, and all of the arts and crafts. She loves attending dog friendly events and being part of this incredible community!

Board Member

Griffin is a goofy, loveable 3 year old golden retriever. His favourite activities are swimming, rock diving, and hiking. He spends his weekdays lounging in silly positions in his favourite chair, and his weekends adventuring with dog mom and friends.

Jenn is a business analyst, a hockey mom, dog mom, and founder of Elmira Pack Walks and Group Training sessions - a community group focused on structured socialization and calm coexistence amongst dogs and humans.

Board Member

Nick is an experienced strategic professional in fundraising, business development and event operations. He has extensive knowledge in the animal welfare industry having previously worked for the Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo and Stratford Perth. Nick is passionate about contributing to his community and helping to build safe and inclusive experiences.

Nick and his dog Fitz are often seen around town enjoying the trails and exploring the wonderful businesses KW has to offer. Fitz was adopted by Nick and his wife after she was found as a stray. She is a fluffy, goofy sweetheart that loves meeting new people and snuggles anywhere, anytime she can get them.

Board Member

Hello! I'm Sam, I am 34 and live in Cambridge with my partner and White German Shepherd, Bo! I've been working in social services in many capacities for about 15 years and my passion is people and communities. I have family all over Ontario and so does my partner, so we road trip a lot, we go on random adventures and we always take our dog.

Bo is a new addition to our family, he's just over 1 year and he's been a wild ride but an amazing friend and addition. He's taught us so much about being better handlers, reactivity, and we've worked so hard together for his training.

We are so happy to be part of Dog Friendly KW, we have loved following their journey and love the work they do bringing so many opportunities to our communities for us and our pups.

Admin Coordinator

AJ Ece is a forever fur mom who had to say goodbye to her sweet girl, Waffle, in 2023. Dog Friendly KW helped great deal to Waffle and AJ Ece when they were struggling with separation anxiety, allowing Waffle to accompany her mom in daily and social activities. Now, AJ Ece is thrilled to contribute to this incredible team on their mission to make KW a more dog-friendly place!

Admin Coordinator

Audrey is a full-time Insurance broker for OTIP Insurance specializing in home/auto insurance and is a first-time dog owner. Her sweet girl is named Lola and she is a cockapoo. Lola is a social butterfly and loves to meet other dogs and humans. She enjoys going to daycare and spending time outside running with dad. On weekends, they love to go on a nice park for a picnic, go to dog friendly events and stores. Lola loves anything that has to do with being outside, even just sitting on her patio for a nap!

Office Admin Student

Hey there! I'm Beatrice and this is my dog Jasmine. I am a student at Conestoga College, currently studying Office Administration. Jasmine is a German Shepard and Blue Heeler mix. Her favourite activities include taking naps, walks and eating treats.

Finance Lead

Accountant by day, Brittany supports the organization with many finance and admin related tasks!

Admin Coordinator

Meet Brogan, a healthcare professional with over 10 years of experience in the field of healthcare and social services. Brogan is an avid animal lover and proud owner of Macy, a 9 y/o toy Manchester terrier. When she's not at work, she enjoys exploring new destinations, hiking, tackling DIY projects, and enjoying music. With a passion for accessibility and inclusion, she volunteers her time with Dog Friendly KW in hopes that she can make a positive impact in the lives of both humans and their furry friends.

Marketing Coordinator & Community Guide Lead

Brooke works at a local tech company and her best bud Kane is a 2 year old lab mix. They love spending our time outdoors doing things like hiking, camping, swimming, and attending Dog Friendly KW events of course! They practice balanced training and love trying as many dog sports as we can get our paws on! Kane is a certified good boy and loves having his space respected.

Marketing Coordinator

Cass is our resident Guelph expert and we are so excited to have her working with us to create our Guelph-Wellington Guide! Cass is a photographer by trade, which is how we initially connected with her, and we’ve been so thrilled to see this relationship continue growing!

Admin Coordinator

Courtney spends Monday-Friday as a professional in the logistics and transportation industry. She spends her free time reading, camping, cooking, hitting the trails and playing the fun paw-rent to her partner's labradoodle Cooper! She's passionate about animals, responsible dog ownership and the rescue community. Rescue dogs hold a special place in her heart as she was lucky to be the proud mom of Poppy, a spunky mexi-mutt who spent her short 2.5 years in Canada adventuring as much as possible, and making up for her many years in the shelter :heart:

Admin Coordinator

Chris is a Senior Business Analyst with a health software company. As a kid, Chris had 2 dogs growing up, but it wasn't until a year ago that dogs reentered his life and his love of dogs was awakened. In a galaxy not so far away, Chris' love for Star Wars shines brighter than a lightsaber. And his canine companions have been more than just furry friends; they've been named after iconic characters. Once, there was Leia, a regal beauty echoing Princess Leia's spirit. Now, his new pup, Obi, channels the wisdom and charm of Obi Wan Kenobi. Although, Obi likes to chew mulch more than that of the actual Obi Wan.

Chris and Obi are looking so forward to joining this paw-some adventure through force and fur, and are on a mission to foster a sense of community and canine camaraderie with the DFKW team.

Event Planning Lead

Hey Everyone! I’m Cristina, Louis’ mom. In my “past life” (aka several years ago) I was an archaeologist, but I recently made a big career change and became a Registered Early Childhood Educator, which is something I am very passionate about! With that in mind, I would love to bring more awareness to creating safe spaces and opportunities for calm interactions between children and dogs, and am happy to lend a listening ear to anyone that ever has any questions.

Louis is a spunky and outgoing 2 year old Sheepadoodle that is full of love and energy. He loves going Dog Friendly KW events, pack walks, eating all the treats possible, and especially running around and relaxing with his daycare pack.

Admin Coordinator

Hi! I'm Amigo's mom, otherwise known as Danica. Amigo is a Cocker spaniel mix, and we both love all things water and outdoors. I work as a Software developer for a local start up, Amigo works as my sleepy, couch loving coworker since I work from home. So we get to hang out all day, everyday! Which is great, but also means we both need reasons to get of the house, preferably together (like volunteering with Dog Friendly KW!)

Pups & Pinot Coordinator

Hi! I’m Grace. I’m a product marketer at a local tech company and a part-time faculty member at Conestoga College. I’m also a lifelong learner and am often taking classes. When I’m not working, I love spending time with Manchas and my partner, staying active with outdoor adventures and fitness classes, and volunteering.

Manchas recently joined our family. He was adopted through DIBS Rescue. He’s a 2-year-old low-rider mix from Mexico. He is super smart and has been learning lots through training. He loves walking super fast, visiting my office, and cuddling.

Website Coordinator

Erika is a Graphic Design and Marketing Freelancer within the KW area with a passion for helping small to mid sized businesses grow their online or in-person presence. When she is not working she loves to be outdoors and explore new sites as well as try new activities (all of which include her sidekick Zeus). Some of her passions are photography, hiking, drawing, horseback riding, biking, and trying all sorts of iced coffees (it's an addiction , really).

Zeus is her kind hearted and goofy American Doberman. Some of his favourite hobbies include rolling around in the grass, booping people with his snoot, and taking out the stuffing from any toy in record time. Zeus and Erika have dabbled in all sorts of dog sports such as agility, scent detection, barn hunt, sprinting, and performance shows. They now compete in trials and can happily say we have quite a few new titles under their belts. Currently, they are working towards getting their Therapy Dog Certification as they want to show people that not all Dobermans are scary and that they can be such kind and hardworking dogs.

Event Lead

Meet Kylie and Bogey! (Named.after Humphrey Bogart).

Kylie joined our team as a volunteer after attending a few local dog events and having a great time! She spends her work day as an Early Childhood Educator, and spends her free time with her best friend- Bogey!

Bogey is a big mama's boy who loves to adventure everywhere Kylie goes. Together they go camping, kayaking, tubing, sledding, road tripping- and that was all just this year! He loves the snuggles and treats and is happiest if he finds a leg to lean on.

Marketing Coordinator

This is me and my dog Daisy, a 3 year old American Bully. She is super sweet and loves to snuggle up on the couch for hours, but is always ready to go on a walk and keep those squirrels out of the yard. Now onto me, Hi! I'm Martina, I have lived in the KW area my whole life and work in E-commerce at TA Appliances. When I am not working you can find me either doing something active or trying a new brewery or restaurant.

Podcast Producer

Matt Rappolt lives in Kitchener and is passionate about all things KW, especially music, food, and placemaking. He is the engineer and technical producer for the Dog Friendly KW Podcast and wears many hats at the hyperlocal radio project Midtown Radio KW. If you see him, chances are he'll have either a microphone or club soda in hand... often both.

Event Support

Megan is a devoted animal lover and dog mom to the sweetest girl named Dixie. Dixie is a shepherd lab mix who Megan has dedicated to raising since a pup. Megan is currently completing her academic studies at the University of Toronto, Mississauga campus for a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science. She is eager to pursue a career in policing and Megan cares deeply about community building and various initiatives.

Ever since she learned about the Dog Friendly KW community, she has become passionate and invested in promoting the community to anyone who will listen! She is excited to become a more connected and engaged community member through sharing and spreading the love for our four-legged friends.

Podcast Coordinator

Hi! I’m Nami! I’m a Registered Early Childhood Educator and work with families and children 0-6. It’s quite a rollercoaster ride with various ages! I love visiting different wineries and it gets brownie points if its dog-friendly! I do yoga and pilates in my free-time or participate in training Norris in dog sports. Hoping to earn a title for him in the future! I also enjoy reading a good book, travelling to different countries and various crafts!

Norris loves hiking outdoors and training. He is the dog police when he’s in daycare and takes his training seriously. He sometimes has the energy of a puppy but also acts like a grandpa on the days where he is super tired. He was originally, Char’s first dog (my best friend) since I was still healing from loosing my first dog, he has helped me heal so much. Norris is super spoiled by two best friends.

Marketing Coordinator

Paulina is an always-curious and always-learning professional Marketing Manager and self-proclaimed DIY expert. Residing in Cambridge, she loves exploring all things local. She's dedicated to raising a well-socialized dog, hoping to lead by example, and is always open to trying new training methods. Pippin is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, and is a very social, silly-goofy girl named after one of the most entertaining Lord of the Rings character. Pippin most certainly keeps her pawrents on their toes, bringing a smile to peoples' faces.

Event Planning Student

Hey! I'm Shreya, the design enthusiast who's all about architecture, events, and, of course, dogs! Currently, I'm deep into the event management scene at Conestoga College, diving into the nitty-gritty of venue design and decor.

And, my furball, Bunny is a Golden Retriever with loads of personality. Bunny's got this perfect mix of goofiness and smarts that keeps life interesting. He's holding down the fort back in India with my family while I chase my dreams here in Canada. Bunny's basically the chief happiness officer in our household, spreading joy and tail wags wherever he goes!

Admin Coordinator

This is Tiffany and her dog Penny! They live in Cambridge and Tiffany works in the Insurance industry. Her true passion is her dog Penny (and her two cats, Ted & Marshall). As the owner of a dog who spent most of her puppy stage in shelters before she came to her forever home with her family, it’s incredibly important to Tiffany that she be properly socialized around adults, kids, and other dogs. Tiffany believes Dog Friendly KW is an amazing organization that helps their local community of dog lovers do just that, she’s so excited to continue volunteering with this team!

Admin Coordinator

Maple is a bouncy and smart 2 year old standard poodle that runs on an environment-friendly infinite energy generator, the technical details of which Zeynep is not at liberty to disclose at this time. His interests include frolicking in mom’s dog friendly garden, learning new tricks, hiking and trying to convince his feline sister, Mocha, to play for the 100th time with no luck.

Zeynep is a data scientist by day, and Maple’s adventure/couch potato buddy by night. They love exploring new places, doing some training and subsequently crashing on the couch together. Ever since moving back to Kitchener-Waterloo from Toronto, they have been in awe of the Dog Friendly KW community, and are looking forward to giving back as much as they can!

General Event Volunteer

Ivan and I first met during Covid when he was eight weeks old. He moved in right away and we have been velcroed together ever since. For the most part if he is not invited then we don’t go. I eat lettuce (vegetarian) & he eats steak(picky eater). We love going to the park to play fetch. Everyone thinks we look alike but don’t all humans look like their 4 legged dependents?

General Event Volunteer

Hey! I’m Ava McQuillan, and this is my “sister” Bella! As you can see she’s not the biggest fan of photos!

Bella is a brown golden doodle who is around 6 years old, but still acts like a puppy. Bella loves playing and running around at the park. She will always find a stick to play with, but doesn’t understand the throw and give back concept! When she isn’t finding sticks, Bella loves her belly rubs and chewing on anyone’s socks she can find. To add on to her cuteness, if you aren’t petting her she’ll give you a stare down with a cute growl for attention!

General Event Volunteer

I rescued Juneau while living in the States. We lived in Colorado and Idaho together before moving back home to Canada! We both love the outdoors, our favourite outdoor activities are hiking, camping and enjoying dog friendly patios!

General Event Volunteer

This is Carly and her dog, Levy! He is a 3 year old German shepherd x Australian shepherd mix who has endless energy. Levy and Carly live to adventure and are always on the lookout for new places to go together! He loves to visit shops, hike, swim, and explore the outdoors! Dog friendly adventures only please; if her dog can’t come, she probably won’t want to either!

General Event Volunteer

Hi! My name is Cassidy and these are my girls, Violet and Chloe, 8 year old min. poodle mixes. Despite their aging they are as playful and excitable as ever! I have lived in KW my whole life and I work with pets and animals. When I’m not at work you can often catch us at home hanging out with the rest of the menagerie!

General Event Volunteer

Paws was my constant companion and friend, she was aloof, protective and big. She was 9 when I adopted her, and our 6 months together was short but amazing!

General Event Volunteer

My name is Elliott and I am a grade 12 student. After high school, I am planning on becoming a service dog trainer as I have always been interested in dog training. I am looking forward to gaining experience with dogs!

General Event Volunteer

Hi Y'all,

My name is Ivana, and my dogs name is Finn! I thrive on the energy of social gatherings. My zest for life doesn't end with people; it extends to my sidekick, Finn.

With his wagging tail and boundless enthusiasm, Finn mirrors my outgoing nature perfectly. We are a dynamic duo on a mission to spread positivity and happiness wherever we roam.

Fun Fact: Finn is the ultimate water dog - whether its boating at the cottage, dock diving, or rolling in a puddle, if there is water around you are bound to find Finn!

General Event Volunteer

Janice loves all things that make KW awesome, including dogs. She is passionate about active transportation, transit, the environment, social justice and community building. She is the Chair of the City of Waterloo Active Transportation Committee and on the Board of Cycle WR. She loves to support local groups like Dog Friendly KW, KW Famous, and Red Raccoon Bike Rescue.

General Event Volunteer

Jenna works in the veterinary field so she already gets to spend a lot of time with man's best friend but she just can’t get enough of wet noses and tail wags! She currently lives in Guelph with her rescue dog JJ.

General Event Volunteer

Hi Everyone, my name is Lacey. I moved to KW about 7 years ago from Sault Ste Marie. I have a degree in Political Science from York University but my real love and passion is in animals, specifically rescue and adoption. Favourite fact about myself is that I am a professional wrestler and I wrestle under the name Krystal Moon. It is one of my favourite things in the world. I adopted my little boy Nemo from Mexico through the organization DIBS almost two years ago . His birthday is December 18th 2020 so he is three years old. He has a slight disability in this front paw/leg but he definitely doesn't let it stop him. He absolutely loves loves loves other dogs but can be a little wary of new people... but do you blame him?

General Event Volunteer

Hi!! We are Janiewillow and Leith. Janie is a golden retriever and Leith is an English cream retriever. Both fun loving dogs who love walks through the woods and countryside and are ball obsessed! Our dog Mom has a creative side and loves dogs! She dresses us up for many occasions 🤪 and sets up play dates, fun events and doggie parties! Janie is a certified Therapy Dog for St John Therapy Dog Program and works in a variety of programs- hospitals, universities and with Victim services. She loves her little brother Leith and he makes us all laugh. He has character and is a sweet and sensitive boy!!

General Event Volunteer

Hi everyone! I'm Michaela, Barry's mum! Me and my furry best friend have just relocated from the UK where I was a Primary School Teacher for 10 years. I love working with both children and animals, building relationships within the communities in which I work is super important to me.

Barry is a 9 year old Maltese cross, he is the sweetest boy who loves nothing more than a cuddle on the sofa. We love going out and exploring new areas and of course, meeting new dog friends. He loves to come everywhere he can with me; back home, the beach was our favourite place to go and we can't wait to find a new favourite place in our new home!

General Event Volunteer

This is my pug Frankie and myself! He is 7 years old, but still looks a bit like a puppy. His name is inspired by the pug from the movie Men in Black, Frank, but we usually call him Frankie. He is a pecanis and pug mix, so he looks like a pug, but has super short legs like a pecanis. He is a super cuddly dog, and will take any opportunity to cuddle on my lap.

General Event Volunteer

Hey there! I'm Pax. I'm a huge fan of dogs, well, actually, all animals. I don't have a dog... yet! That's why I'm so excited to volunteer at Dog Friendly KW. I hope I can channel my love for dogs into helping build our dog-friendly community, and gaining some valuable knowledge about our furry friends along the way!

General Event Volunteer

This is Rachel and her best friend, Couvy! Couvy is a mixed breed pup from Antigua. His family thinks he might be a Rhodesian ridgeback and shepherd mix, but they know for sure he is 100% a good boy.

Rachel is a student advisor at the University of Waterloo. When she isn’t working or practicing yoga, you can find her exploring Cambridge with Couvy. When Couvy isn’t working, you can find him eating snacks or napping.

General Event Volunteer

Bio coming soon!

General event Volunteer

Tianna is the creative genius behind Tianna Rose Arts (On IG at @tianna_rose_arts). You can find her supporting many things that Dog Friendly KW does behind the scenes, often supporting Victor Rose Photography at our events! She is also Dog Mom to Link who is supposed to be a Samoyed but might just be genetically cloud 😅

General Event Volunteer

Kiwi and I spend a lot of time together, I got him after a major car accident and he helped me with my anxiety. We take a lot of explorations on the trails. I take Kiwi as many places as possible with me.