OUR B.C. MANAGEMENT TEAM
William S. Thornton, C.E.O. & Co-Founder of British Columbia Guide Dog Services.
Bill’s guide dog career began in 1977, when he joined the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (U.K.) and commenced a three-year training program to become an accredited Guide Dog Mobility Instructor. In March 1980, Bill graduated as an accredited Guide Dog Mobility Instructor.
In 1984 Bill founded Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind (Ottawa). He served as President and C.E.O. of Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind from 1984 to 1995.
In 1996 Bill co-founded British Columbia Guide Dog Services. Since then a new division has been launched in Alberta, Alberta Guide Dog Services. In partnership with B.C. Guide Dog Services Bill is taking a leading role in the founding of Autism Support Dogs, working with autistic children aged 4 to ten.
In 1988, Bill was a Charter Member of the International Guide Dog Federation, and in 1990, was elected to the Board of Directors. He served until 1996 and then in 1998 was re-elected and served on the IGDF Board until 2006. In 1992 Bill was appointed as an International Assessor for the International Guide Dog Federation. He has accredited schools in England, Ireland, Japan and Australia. He continues in this role.
In 2005 Bill, along with his good friend, Paul Keymer, from the Minnesota Guide Dog Breeding Centre, founded the International Guide Dog Federation’s Derek Freeman Scholarship. In recognition of Derek’s extraordinary contribution to the guide dog movement, Bill and Paul established the Derek Freeman Scholarship to remember his kindness, generosity and enormous talent in the discipline of guide dog breeding and puppy raising. The scholarship has been awarded on five occasions going to organizations in South Africa, Taiwan, Australia, the United States and Slovakia.
In 2006, the International Guide Dog Federation awarded Bill the prestigious Ken Lord Award for exemplary services to the International Guide Dog Movement.
Linda Thornton, Manager, Breeding and Puppy Raising & Co-Founder
British Columbia Guide Dog Services
Linda attended St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ontario where she specialized in Animal Health Technology. After her training she moved to Ottawa and worked as a veterinary technician for 15 years.
In her capacity as Breeding & Puppy Raising Manager, Linda oversees the Breeding Program and is responsible for the puppies that are placed with our Puppy Raising Families.
Under Linda’s management, the Breeding Program ensures that there are sufficient adult dogs ready to enter training with our Training Department. Linda also maintains our professional links with breeding managers worldwide working on co-operative ventures through the sharing of knowledge, exchange of frozen semen and puppies.
Jaime Arnup, Lead Guide Dog Mobility Instructor
Jaime joined BC Guide Dog Services as an apprentice Guide Dog Mobility Instructor in 2003. She graduated in 2006. Jaime is presently our lead Guide Dog Mobility Instructor and she plays a leadership role in our apprenticeship training program.
Along with her normal duties, Jaime also has a dual qualification as an Autism Support Dog Instructor.
