Board of Directors

Linda Laurus (Officer, Executive Director) brings a wealth of experience in both public policy and wildlife rehabilitation. For over 25 years, she worked as a policy and communications consultant, providing in-depth policy and regulatory analysis, as well as writing and editorial services, to a wide range of government clients. Linda’s passion for wildlife care began in 1996, when she volunteered with the former Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre and the Wild Bird Care Centre before founding the Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in 2005, where she continues to lead as Executive Director. She is a member of both the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association and the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council. Linda combines her professional background with her lifelong dedication to wildlife, ensuring that the Sanctuary operates with both strong organizational leadership and deep compassion for the animals in its care.

Valerie Bruyere (Chair) is a seasoned operations and project management professional with over 20 years of leadership experience in both the non-profit and public sectors. She has chaired and led strategic growth initiatives for organizations such as Restoring Hope Ministries and FamilyLife Canada, where she successfully expanded shelter services and orchestrated national fundraising and outreach events. Valerie brings expertise in governance, facilities management, stakeholder engagement, and event planning. Known for her practical leadership and commitment to community service, she is passionate about supporting missions that align with environmental and social impact

Rob Lorbetski (Treasurer), CPA/CA, is an accomplished finance leader with a passion for scaling high tech companies. He is currently CFO of Vention, a dynamic Montreal-based startup. He previously held executive finance roles at Shopify and BlackBerry, where he was instrumental in helping to grow them into Canada’s most valuable companies. Rob and his family, including their beloved pets, now call Ottawa home after living in Vancouver, Singapore, and London UK.

Michael Kruse (Director) is the Director of Development (Ontario) for EBC Inc, a Canadian construction industry leader active in the building, mining, and major civil engineering sectors. He has 40 years of project management, proposal writing, procurement, estimating and construction of ICI projects. Positions held as chief estimator, preconstruction manager, construction manager, project manager, director, and superintendent. Michael is fully proficient in all building systems design and construction. A team player with strong leadership skills and ability to manage any aspect of a project effectively. Michael has been involved with RVWS since 2008 as a volunteer and board member, and leads all construction projects.

Deborah Reid (Director) is an experienced IT leader with over 20 years in the federal public service, delivering impactful digital services for Canadians. She currently leads a team of developers and collaborates closely with business clients on the international Knowledge Sharing Portal for Tax Administrations at the Canada Revenue Agency. Previously, she managed the delivery team for the widely used My Service Canada Account platform and served as lead technical architect on the Government of Canada Web Renewal Initiative. Outside of work, Deborah has a deep connection to nature and wildlife, which inspires both her outdoor activities and her artistic expression.

Laura Leclerc (Secretary), LL.L., J.D., is a bilingual lawyer specialising in administrative and regulatory law. Following law school, she articled at the National Judicial Institute, focusing on judicial education. She holds the position of Legal Counsel to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the federal regulator for broadcasting and telecommunications. She has previously worked as a policy analyst for the Department of Canadian Heritage and has also contributed to the planning and delivery of major federal events, including Canada 150, Canada Day, the Governor General Installation Ceremony and a Royal Visit.

Cassandra Cassell (Director) joins the board with over a decade of experience in multimedia design, branding, and digital strategy. She is currently Senior Designer and Project Manager at 7shifts, where she leads design operations, web initiatives, and conversion optimization, with a strong focus on accessibility and measurable impact. She brings extensive experience in building digital experiences, improving user engagement, and leading large-scale design and website projects across both private and public sector organizations. Cassie looks forward to supporting the sanctuary’s mission through her expertise in creative strategy and digital outreach.

Marissa Weatherston (Director) is an experienced hospitality and events leader with over 15 years of progressive leadership experience across Canada’s hotel industry. She currently serves as Events Manager within Marriott International, where she leads the planning and execution of conferences, meetings, and special events. Marissa is passionate about governance, community engagement, and building meaningful partnerships. She is currently completing her Executive MBA in Business Analytics Leadership and enjoys contributing her strategic, operational, and collaborative leadership experience to organizations that create positive community impact.

Sabrina Lenhart (Director) is a dedicated and caring professional with a background in administration, bookkeeping, and document production. She has training in bookkeeping and QuickBooks and enjoys using technology to improve organization and make financial information easier to understand. Sabrina plans to return to post-secondary education to continue developing her skills and explore future career opportunities. As a member of the Board of Directors, she will support Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary with its bookkeeping and financial record-keeping. She values honesty, accountability, continued learning, and contributing to an organization dedicated to wildlife and the community.