Dressage Canada is pleased to announce that Ellen Rumball-Dvorak of Hillsburgh, ON and Leslie Steele of Pitt Meadows, BC were named Dressage Canada’s 2013 ‘Volunteers of the Year’.

Rumball-Dvorak and Steele served as the Chefs d’Equipe for the 2013 North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) held in Lexington, KY this past summer, and both have acted in this role for a number of years for the dressage program. They were honoured because of their ongoing contribution and commitment to the sport of dressage and their significant support of Canada’s young dressage athletes.

“This has taken me completely by surprise,” commented Steele. “For me, volunteering has always been a team effort, working with outstanding people who all want to see an event or an idea blossom into something wonderful. So I am thrilled to be acknowledged, but I understand that any success in any job I have undertaken has only been as a result of a whole team of players working together to make something better.”

With regards to having been selected, Rumball-Dvorak commented, “I am truly honoured to receive this award from Dressage Canada. Horses and the sport of dressage have given so much to me and my family over the years and I feel privileged to be able to give back.”