The Team:
Sparky Smith MSST, ISCP.DIP.CANINE.PRAC., IAABC - CDBC, MCMA
Sparky's current career began early with life on a farm. At seventeen, Sparky had firmly established a very successful training method; creating trusted communication pathway to support animals during sudden, unexpected changes. At the time, this had not been seen before and was considered by many as foolish. Things changed slowly in recognizing the power of supporting performance animals emotionally. An early memory recounted a massive thunderstorm rolling in right in the middle of a horse show. Imagine for a moment, a young filly standing still and calm with pounding rain and thunder and lightning. Other competitors were prancing and vocalizing fearfully. Her show horse stood transfixed, listening intently to every word she spoke. Working with animals provided an opportunity to view things differently. Watching, participating and developing relationships with difficult to understand animals, offered a unique way to view problems; a way to see simplification within complexities. She became involved in business in 1988, continuing to find time to help human caregivers and their animals, horses, cats and dogs with progressively harder psychological challenges. Sparky credits the continued journey with animals, as she developed into a business woman. Patience, kindness, compassion and perseverance are not necessarily traits honed in corporations. Thus, animal care and training provided an odd yet valuable complementary experience. And nevermore-so when leading large strategic changes to 30,000 employees around the world. Employees who were each facing an individual journey to accept new ways of working. Sparky had the experience to simply focus on the sensitivities of sentient beings to help make change happen. Just like in the horse show all those years ago, she knew one needed to set a clear and trusted communication path, for those undergoing change, to rely one. To remain compassionate and patient, because sudden unexpected change is hard, and always be there to provide guidance to make the change stick. Her business life spanned 30 years, reaching the pinnacle of her career as a sought-after thought-leader and expert in complex global change initiatives. Her successes included being a top-level Executive Consultant, the Chief Strategy Officer for the Global Strategic Management Forum, and a board member of the Canadian Business Strategy Association. Sparky continued education included obtaining a Six Sigma Black Belt, a master level in Strategy & Systems Thinking, Big Data and Forensic Accounting & Fraud, all through top tier universities, including MIT. She was a public speaker for several global conferences, and invited by several Ivy League EMBA programs to discuss her innovative methods to rethink solving the toughest business problems. In 2015, Sparky retired from her corporate career, hanging up her pumps and power suits to finally focus exclusively on changing animals and their human caregivers. Today, Sparky Smith is registered with the Complementary Medical Association as a Canine Psychologist, accredited by the International School for Canine Psychology & Behaviour and the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants as a Dog Behaviour Consultant. She is set apart in the professional world of dog behaviourist, as her past lends itself to a deeply profound sense of how behaviour change occurs between and within humans and dogs. She is a master strategist and change expert and her practice improves and streamlines the way a dog changes, shifting the behaviours for life. Her innovative approach ensures the highest success possible with gentle, compassionate care, found in today's professional dog behaviourist field. More about the schools and associations: The International School for Canine Psychology & Behaviour (theISCP.com) provides a network of world-class Vets, Behaviourists and Dog Welfare Organizations, delivering access to expert second-opinions should it be required. The International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC) is an international body who recognizing those with the highest education and experience in their field. The Complementary Medical Association (CMA) is not only the world’s leading multi-disciplinary membership organization for top, fully qualified practitioners. It is a multinational organization. 
Sunshine Smith - Specially trained to read and engage with all dogs of all sizes and breeds to help them overcome communication challenges, Sunshine is a special dog. She is Sparky's assistant and an essential and joyful member of the team. 
Gail Aller-Stead - Strategic Consultant (Toronto)
Gail is a Strategic Consultant working with us as required. Working with people and communities to help them move from ideas to results, she brings a depth of understanding and experience to our business. During the past 20 years, she’s engaged with more than 100 organizations in the private, public, and non-profit sectors, helping them shift from where they are today to successful implementation and sustainability of their desired future states. A life-long lover of dogs, Gail supports positive change and health for clients through PivotalChange.ca and continues to strengthen her skillset in dog training, behaviour, and psychology. Gail holds a Master of Science in Organizational Development and professional designations in management consulting, project management, and strategic management. 
Our Ambassador Sunshine, laughing in the flowers
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Victoria Vasco
Office Manager Across Canada Victoria is an administration specialist with almost two decades of experience successfully supporting both private and public sectors. Victoria's background also includes Instructional Design. She graduated with honours from Durham College's Adult Education program and has created interactive learning solutions. Victoria is also passionate about helping our canine companions and is dedicated to ensuring their owners are fully supported throughout their journey with PivotalChange.ca. When Victoria isn't working, she enjoys art and doing landscape and wildlife/animal photography. 
Nicky Hart
Office Administrator - Across Canada Nicky Hart is our Office Administrator who engages with dog-lovers looking for help. Nicky believes that changing behaviours and changing lives begins with kindness and care for everyone who joins our roster and becomes part of our lifelong family of graduates. Nicky joined us in early 2021 and has quickly added value to the team and those we serve. Nicky holds a degree in Communications and is an avid dog-lover! 
Martin Smith is our CEO working side-by-side with Sparky. In addition to managing the financial and technical side of the business, he is a trained Behaviour Associate, specializing in complex and aggression cases.
Martin has worked for over 15 years with all varieties of dog breeds and temperaments, delivering insights and training. Martin is the co-author of "Deepening the Bond," a highly popular workshop for dogs and their people. He is co-owner of Executive Pet Services, the corporation for which PivotalChange.ca operates. 
Kathie Gregory
Nutritional Advisor Kathie Gregory is our Nutritional Advisor for our Brain-Based Nutritional Therapy Counselling (piloting in Toronto) as well as a qualified animal behaviour consultant and author, specializing in advanced cognition and emotional intelligence. She has worked with animals for over 20 years, and has a special interest in using comprehensive teaching methods to give understanding and comprehension to animals, which enables us to have more complex conversations with them, and really get to know them. In a previous career, Kathie studied nutrition as part of her personal training qualifications, she then applied her knowledge to studying and researching canine nutrition, taking a course with Dr Eleanor Kellon, who is widely recognized in the USA for her equine nutritional research. Kathie and her husband spent 10 years breeding British Shorthair cats, and have lived with several different breeds of dog, raising them from puppyhood, along with rehabilitating a rescue dog. She is dedicated to continued research, and studies subjects including genetics, brain function, behaviour, and instincts. Passionate about raising standards and awareness in how we teach and work with animals, she has launched The Academy of Free Will Teaching, providing educational courses for professionals and those interested in learning more about dogs and horses. She has authored two books, A tale of two horses: a passion for free will teaching, and A Puppy Called Wolfie: a passion for free will teaching. Visit her website at www.freewillteaching.com 
Alexi Solway - Program Coach
Toronto Team Alexi's passion was born early. From the moment she could walk and talk, she wanted to communicate with animals. She spent her childhood surrounded by four-legged friends and always felt a deep and natural connection to them. Alexi is a life-time volunteer from the time she was 12, supporting animal shelters, caring for her horse, three family rescue animals. When Alexi went to University, she studied Early Childhood Education. The psychology of children and dogs have been notably similar in a compelling and complementary twist to the work she loves. She is experienced in dog walking and daycare, providing an enriching and safe environment for the dogs in her care. Alexi currently works at a local pet supply store in Toronto, and enjoys partnering with a diverse range of pet owners, combining her experience working with animals and knowledge of nutrition, behaviour, training and care to ensure the well-being of their dogs and cats. Alexi and her newest rescue Kashi graduated from PivotalChange.ca’s 12-week program, leading her to deepen the connection to several aspects of canine psychology and behaviour with her studies in Early Childhood Education. Her in-depth understanding of child development, attachment theories, and the implications of adverse early experiences will bring a new lens when learning about canine psychology and behaviour and a deeper understanding of them both. 
Jonah Meller - Behaviour Associate & Separation Anxiety Therapist Toronto Team Jonah is one of our a behaviour associates in Toronto, leading complex behaviour modification cases. Father of two and owner of three, Jonah combines his knowledge in psychology to his lifelong love & experience as a dog owner in his approach to your dog's treatment. Jonah's educational background from UofT is in English, Philosophy, Film, Fine Art & Psychology. He has been trained by Sparky Smith in PivotalChange.ca's unique Behaviour Program. In 2019 Jonah graduated from the Applied Behaviour Analysis program at Humber college, where he learned to work with individuals on the spectrum, helping to create and implement behaviour modification programs at several institutions including the Geneva centre for Autism and Shining Through centre for children with Autism. Jonah will use the wealth and breadth of his knowledge in behavioural psychology, as well as 'out of the box' thinking to work with you to create the most effective behaviour modification program for your dog. With an eye to what makes the most sense for your dog and your lifestyle Jonah will assist you in creating, communicating and continuing a program that will radically improve your dog's life, vastly improving your own quality of life in the process. 
See our Gallery for more pictures
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To book your meeting with Sparky, click on the button below. You will be redirected to our scheduling page, where you will choose your preferred meeting time, complete an assessment and pay for your appointment ($125 CDN). The cost of the meeting is deducted from the program costs on registration
What Our Clients Have to Say About Their Experiences:
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