When most people think of Spruce Meadows president Linda Southern-Heathcott, it’s show jumping that springs to mind, but it may surprise many to hear that dogs actually play a big part of the CEO’s day-to-day life as well.
As the former Olympic showjumper gears up for the historic venue’s inaugural PetFest this weekend, she provides a rare peek at her private life... and much of it centres around her three adorable pooches.
The mainly indoor event, modelled after Spruce Meadows' popular International Christmas Market, will launch Friday with 60 local vendors, food trucks and entertainment, alongside exotic animal interactions, sheepherding demonstrations, performances by the Prairie Dogs and even corgi racing.
Part of PetFest's inspiration came from Southern-Heathcott’s own fur babies, a 14-year-old Pembroke Welsh corgi called Calla and two Australian shepherds, Tulsa and Norman.
The pack gets to rub shoulders with some of the high-profile guests who take in the various world-class events at Spruce Meadows throughout the year. Some of her pets have even mingled with a former prime minister, wreaking havoc for his security team.
“With PetFest, we are going to emulate the look and feel of the Christmas markets but on a slightly smaller scale and, of course, with an animal focus,” said Southern-Heathcott. “I know people in and around the city are as pet crazy as I am, so we wanted to create an event to entertain, educate and celebrate all things animal.”
Calgary-born Southern-Heathcott is a farm girl at heart, with her preference being small dogs and working dogs. Tulsa and Norman are both named after cities in Oklahoma, where they were born. Calla, from Vancouver, is a breed of cattle-herding corgi, the same kind Queen Elizabeth II loved.
“Calla and some of my other dogs I had at the time got to meet former prime minister Stephen Harper when he came to visit Spruce Meadows in 2011,” Southern-Heathcott recalled.
“When he came, they obviously had to do a security sweep and the government’s German shepherds couldn’t focus because there were so many dog scents around.
“Dogs have been a huge part of my life. Now when I get to the office, no one asks how I am, they say, ‘Where are the dogs?’
“The three of them stroll into work behind me and they even have a system worked out where they stop at different desks for a biscuit before settling down around my corner of the office.
“Hopefully the staff enjoy them although, to be honest, I’ve never really asked.”
Southern-Heathcott’s affinity for dogs started years before she began riding horses, with family poodle Pepsi on the scene when she was a toddler.
Her father Ron Southern, the founder of utilities giant ATCO and Spruce Meadows, never allowed his own dogs into the office, but turned a blind eye when Southern-Heathcott’s pets tagged along.
Her blue heeler Luger, named after the pistol, travelled the world with her during her show jumping days, during which she competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
The whole family has dogs, and Southern-Heathcott’s mother Margaret, 93, has a cat called Kitti to keep her company.
“Animals can make amazing companions because they love you unconditionally,” she said. “That’s all animals, mine are dogs and horses. If you treat them with kindness, they will treat you with kindness.
“My dogs make me laugh all the time, so they are great stress relief. That being said, they require a lot of care, you can’t just put them away in a closet like skates or a basketball.”
Southern-Heathcott said the plan with PetFest is to expand it in years to come, incorporating all pets, whether it's dogs, sheep, parrots or lizards.
“We hope it’s a huge success and that people love it. There’s definitely room to grow. The Christmas market started with just one weekend and now, two decades later, it runs over three weekends and has been ranked as one of the top four Christmas markets in the world.
“It would be great to create the same with PetFest.”
PetFest hours are as follows: Friday, April 19 from noon to 8 p.m., Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information on PetFest, visit sprucemeadows.com/petfest.
