Meet the OPE Team
Pet Events Hosted And Produced By Pet People.
Meet our team of pet enthusiasts, striving to make the Expo a fantastic and fun-filled day for you, your family, and your family pets!
Grant & Yvonne Crossman
Founders
Grant and Yvonne Crossman are pet lovers, and the founders of the Canadian Pet Expo along with the Reptile Expo legacy. The foundation behind the events was their vision of bringing an education component to the world of pets. For over 30 years they have both been integral parts of the Canadian pet world.
Elizabeth Semple
Event Director
Elizabeth has been a constant figure at both the Canadian Pet Expos and sister show, Canadian Reptile Expos, for over a decade. She started out as a reptile fan attending Reptile Expos, then started her own reptile business and eventually joining the Reptile Expo Team and then the CPE.
Danielle Boubert
Event Planner
Danielle has over five years in the pet industry, beginning her time at her local Global Pet Foods, that she later went on to manage, from there she moved to managing and working in a Veterinary Office. Coming from an educational background in Events, Danielle jumped at the opportunity to become involved with the Canadian Pet Expo and is very excited to be part of the Expos!
Fran Mason
Show Manager
Fran has been working for the Canadian Pet Expo for about 7 years, has worked in many different areas of the show, and is constantly learning about new pet trends. She has 14 years' experience with exotic animals and is currently a foster parent with her local Humane Society.
Brent Hierons
Show Manager
Brent has been with the Canadian Pet Expo and Reptile Expo family for more than 15 years. Brent's participation in the pet world includes 25 years of managing and overseeing pet retailers both independent and chain locations in Ontario.
Kevin Crossman
Show Manager
Kevin has been with pets and around animals his entire life. The Canadian Pet Expo’s transportation logistics and moving from venue to venue come with ease thanks to Kevin's decades of experience in the transportation industry.
Fadi Naddeh
Videographer & Social Media
Fadi has had animals his entire life but became heavily involved in the hobby when he started keeping reptiles in 2016. He has a YouTube channel and a podcast centered around reptiles, launched in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
Dr. Alec Brown
Show Veterinarian
Brent has been with the Canadian Pet Expo and Reptile Expo family for more than 15 years. Brent's participation in the pet world includes 25 years of managing and overseeing pet retailers both independent and chain locations in Ontario.
Mark Koenig
Avian Event Director
Mark has worked with birds, plants, and fish for over 40 years, and in pet-related retail and wholesale for over 30 years. He has bred several species of birds, mostly working with parrots. He is an avid plant hobbyist, with a focus on Hoyas as well as a variety of Philodendrons and cacti.
Chris Biggs
Aquatic Event Director
Chris the “The Mad Aquarist” has been involved in the pet world since a young'un, which turned into a career within the world of pets. Chris brings to the Canadian Pet Expo the world of Aquascaping and Aquatics with a focus on seeding the passion he has for the world of aquatics.
Rodger Salm
Director Of Corporate Relations
Rodger brings over 3 decades of pet industry experience to Canadian Pet Expo. His role with Canadian Pet Expo will be to enhance exhibitors and attendees experiences. Rodger has been called the "Dr. Dolittle" of his neighbourhood with a house full of pets, including 2 dogs, 2 cats, a parrot, fish and many exotic plants and reptiles.
Amanda C. Jimmink
Cat Show Director
Amanda joined the Canadian Pet Expo as part of the dynamic duo of Cat Show Directors along with Amanda Hazel. Both of them are committed not only to bringing the world of TICA felines to the CPE, but to sharing the world of purebred cats from around the world.
Amanda Hazel
Cat Show Director
Amanda joined the Canadian Pet Expo as part of the dynamic duo of Cat Show Directors along with Amanda C. Jimmink. Both of them are committed not only to bringing the world of TICA felines to the CPE, but to sharing the world of purebred cats from around the world.
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