Karen Sparks

Karen Sparks
Born (1981-05-09) May 9, 1981
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Residence Kanata, Ontario, Canada
Nationality Canadian
Alma mater Carleton University
Occupation Executive Director of
Wesley Clover Parks
Years active 1993–present
Relatives Terry Matthews (father)
Trevor Matthews (brother)

Karen Sparks (née Matthews) (born May 9, 1981 in Ottawa, Ontario) is a Canadian businesswoman and philanthropist.[1] She is the Executive Director of Wesley Clover Parks,[2] a director at the Wesley Clover Foundation,[3] a director at Equine Canada,[4] and a director at the Queensway-Carleton Hospital Foundation.[5]

Early life

The third child of Terry Matthews, billionaire chairman of Mitel and Wesley Clover, Karen attended Stephen Leacock Public School and Earl of March Secondary School, and graduated from Carleton University.

Career

She started her career by joining Wesley Clover as an investment advisor and director of government relations. She was a founding director of the Wesley Clover Foundation, a not-for-profit, philanthropic corporation that supports entrepreneurship, healthcare, education, and community initiatives. In 2014, the foundation secured a long term lease of the properties formerly known as the Nepean National Equestrian Park and the Ottawa Municipal Campground to create Wesley Clover Parks. The Foundation intends to invest more than $20 million to give the site a full re-construction.[2][3]

Wesley Clover Parks

The Parks include a riding school,[6] created in partnership with Canadian Olympian rider Ian Millar, upgraded show grounds, new public seating, and new horseback riding trails. The Park hosts non-equestrian facilities,[7] such as skiing[8] and hiking trails, a campground, a nature school for young children, a state-of-the-art artificial turf soccer field was constructed for use as a practice facility during the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup,[9][10] and a concert site was developed that hosted Shania Twain's Rock This Country Tour.[11][12][13] The Park intends to draw more equestrian events, such as the Ottawa International Horse Show[14] and Polo in the Park,[15] as well as more participation from the non-equestrian community in outdoor sports.

Equestrian

Karen Sparks began training with Ian Millar in 1998, some show jumping highlights include: 11th in the Canadian Championships in 2010 with Quervo Gold and High Junior/Amateur champion at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in 2011 with Victoria.[16] Karen Sparks was named Jump Canada 'Athlete of the Month' for June 2010.[17]

Honours

She was named Entrepreneur of the Year in the 2015 Faces Awards.[18]

In April 2016, she was named one of Ottawa's top Forty Under 40.[19][20]

Personal life

Karen currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Karen Sparks: Ottawa Business and Philanthropic Leader". Faces Magazine. March 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  2. 1 2 "A World-Class Equestrian Centre and a Local Attraction for the Capital Region". National Capital Commission. April 24, 2014. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  3. 1 2 "Aging equestrian venue to get a makeover". CBC News. January 17, 2013. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  4. ↑ "Karen Sparks - Director at Large". Equine Canada. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Queensway Carleton Hospital Board of Directors". Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Horse riding programs return to Nepean equestrian park". Orlean News - Metroland Media Group. October 16, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  7. ↑ "West-end equestrian park heads down new path; Music festivals possible at new grounds". Ottawa West News - Metroland Media Group. May 22, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Kanata Nordic Ski Club relocating to Wesley Clover Parks". Kanata Kourier-Standard - Metroland Media Group. February 18, 2015.
  9. ↑ "FIFA constructs world-class turf field at Wesley Clover Parks". Ottawa Community News - Metroland Media Group. June 20, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Artificial turf soccer field completes vision for former Nepean Equestrian Park facility". Ottawa Citizen. May 7, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Shania Twain visits Ottawa in June at Wesley Clover Field". CBC News. March 4, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Shania Twain concert will kick off major new music venue". Ottawa Citizen. March 5, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Shania show reshapes equestrian park". Ottawa Citizen. June 11, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Ian Millar ushers show jumping back into town". Ottawa Citizen. June 17, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  15. ↑ "CTV Morning Live:Polo in the Park 4". CJOH-DT. August 28, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Students". Millarbrooke Farm. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  17. ↑ "Karen Sparks Named CAVALOR 'Athlete of the Month' for June". Equine Canada. July 12, 2010. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  18. ↑ "2015 Faces Awards". Faces Magazine. March 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Forty Under 40 honours city’s rising stars". Ottawa Business Journal. April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Announcing the 2016 Forty Under 40 Recipients". Ottawa Chamber of Commerce. April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2016.

External links

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