The Judges
Our Judges
Our volunteer judges have the impossible job of choosing only 40 dogs out of hundreds of applications. It’s the challenge of a lifetime. Below is a list of our Judge Alumni. All photos by Aaron Pedersen.
Linda Hoang
CLASS OF 2021 JUDGE / Linda is a social media strategist and popular Edmonton blogger who posts about food, travels, and life—including life as a pawrent. Although she's the founder of the Edmonton International Cat Festival and proud mom to two cats Thor and Loki, she's also a dog mom to 6-year-old beagle Olive and 4-year-old Husky mix Artie.
Taylor Eastman
CLASS OF 2021 JUDGE / Taylor has been training dogs for 8 years and is now an Apprentice Instructor with Dogs with Wings Assistance Dog Society. After starting in their puppy training program where she worked with young puppies in their formative weeks, she’s now working with dogs from 16-24 months, teaching advanced skills.
Chihiro Webb
CLASS OF 2022 JUDGE / Chihiro is a Karen Pryor Academy Graduate and Service Dog Trainer at Dogs with Wings. Chihiro has the privilege of getting to work with some amazing puppies-in-training and volunteer puppy raising families with the goal to foster integration and independence for individuals with disabilities by providing them with assistance dogs and aftercare.
Ryan Jespersen
CLASS OF 2022 JUDGE / Ryan Jespersen hosts Real Talk, one of Canada's most-listened-to daily news podcasts. He's been named one of Alberta's 50 Most Influential People by Alberta Venture, and was on Avenue Magazine's inaugural list of Edmonton's Top 40 Under 40. Ryan's a proud puppy parent to Moses (a Boxer) and Monroe (a Black Lab).
Mark Connolly
CLASS OF 2021 JUDGE / Mark is the host of Edmonton AM, CBC radio’s morning show. He has covered ten Olympic Games, numerous world championships, and the 2002 Commonwealth Games, but Top 40 Dogs was his greatest challenge yet! Mark and his wife Alyson have two boys, Patrick and Jack and the world's greatest dog, Artie.
Saylish Haas
CLASS OF 2021 JUDGE / Saylish is the co-owner and operatorof the incredible Next Act Pub, Meat, and Pip restaurants in Old Strathcona. With dog-friendly patios at all three restaurants, Saylish has plenty of opportunity to see some of Edmonton's best pups up-close. Plus, she’s also the proud dog mom of Pancakes, a Top 40 Dog alumni from 2020.
Rakhi Pancholi
CLASS OF 2022 JUDGE / Rakhi is the proud representative of Edmonton-Whitemud. Rakhi has volunteered with organizations in Edmonton, including the Humane Animal Rescue Team, the National Education Program Committee, and the Women’s Legal Education & Action Fund. She lives with her husband, two school-aged children and furry rescue dog.
Janis Irwin
CLASS OF 2021 JUDGE / Janis never met a dog she didn't want to pet. She is the MLA representing Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood, and is currently the Official Opposition Deputy Whip and the Critic for Women and LGBTQ2S+ Issues. She started her career working in rural Alberta as a high school teacher and as a vice-principal.
Aaron Paquette
CLASS OF 2022 JUDGE / A lifelong Edmontonian, Aaron was elected to Edmonton City Council in 2017. Prior to his election to Council, Aaron owned a thriving small business and worked as an award-winning Indigenous artist and author. Aaron always had good pups growling up, and he is so excited to be able to sink his teeth into this challenge.
Tara McCarthy
CLASS OF 2022 JUDGE / Tara has worked in radio, print and new media for over 15 years, but has been a dog lover her entire life. She lives in Edmonton with her 11-year-old shelter pup, Savannah, and works at CBC as the traffic, weather and community reporter on Edmonton AM.