Photo by Debby Herold Photography
By Alyssa Hassett, Calgary Journal
Deanna Thompson had a comfortable job working as a risk analyst in the oil and gas industry but she still felt unfulfilled. After volunteering with a non-profit animal rescue organization, she knew that saving animals every day was the job she wanted.
Now she is executive director at the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society, fulfilling a lifelong love for animals.
Growing up in Trochu, Alta., Thompson didn’t have any pets, but she got plenty of experience with animals when she worked as a ranch hand in her youth. Her love for animals went hand-in-hand with a passion for helping others as Thompson started volunteering at a young age, doing highway cleanup, being involved in her local 4H club, and running her high school’s recycling program.
Despite her love for animals and passion for volunteering, Thompson decided to study business in university. She worked for Husky Energy for five years and although it was a well-paying job, she felt unsatisfied in her work and decided it was time for a change.
