Peace Officer Karen Stevenson

Provincial Supervisor, Alberta SPCA

Karen Stevenson joined the Alberta SPCA as a Peace Officer in 2014 and was promoted to Provincial Supervisor in 2023. Karen has extensive knowledge of all domestic animals, growing up on a farm where her family raised cattle and horses, and cared for dogs, cats and other livestock.

Prior to becoming a Peace Officer, Karen attended college in Fairview, earning a diploma as an animal health technologist. Karen has worked at emergency veterinary clinics for more than 27 years and continues to do so in her spare time. Karen also spent four years working as a municipal animal control officer prior to joining the Alberta SPCA.

Karen is a big believer in professional development and has invested significantly in courses to ensure she understands the welfare needs of all species of animals she may come across during her investigations. Most recently, Karen completed several courses on collecting (hoarding) to help her understand the reasons some people gather large numbers of animals. This allows her to effectively manage these complex investigations for the benefit of both the animals and the people involved.

Andrew Grainger

Director of Animal Protection Services, Alberta SPCA

Andrew Grainger has been the Director of Animal Protection Services at the Alberta SPCA for the past two years, overseeing the agency’s 10 Peace Officers and the approximately 3,000 files they investigate each year.

Andrew grew up in southern Alberta where his family ran a mixed farm, and he continued the family ranching tradition when he and his wife bought a 380 head cow/calf operation in northwestern Alberta. Unfortunately, the BSE scare in 2005 made raising cattle too challenging, prompting Andrew to chase his second passion – policing.

Andrew spent 16 years with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). His first post after graduating from Depot was in Drumheller, before eventually being transferred to the Drayton Valley detachment. While Andrew worked in general duties for much of his time, he spent the last five years with the RCMP in the Livestock Investigations Section. Andrew retired from the RCMP in 2023 with the rank of corporal.

Andrew’s extensive history with animals and law enforcement makes him ideally suited for his current role with the Alberta SPCA.