In Dec. 1999 Cheryl Edwards and I met at a dog show in Toronto.  Our thinking was, at the time, that there was no club in Canada dedicated to bringing the Parson Russell Terrier into the Canadian Kennel Club.  We decided to start a club dedicated to that purpose, and later that month the new club was born.

We knew of others with like mind, and contacted them to fill the various positions.  We modeled our club after other CKC National Breed Clubs.  Our first executive was comprised of volunteers.  Dr. Tom Edwards agreed to be President.  Sylvie Verdon from PQ agreed to be Vice President, Ron Johnson Secretary, Susan Crawford Treasurer, Cheryl Edwards Public Relations and myself as Editor of the Parson Preview our newsletter.  Wanting to become a National club eventually, and needing the representation of at least four Regions, we enlisted the services of  Bev Embley to be Regional Director from Atlantic Canada, Gail Davies to represent BC, Norm Tuckey to represent Ontario, and Tina Stone to represent the Prairies. We also added  Membership Secretary in Lorraine Gemmiti, when it became obvious that the Secretaries job was going to be a large portfolio and a lot of work. 

In 1990 the Parson Club (UK) applied to The Kennel Club for recognition of the Parson Jack Russell.  After the criteria were met it was added to the Terrier Group.  That effectively split the Parson and Jack breeds.  Some time later the club asked the Kennel Club to delete the word Jack from the breed name.  Hence world wide, Parson Russell Terrier is kennel club registered and thus pure bred.

Also in 1990,  when the (Jack) now Parson Russell Terrier Assoc of America (PRTAA) was arranging their affairs with the AKC to bring the breed into the AKC Terrier Group - the name Parson was copy right protected.  But what the club did do was to use a Breed Standard, very similar to the British Breed Standard of the Parson Russell Terrier.  In the next few years a foundation stock registry was set up.  This would be the gene pool from which future generations of terriers would come.  Each terrier submitted had a set of criteria which would enable them to be part of the registry.  A panel was organized to scrutinize each dog and after all the criteria were met was it added to the registry.  The registry was closed, and that registry was handed over to the AKC to manage and maintain. Now only properly registered terriers can be added to the AKC registry.  Either terriers whose sire and dam are both AKC registered or terriers imported from other countries who are also kennel club registered.  (Kennel Club registered means a particular kind of registration.  It means that it is either registered with The Kennel Club which means United Kingdom, or kennel club which means with another country’s kennel club IE CKC, AKC etc)

Since the CKC does not yet register the Parson Russell, there is an agreement between the CKC, the AKC and the AAPRT, that allows litters born in Canada, of two AKC registered parents, to be registered AKC.  We are indeed grateful to all three clubs for allowing that process.  

In 2001 our club submitted to the CKC the paperwork necessary to start the process which will hopefully, end in our being accepted into the Terrier Group.  On March 14, 2003 The CKC Board of Directors agreed to their Registration Committees recommendation to add the Parson Russell to the Misc List of Breeds.  We aren't there yet but we have started.

On April 1, 2003 the AKC agreed to the proposal put forward by the PRTAA to change the name from Jack Russell to the correct name of Parson Russell.  Now world wide, Parson Russell means kennel club registered - Pure Bred.

Our club has also applied for CKC club accreditation. Our By-laws have been accepted by the CKC and we are currently waiting for the paperwork to be completed. When granted the APRTF would have Non-event holding, Breed Club status for the Parson.   When we are accepted to the Terrier Group we would automatically become the National Breed Club.  

A Nomination Committee was struck this summer and a full slate of officers was submitted for our first elections in Dec.  Neither Cheryl or myself wished to stand for another term of office and we gladly hand over our duties to other, very competent individuals, who will bring fresh ideas to our club. Other key positions are also being filled with new people, and I am sure we are in for some exciting and productive times. 

I know of clubs where some executive members have not changed in many years.  Some positions are still held by the original founding members.  I do not believe that this is healthy for the club or it's members. Over the last four years, I have seen this club grow from a mere idea to one on the brink of CKC status. It has been a roller coaster ride of ups and downs, and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. But now I need time to re-charge my batteries.  It has been an honour and a privilege to serve on the Executive of the APRTF. Good luck to the new Executive.