Angelika & Peter Langen with family
Founders. Peter and Angelika Langen are the founders, assisted by their now grown children and their spouses.
NLWS has a core group of people in the form of the Langen/Landry Families. Peter and Angelika Langen are the founders, assisted by their now grown children and their spouses. Adding to the team are a constant stream of dedicated volunteers which change every few months.
Angelika and Peter met at the Koeln Zoo in Germany where both worked at the time. Following Angelika’s parents and brothers she and Peter immigrated to Smithers BC in Canada. The initial idea of building a family operated Guest Ranch fell through due to bad economic timing, but Angelika & Peter continued with their part of the intended operation, offering horseback riding and horse kids camps to local and international markets. Their business Mountain View Adventures has been open since 1983 and has evolved with the ever-changing public needs.
Kim Gruijs
Kim joined NLWS for the first time in 2008 as a Volunteer. In she immigrated to Canada and became a full time member of our team. Head Animal Keeper
Michael Langen
Michael has been involved in NLWS since it started in in 1990. Son of Angelika and Peter he grew up with the shelter in his life from a young age.
Samantha Vogt
Sam joined NLWS as a Volunteer in 2019. Due to Covid NLWS experienced a Volunteer crisis and Sam joined our team full time in 2021 Animal Keeper
Tanja Landry
Tanja has been involved in the shelter since it was started in 1990 as the daughter of founders Angelika and Peter she grew up with the shelter in her life from a young age.
Shawn Landry
Shawn joined the NLWS team in 2008 and is married to Tanja Landry. He also works with us part-time.
Kennedy Harvey
Kennedy started as a full time volunteer with NLWS in 2021 and due to the pandemic and the large influx of animals being admitted was asked to join us as an animal keeper.