A 30-year member of the SPCA, Hawkrigg served previously as board chair in 1998.

She and six other members joined the board via conference call on Monday after most of the previous board members resigned.

The other new board members are: Annette Hamm, Margaret Strecker, Janet Cazzola, Harry Debnam, Christine Bradley and Sandra Leja.

Jen Lister and Steve Allen did not resign from the previous board and remain on the new body.

There are three vacant positions, including the city’s representative, that are expected to be filled later.

Hawkrigg said the first order of business will be to review the organization’s financial statements and 2010 budget.

The new board is scheduled to hold its first meeting today.

It is not open to the public.

The interim board will remain in place until a new board is elected at the SPCA’s annual general meeting later this year.

Previous board members had been under pressure to step down over criticism over a number of matters including the amalgamation with the The Equestrian Association for the Disabled (TEAD).

“TEAD and the SPCA are very different organizations,” said Hawkrigg, who supports working with TEAD but not merging with them.

Hawkrigg said the membership will vote on the amalgamation question on Monday.

She said some of the new board members will be at the Dartnall Road shelter tomorrow (Friday) to meet with SPCA staff and volunteers.

“We’re going to assure them we’re very proud of the work they do,” Hawkrigg said.