We are accepting new clients and patients! Click here to learn about our services.
New CDC Rules for Dogs Crossing the USA Border Effective August 1, 2024. Learn More
We are accepting new clients and patients! Click here to learn about our services.
New CDC Rules for Dogs Crossing the USA Border Effective August 1, 2024. Learn More
Angela
Animal Health Technician
Angie knew she wanted to be in this field of work at a very young age, and started working as a kennel assistant in 2005. From there, she moved to Coquitlam to complete her schooling as a Technician.
Once she graduated from Douglas college in 2009, she stayed in the Coquitlam area and worked locally at a clinic for a couple years. However, Angela moved back to Nelson after realizing how much she loved and missed the area and her family.
Once Angela moved back, she met her boyfriend who she now lives with along with 3 dogs (Tyka, a Shepherd/Husky X, Luna, a Lab/Golden Retriever X, and Brewzer, a Border Collie X) 2 cats (Java the Tortishell, and Chaalie a Domestic Short Hair), and a Python named Alfred. In her spare time she enjoys outdoor activities like camping, hiking and fishing.
Caroline
Registered Animal Health Technician
Caroline is a registered Veterinary Technician who graduated in 2007 with honors from Ridgetown College-University of Guelph. She took a bit of a longer road to discovering that this is what she was meant to do, with trials of University in Calgary and backpacking Australia and New Zealand. Upon her return to Canada she continued working in a 24hr emergency veterinary clinic ICU while she got her diploma as a Veterinary Technician.
Since graduating she has moved around, worked and traveled the world with her husband and pets, most recently returning from a year in Glasgow, Scotland. The whole family including the cat Beans and dog Wicket, made the trip and filled their time with travel.
Now finally settled in Nelson, Caroline is excited to share in all the outdoor opportunities it has to offer. She enjoys photography and skiing in her free time.
Heather
Registered Animal Health Technician
Heather grew up in Scotland and became a certified Veterinary Technician in 2005. In 2006 she came to Canada and started work in Grand Forks at a veterinary clinic where she gained experience in small animal emergency care. In 2010 Heather hit the road again to Okotoks, AB. While she was there she had practical training in laser therapy and also participated in the implementation of a new veterinary clinic. Heather has now settled down on a farm in Winlaw, BC with her husband, daughter, and multiple pets. She joined our team at Selkirk Veterinary Hospital in July 2015 as a Veterinary Technician, although, you’ll sometimes see her smiling face behind the Reception desk. In her free time, Heather is also a certified Scuba Diver, enthusiastic scrapbooker, and devoted volunteer at her daughter’s school.
Iyla
Practice Manager
Iyla was born and raised on the Sunshine Coast in BC. She started working in Veterinary Medicine as a Kennel Attendant in 2006, and found her calling. She moved to the Kootenays in 2006 and joined the Selkirk team in 2007. After making a brief career change and obtaining her diploma as a Medical Lab Assistant, she returned to the team at Selkirk Veterinary Hospital and couldn’t be happier. She enjoys working with our patients and clients to ensure the best experience possible. Iyla volunteers with the BC SPCA and enjoys giving back to the community. Iyla has had dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and rabbits. She has also cared for ferrets, hamsters, birds and reptiles.
Patti
Client Care Specialist
Patti joined our team in May of 2002 – if you’re not sure which one she is, she will be the one regaling our clients with a selection of her many jokes!
Between working at our hospital and her other job as a Court Reporter, she’s a pretty busy girl. Patti is now remarried, having raised her two wonderfulsons who have flown the coop and are successfully on their way. If she wasn’t busy enough, Patti has a gorgeous three-legged boy named Luka, and three sweet kitty-cats named Toby, Mya & Kiwi.
Patti’s hobbies include playing tuba in the Nelson Community Band, sunbathing, gardening, dancing, jogging, walking, baking and laughing. She feels that she is one lucky lady to be able to work with such wonderful people and to meet the extraordinary clientele that we have at the hospital!
Annette
Veterinary Assistant
Annette and her husband have lived in the Slocan Valley since 2001. Her interests are multi-faceted, ranging from natural pursuits such as gardening, hiking to peaceful activities such as reading, writing, fine art, singing, learning the bass guitar, sewing and cooking up a storm. She currently shares her home with two dogs, the lovely Twilight and Helix, and their kitties, Star and Dipper. In her garden also reside several pond fishies. Voted most likely to assist with any rodent visits, Annette is our resident rodent whisperer.
Debra
Veterinary Assistant
Debra grew up on a farm in Northern Alberta where she developed a strong work ethic. She joined our team in 2005 and we often say, “If you need something done, ask Deb.”
She now resides in the Kootenays with her husband. Deb enjoys spending time with her family which has grown with the addition of grandchildren. Deb has 1 Siamese cat named Luna. She also has a particular interest in chickens and has developed a small flock of her own.
Teressa
Veterinary Assistant/Veterinary Technician Student
Teressa moved to the Kootenays from the Lower Mainland in 1999, eager to leave the busy city and enjoy “Kootenay Time”. She comes to us with an extensive pharmacy background and 3
years experience working full time at the Nelson SPCA.
She spends most of her spare time outdoors in the wilderness either hiking or snowshoeing.
She also loves gardening, fingers in the dirt providing for the family.
Teressa is very prominent in the local music scene and is an avid supporter of our local musicians. She has also spent many years working with Kootenay Coop Radio both as a founding member and on various boards.
Teressa played roller derby for many years and was a board member of West Kootenay Roller Derby. The perfect combination of physical activity and working as a team.
Deanna
Kennel Attendant
Bio coming soon!
Emma
Client Care Specialist
Emma’s passion in life is animal welfare. She has spent the last 25 years working & volunteering in animal welfare in both Canada and the UK. She was a founding member of Second Chance Animal Shelter, Central Bark Pet Supply store & the Pugapalooza pug festival in Nelson. Emma was previously a member of the team at Selkirk Veterinary Hospital before returning to the UK for 10 years to spend time with her family. While there she continued to follow her passion by working for the two largest animal charities in the UK .
The Kootenay lifestyle brought her back to Nelson and she is once again embracing everything that the area has to offer.
Emma shares her home with her husband and her rescue family; Marmaduke the cat who has travelled to the UK and back , her senior Whippet Luki and most recently a feline addition called Maisie and a puppy named Maple.
Jenn
Veterinary Assistant/ Client Care Specialist
Jenn grew up living between BC and Ontario splitting her time between parents. Jenn attended Queens University to take psychology but realized her passion when she started working as a kennel attendant in Kingston, Ontario. She moved to the Kootenays in 2013, and started volunteering in Mexico joining a spay/neuter campaign helping to sterilize 300 cats and dogs at no cost to the locals of Cancun. She most recently volunteered in Mexico in April 2022 for the same project.
She has cared for many pets throughout the years. Her most memorable companion was her soul dog “Kaelie”, a beautiful husky of 14 years. She is currently the proud fur-mom of 2 hilarious cats who keep her on her toes.
Mackenzie
Veterinary Assistant
Mackenzie has been part of the team at Selkirk Veterinary Hospital since 2021. She joined the team as a Veterinary Assistant but also works in Reception, and dreams to further her career in Veterinary Medicine. It has always been a passion of hers to work with animals, and what a pleasure it is to do so.
When not at work Mackenzie spends her time in the backcountry, at the lake, or at home relaxing with her family.
Leah
Veterinary Assistant
Leah joined the Selkirk team in 2021 after relocating her young family from their Oregon farm to the Slocan Valley. Spending the last 11 years being a veterinary assistant in the states, she enjoys working with all animals large & small, but senior patients hold a very special place in her heart.
When not at work Leah & her partner continue to work on building their off grid tiny house with their kids, playing trombone, photography, gardening, spending time at the beautiful slocan lake and river, and caring for their gaggle of goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, cats & dogs.
Jaime
Registered Animal Health Technician
Jaime has many interests, has worked as a hairstylist, a landscaper, and in sporting and entertainment events at the Vancouver Canucks stadium in pursuit of her avid love of hockey. Always interested in other parts of the world, Jaime enjoys travelling and has worked in Australia, and at WOOF'd in Ireland. Her major passion is animals, inspiring her to visit game parks in South Africa, swim with Manta Rays and Whale sharks in Indonesia, and volunteer at a dolphin conservation park in Western Australia. Forever looking for opportunities to work with and help animals, Jaime attended the Animal Health Technologist program at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. Now, back in Nelson to complete her studies, she works at Selkirk Veterinary Hospital and raises her two beloved dogs and Coonhound fosters.
Chrissy
Registered Animal Health Technician
Christina, aka “Chrissy” graduated from the Thompson Rivers University Distance Animal Health Technology Program in 2016.
Chrissy then received her certification as a Veterinary Cannabis Counsellor (VCC) in 2020. It was due to the unmanageable pain of her cancer-ridden pitbull that led her to exploring the benefits of cannabis and inevitably providing this education to her community.
She lives outside of Nelson with her husband and their toddler daughter, alongside 2 cats, a 25 year old cockatiel, and her beloved Doberman. She enjoys her spare time with friends and family, as well as gardening, spending time outdoors, travelling, and all things that the Kootenay lifestyle has to offer.
Maggie
Client Care Specialist
Maggie joined our Client Care team in 2023. She was born and raised in Nelson, and she grew up having dogs, cats and chickens. Maggie has always had a love for animals, and when she started working at Selkirk she found she had a passion for working with them as well.
Currently Maggie has one doggie named Quantum who she loves to spend time with.
Crystal
Registered Animal Health Technician
Crystal joined the Selkirk team in 2023 and is very excited to be a part of a hospital who provides a high standard of care and a Fear Free experience for the pets of Nelson and surrounding areas.
Crystal graduated from TRU as a Veterinary Technician in 2015. After working a at a large clinic in Kamloops for 8.5years, her and her husband decided to relocate to the Kootenays. In their spare time they are busy rock climbing, mountain biking, camping, and enjoying all of the wonderful things the Kootenays have to offer.
Katie
Veterinary Assistant/ Client Care Specialist
Katie joined the Selkirk team in 2022 and loves being part of a Fear Free based team!
She grew up in Nelson with a passion for animals. She has been involved in animal rescue since 2006, fostering many dogs, puppies and whelping moms. She also enjoys horseback riding and competing in three-day eventing.
When not at the clinic, she’s usually found on her small acreage with her chihuahua/terrier cross named Kenny, two LGD’s Ari and Charlie, her horse Symphony, mini donkeys and goats.
Alex
Registered Animal Health Technician
Bio coming soon!
Elisabeth
Animal Health Technician
Bio coming soon!
Kat
Veterinary Assistant
Kat (aptly named!) is an animal enthusiast from way back - in fact her first word as a baby was “(w)oof!”. Working with animals and providing a high level of fear-free care in the wondrous Kootenays is a dream come true.
She considers it a true privilege to be a part of your pet’s journey and is looking forward to meeting you.
Breanna
Client Care Specialist
Breanna was raised in the Lower Mainland of B.C. and has been a life-long animal lover. As a child she grew up with dogs, and as a teenager she began to volunteer at a local wildlife sanctuary where she enjoyed bottle-feeding a new born squirrel among other fun things.
After seven years of working as a client care team member at a veterinary hospital in Surrey, Breanna and her partner decided it was time for a lifestyle change. Luckily for us, that change brought her to the Kootenays.
