Our Team

Office Managers:

Michelle
Michelle has been with Queen West Animal Hospital since it opened in November 2000 and now co manages Queen West and Dundas West Animal Hospitals. She lives in Erin with her partner Steve and their troop of dogs: Goose the adorable miniature wirehaired dachshund, Cinco the loveable ‘wiener retriever' and two crazy Blue Heelers, Derby and Roo. Next to dogs, her favourite things include dance, music, movies, travel and hiking with the troops.

Paula
Paula lives in the downtown area with her dog Lola.  An undergrad in zoology brought her to Toronto and led her to Queen West Animal Hospital.  More recently Paula has completed a masters in Environmental Studies with a focus on human-animal relationships, specifically a prison “cell dog” program where inmates trained shelter dogs that would have been euthanized.  Around the same time, Hurricane Katrina hit and Paula drove down to New Orleans with a friend to volunteer in an emergency animal shelter where she met some of the most amazing and resilient animals and people.  Both were life-changing experiences for her. Outside of work Paula’s interests include animal rescue, reading, traveling, activities that make winter more fun, walking the city’s neighbourhoods (especially in the summertime), and hanging out with friends (her dog included).

Hospital Coordinator:

Sarah
Sarah joined Queen West Animal Hospital after working as a self-employed cat groomer.  She has a degree in Film Theory, but some time volunteering at the THS kitten nursery made her decide that she would much rather work with animals.  

When not working, Sarah loves watching movies, reading, shopping, playing board games and going for brunch.  Her two kitties, Maximus Quintus Sparticus (aka Max) and Sophie, graciously allow her to share their space in Parkdale in exchange for a steady supply of food and love.

Registered Veterinary Technicians:

Jennifer
Jenn joins Queen West as a Registered Veterinary Technician and a graduate of the Veterinary Technician program at Seneca College. Jenn lives in Toronto on the Waterfront with her husband and two sons, their 2 Siamese cats and their Toy Poodle. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Kelly
Kelly is very excited about being a part of the Queen West team! Professionally, her interests include feline medicine, nutrition and dental health. In her spare time, she enjoys working with a variety of animal advocacy organizations and reading. Kelly one day hopes to have her own "retirement home" for abandoned senior cats (if she can stop adopting them in the meantime!). She shares her home with four interesting cats named Squishie, Smush, Squeak, Sammy and Billie.

Baris
Baris graduated as a veterinarian in Turkey and practiced for two years prior to moving to Vancouver, Canada. Baris now calls homebase Toronto and works as a veterinary technician at the clinic. Baris shares his home with his recently rescued kitten. In his spare time Baris likes to cycle around the city and sing.

Karissa
Karissa recently graduated as a veterinarian in Trinidad and Tobago and moved to Toronto soon after. She currently works as a veterinary technician at the Queen West Animal Hospital and hopes to finish her veterinarian licensing exams in the near future.  Karissa is interested in pursuing marine mammal medicine and would like to create a better boarding/adopting facility for stray dogs and cats in Trinidad.  She would also like to open a Tea Shop! Her hobbies include swimming, reading and hiking, and enjoys a good cup of tea. Karissa's pets, Patches and Kino are home in Trinidad and she misses them dearly.

Janine
Janine graduated from Seneca College in 2007.  She was lucky enough to participate in a project called “Vet Nurses In The Wild”, where she travelled to South Africa and worked with the wildlife and stray animals in less fortunate communities.  Along with her love for animals, she also loves travelling and dancing.  She has 5 beautiful furry children who love her very much.  She recently travelled to Australia and is looking forward to more adventures to come and her future with the Queen West Animal Hospital team!

Tara
After working in the east end of Toronto for the last 5 years, Tara traveled west, and is excited to be part of the Queen West Team. As a 2004 St. Lawrence College graduate, she holds a dual diploma in Health Sciences and Veterinary Technology.
When not working, she enjoys reading, writing, music, and studying Spanish as a second language. She travels often to Spanish speaking countries where she can put her language skills to test (she can be caught frequently speaking random Spanish in the hospital at any time, and to anyone – whether they understand her or not!!).
Her pet family includes two shih tzus – Murphy & Maya and a Siamese cat named Indigo.

Veterinary Assistants:

Trace
Trace brings his love of dogs and naughty cats to Queen West Animal Hospital after caring for the pooches at a doggie daycare. He enjoys video games, origami and learning new tricks for his snazzy bike. He especially enjoys napping and spending quality time with his main lady Chelyn and their furry family, Thisbe the yorkie, Chilli Willie the chihuahua and Peanut and Lucah, the cats.

Kari
Kari joined Queen West Animal Hospital after working at The Toronto Humane Society for year. She loves anything and everything animal related and hopes to pursue a degree in animal behaviour.

In her spare time Kari enjoys taking in foster animals and one day would like to run her own shelter for unwanted dogs (especially pit bulls!)

Kari Lives in the East End with her cats, Cricket and Herman, rabbit Sammy and dog Winston.

Chantal
Chantal joins Queens West Animal Hospital after working for 4 years at It's A Dog's Life (Dog Daycare and Training facility). She is taking a year off school to gain more valuable experience in the Veterinary field. Next Fall, she will return to the University of Guelph to finish her degree in Animal Biology, and is planning to go to the Ontario Veterinary College soon after. Chantal lives in Toronto with her family and her dog Tigger, a 2 year old Cockapoo. Her interests include dog behaviour, training, and animal nutrition. In her spare time she enjoys going to the park with Tigger and taking fun training courses with him. She also enjoys photography and spending time with family and friends.

Receptionists:

Alice
Alice joins the Queen West Animal Hospital after a magical adventure volunteering with orphaned baboons in South Africa. When not at Queen West she can be found exploring the city on her red bicycle, discussing the meaning of life with her four eccentric rescued cats, and painting and drawing.

Zoe
Zoe is thrilled to be putting smiles on the faces of the clients and pets at Queen West. In her spare time she nurtures her diverse obsessions of gruesome horror movies, crossword puzzles and anything penguin. She keeps herself busy with her love of sewing, eating waffles and caring for her three mischievous felines, Lemmy Kilmister, Lucille Bluth and Lewis Black, aka Meat Loaf (because he would "do anything for love").

Trevor
After working with two of his other passions - food and music - Trevor considers himself lucky to finally be working with animals as well. An amateur student of everything, Trevor is waiting until his mid-life crisis hits before he settles down and gets a degree in anything, so he can actually afford it. His main interests are food history, outsider art, and trying his level best to make sense of this incredibly big universe we live in.

Brooke
Brooke joins Queen West Animal Hospital after studying Music and History at Queen's University in Kingston Ontario. She lives with her partner Mark in their new home in Roncesvalles Village.. She is well on her way to becoming a crazy cat lady being the proud caregiver of cats, Twiggy, Warhol, Freya and Odin. Her spare time is spent on everything music-related, art, fitness and pursuing her masters in Communication and Culture.

Carly
Carly is delighted to join the team at Queen West. When not playing with puppies and answering phones, Carly is focusing on her acting career. She holds a BFA in Acting, and most recently spent three months in Halifax with Shakespeare by the Sea. She feels very lucky to enjoy her two favourite things, animals and theatre, on a regular basis!

Katie
Katie has returned to Ontario after spending 8 years on the west coast. She hails from a clinic with a behaviour specialty and, spending time between there and her other job with the BC SPCA, her passion for animal welfare sprang to life. Clicker training is of specific interest, as she even clicker trained shelter cats! At home Katie shares snuggles with her three rescue cats, Tiger Prawn, Caviar, and Lil' Miss Hopey, and her Sharpei cross Sandy, who she runs agility with.

Sara
Sara spent 5 years in the Television Industry before realising she would rather work with animals then camera cables!  She has two years of experience as a receptionist and Veterinary Assistant, and will begin alternative study courses this fall to become a Veterinary Technician.

In her spare time, Sara enjoys taking random road trips, hiking, camping, visiting conservation areas, photography, health and fitness, and hanging out in sunny places.

Sara lives in Milton with her boyfriend, Cameron, his two children, and their silly Boxer Sophie.

Genevieve
Genevieve, the waitress formerly known as "Frankie", served at Shanghai Cowgirl feeding the "hipsters" of Queen St. West.  Now she is enthusiastically helping the "hip" pets of the Queen West Animal Hospital. She likes horror movies, the early comedies of Eddie Murphy (no relation), doggies, and her three kitties Vincent-Price-Wolfgang-Frankenstein Murphy, Chainsaw-Massacre-Frankenstein Murphy and Secret Agent Jack Bauer.