Meet our Team

DVM, President & CEO, Co-Owner

Dr. Celine Ward

Dr. Celine Ward, originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, was lucky enough to spend summers on Lake of the Woods. After graduating from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan in 2017, she practiced emergency medicine in Winnipeg for 2 years before moving to Kenora in 2019. In 2020, she purchased the Kenora Veterinary Clinic, and has since grown its team by more than 50%. Dr. Ward is also certified in acupuncture and laser therapy, having trained under Dr. Narda Robinson at CuraCORE. Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Ward is deeply committed to community involvement and the wellbeing of her team. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her loved ones, particularly on the lake.

DVM, Medical Director, Co-Owner

Dr. Jacqueline Harrison

Co-Owner Dr. Harrison moved from the Yukon to Kenora in 2018. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Victoria, and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2018. Dr. Harrison has a keen interest in internal medicine and orthopaedics. She loves spending time with her husband, dog and cat, whether it’s going to the beach or eating good food and watching a scary movie.

DVM

Dr. Melitza Soley

Dr Soley grew up in Dryden, Ontario. She graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2016 and moved back to North Western Ontario. Her interests include dermatology, dentistry, and soft tissue surgery. She has a soft spot for “grey snout” patient care (aka, senior dogs and cats). 

Outside of work Dr Soley enjoys hiking, canoeing, travelling, and spending time with her cat, Oswald 

Associate Veterinarian, BVetSci, MSc

Dr. Cristina Prade Ramos

Hailing from her hometown in Brazil, Dr. Ramos completed her internship at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Now obtaining her license to practice in Kenora, Ontario, in accordance with the College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO) Her most cherished aspects of practicing medicine are feline care, emergency response, shelter medicine, and community outreach. When she's not at the clinic, you'll often find Dr. Ramos immersed in DIY projects, enjoying quality time with her beloved feline companions Mercedes and Grey Joy, as well as her faithful dog Sydney. She also relishes moments spent outdoors and, whenever possible, embarking on globe-trotting adventures. We eagerly await the unfolding of this exciting new phase in her career.

DVM

Dr. Celia Christensen

Dr. Christensen purchased the Kenora Veterinary Clinic from Dr. Smith 30 years ago. Today, she has let go of the reins and enjoys keeping in touch with her regular clients, whom she has built lasting relationships with over many years. Dr. Christensen is also trained in acupuncture and Eastern Medicine, helping all of our pets feel better faster.

Office Manager, Veterinary Assistant

Samara Thome

Sam grew up in Kenora and had a love of animals since a very young age. She started at the Kenora Veterinary Clinic as a Co-Op student in high school and fell in love with the veterinary world. Sam went on to study at Sheridan college and received her Veterinary Assistant Certificate, and moved home to Kenora to be closer to family. Sam has worked at the Kenora Veterinary Clinic since 2016. In her spare time, Sam can be found spending time with her family and going on hikes with friends. She fostered a three-legged dog named Archie for a weekend in 2021 and instantly fell in love with him. He has been her faithful hiking companion ever since.

Director of Marketing & Business

Kim Slezak

Kim is a mom of two handsome sweet boys. When she isn’t at the clinic she spends most of her time taking her son to all his activities and spending time in all the trails around Kenora. Kim’s main hobbies include painting pet portraits and animals with watercolour.

Her stunning art is displayed all over the clinic.

Registered Veterinary Technician

Sia Charalambidis

Sia is a born and raised Kenora girl who has been part of the team at the Kenora Veterinary Clinic since 2006. She has a special interest in animal rehab and radiology. During her time off, Sia can be found riding her horse or tossing a fishing line somewhere. All of Sia’s fur kids are her pride and joy.

REGISTERED VETERINARY TECHNICIAN

Reagan Johnston

Reagan has a strong passion for emergency medicine, and rehabilitation. She is specializing in orthopaedic surgeries, with a particular focus on advanced procedures like TPLO surgeries and fracture repairs.

As a member of the board for the Kenora Cat Shelter, Reagan is deeply involved in supporting animal rescue and welfare efforts within her community.

Reagan enjoys hiking, camping, and live music. Her rescue dog, Stella, is her loyal companion on many of these adventures. Reagan also shares her home with three rescue cats: Yibby, Shinji, and Pepsi, who bring extra joy to her life.

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Veterinary Assistant

Christine Dutka

Born and raised in Beausejour, MB, Christine spent 7 years as a veterinary assistant at the Beausejour Animal Hospital, then moved to Nestor Falls ON in 2000 where she and her husband owned and operated Larsson’s camp. In 2011, Christine and her family relocated to Kenora and Christine has worked at the Kenora Veterinary Clinic ever since. Every day, Christine strives to provide caring, professional service to our clients. One of Christine’s favourite pastimes is baking, and she enjoys sharing her goodies with family and co-workers. Christine is mom to four human children and two fur babies – bulldog Rio and her cat Zip.

Veterinary Assistant

Paula Walls

Paula has been a part of the team for almost 36 years and continues to ensure things are running behind the scenes. In her spare time, Paula loves spending time with her son, extended family and 2 adorable granddaughters. Paula enjoys fishing, playing pool, and is a skilled scrapbooker.

Veterinary Assistant

Breanne Poirier

Bre is deeply passionate for emergency medicine, ultrasonography, animal rehabilitation & monitoring surgeries. She is currently enrolled at Thompson Rivers University (TRU), where she is pursuing her Registered Veterinary Technologist (RVT) diploma. Bre has a special interest in rehabilitating sick and injured feline and canine patients, often welcoming them into her home to provide additional care and support throughout their healing. Outside of her professional pursuits, Bre enjoys hiking, camping, and spending time on the lake. A devoted mother and pet owner, she shares her life with her dog, Jax, and her three foster fails—Stormi, Cheerio, and Sushi.

Veterinary Assistant

Erica Johnson

Erica is a dedicated breeder of Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers and an experienced dog show handler. As the president of the Kenora District Dog Club, she is passionate about building a strong canine community. She will soon be enrolling at Thompson Rivers University to advance her career in Veterinary Medicine as a Registered Veterinary Technician. Beyond her work with animals, Erica is a devoted mother, a supportive hockey mom, and an active player herself.

Veterinary Assistant

Jade Lucky

As a compassionate veterinary assistant, she brings a deep love for animals and a dedication to patient care. Jade is eager to grow in the field, aiming to become a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT).

At home, she’s a proud pet mom to Hermione the corgi, Taggie the rescue lab, and two rescue cats, Suki and Kuro. She enjoys outdoor adventures, reading, and spending time with her partner.

Jade also volunteers at the Kenora Cat Shelter, showing her commitment to animal welfare.

Veterinary Assistant

Hayley Davis

Hayley started with us as a co-op student, and she liked it so much that she has decided to join the veterinary profession officially. She is driven to become a Registered Veterinary Technician due to her keen interest in animals, diagnostics, and her life experiences assisting with natural puppy births, dog handling at dog shows, working with horses, etc. Outside of work you can find Hayley exploring the outdoors, watching crime shows or documentaries, snuggled up with a good book, or spending time with her family and their newest addition, Lenny (pictured!)

Veterinary Assistant

Selena Tod

In 2021, Selena began her journey as a co-op student, a role she found so fulfilling that she continued working part-time throughout her last year of high school. After high school, Selena decided to take a year off and dedicated that time to working full-time at the Kenora Veterinary Clinic. Now, she is studying at the University of Guelph, pursuing an undergraduate degree in One Health to become a veterinarian. During the holidays, Selena comes home and returns to work at the clinic. In her leisure time, she enjoys wake surfing, playing video games, and spending time with her cat, dog, family, and friends.