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.

Veterinary Assistant

Heather Campbell

Born and raised in Kenora, Heather has been a team member since 2012. She finds great joy in improving the lives of both pets and their owners. If you don’t see Heather at eye level, it may be because she is on the floor saying hello to a furry friend. She has grown in her skill set at the clinic which has included anesthetic monitoring of patients & running lab diagnostics. Outside of the clinic, Heather can be found exploring the outdoors with her loyal companion Wylie, whether that be hiking, fishing, blueberry picking or camping to name a few. She is a skilled writer, her main focus being that of poetry. Heather loves spending time with her foster fail Cleo.

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

Originally from a small town in Southern Manitoba, Bre started with us in September 2022 and quickly fell in love with the veterinary field. Bre is currently enrolled in the Registered Veterinary Technologist program offered by Thompson Rivers University. She finds great joy in improving the lives of pets as well as their owners. Outside of work you can find Bre spending time with her kiddos and family, going on hikes with Tebo and Jax, cuddling with her three legged kitty stormi and caring for her foster fail Cheerio.

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.