Centretown Veterinary Hospital

Our Staff

Elyse - Hospital Manager and Veterinary Technician

Elyse is from a small town about an hour outside of Ottawa. It was when she was seven, with the arrival of her first cat Clovis that it dawned on her she should work with animals. After much researching into the field, she finally decided to follow her dreams and become a Veterinary Technician.  She graduated in June 2005.

Her favorite aspects of being in such a loving career are providing the best care possible for each and every patient that comes to our hospital.   She also has a great interest in dental care of animals, radiology, and surgery.

Some of her interests outside of work are spending time with her family consisting of her two cats, Boo and Clover, and her new puppy Ayden.  As well as being outdoors at any time.

Effie - Veterinary Assistant (and soon to be Veterinary Technician!)

Effie grew up in the Lanark Highlands just north of Ottawa and has always had a genuine interest in animals although her life has taken many twists and turns to getting to a carrier in Animal Health. She originally trained as a Museum curator but realized that the stuffed and mounted kind of animals weren’t nearly as much fun and the real thing. She then trained as a Veterinary Assistant at Algonquin College. She has worked in Veterinary Medicine now for three years and finds it much less stuffy.

In the real world Effie lives with her husband and four year old son and their Dacshund Doug the dog.

Adele - All Round Superstar

Adele grew up on a farm surrounded by lots of animals such as the usual cats and dogs and the more unusual birds, goats, turtles and degus (to name a few), so working at a veterinary hospital is no stretch! She now shares her life with two budgies named Sunny Bird and Stubby and a husband who is quite allergic to cats. She loves to travel and explore the great outdoors and squeal at wildlife sightings, even if it’s just another squirrel.

She is also really into pet nutrition and the importance of our furry friends maintaining a healthy weight. She runs the “Chub Chub” program here and will always give you helpful tips on how to get your pet to lose weight and feel better. She’s very attentive to our patients’ well-being and comfort and providing that extra little bit of TLC. Our patients respond well to her calm and gentle ways.

Emily - Receptionist

Emily is originally from Ottawa ( Ottawa produces a lot of Emilys!), and although her name may be easily confused with Dr.Black’s, she herself can’t be- She is one of the best receptionists we’ve got. After graduating from Canterbury High School with awards in pottery and visual art, and obtaining her B.A. in English Literature from Carleton University , she was drawn to working with animals. You would think she’d have had enough of them at home, with three cats, two step-dogs, and a feisty parrotlet, but she decided to put her people skills and love for animals to use. She has been working as a veterinary receptionist for three years and we were lucky to have her join our team in 2009!

Outside of work, Emily still holds a love of the arts and continues painting and drawing. She lives with siamese rescue kitties, Dante and Byron, and her little green monster bird, Dao.  

Amy - Front Office Manager

Amy was born and raised in Ottawa (I know! Who knew there were this many people in Ottawa 20 years ago!) She has always had buckets of love for our furry little friends as well as the people who own them. She graduated from the Algonquin College Veterinary Technician Program in 2004 and has worked in Ottawa ever since. She comes to us from Pretoria Pet Hospital where her management talent was recognized and recommended! We have not been disappointed! She is a self-confessed lover of inventory (making sure we have what we need!) and keeps a calm head in tight situations and is always kind! Her true passion is for her two black labs Bo and CC (often under the desk with her at reception!)

Jen - Veterinary Technician

Jen is a registered Veterinary Technician who completed her diploma in 2002 in her home province of Saskatchewan. While still a dedicated prairie girl at heart, she has spent the last few years travelling and living in New Zealand, Indonesia and Ottawa.

Jen is always up to a challenge wherever she goes. In Canada, she spent time working in a 24 hour Intensive care unit. While abroad, she got a chance to work at a small animal clinic in Christchurch New Zealand and did her part to help feral cats by volunteering at a spay and neuter program on an island near Jakarta, Indonesia. Her special talents include dentistry and anesthesia.

Jen is enjoying being back in Ottawa after a few years abroad, and though she does not love the winter, she does love being part of the Centretown family. She has two strange but lovely cats (Diesel and Rooster). When not helping patients at work, Jen enjoys Scuba diving and plying the piano for her husband and feline audience at home.

Jessie - Veterinary Assistant

Jessie grew up in Ottawa. She obtained her Veterinary Assistant Diploma from Algonquin College. Receiving her first cat at the tender age of two she really hasn’t known life without some sort of animal, ranging from snakes and frogs to guinea pigs and hedgehogs. Her first job was with both Dr. Black and Dr. Boileau back in the day and we just couldn’t do without her. She thoroughly enjoys the surgical side of veterinary medicine and has a keen interest in animal behavior, lapping up every talk or symposium offered on the subject. She is the proud owner of K-Do the 9 year old Pittbull and Drigger the handsome ginger cat who she adopted from Centretown.

Fiona - Receptionist

Hailing from a small town outside Toronto, Fiona came to Ottawa in 2003 to attend Carleton University. After her BA in Human Rights, Political Science, and Women’s Studies, a minor fling with graduate studies, and a smattering of service and retail jobs, in 2011 she found a cozy spot at Centretown Vet Hospital’s front desk. Fiona’s love of animals (especially cats) drew her to the position, but it’s the amazing staff and wonderful clients she works with every day that have kept her here (not to mention all the neat stuff she’s been learning along the way).

When she’s not at the clinic, Fiona serves coffee at her favourite café in Chinatown, and finds time for all those other things that keep her happy: reading, cooking, crafting, watching movies and hanging out with her partner and their three cats—Floyd, Kitten, and Ella.