
Our Story
Tsolum Veterinary Hospital was founded to meet the growing needs of the pet-owning community in Merville, BC. The original practice, established to care for local farm animals, recognized the increasing importance of companion pets in the lives of families. Over time, the practice evolved, and today, Tsolum Veterinary Hospital is dedicated exclusively to the health and well-being of domestic pets.
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In 2024, Nicole Garneau became the proud owner of Tsolum Veterinary Hospital, continuing the legacy of compassionate care and commitment to the community. With a focus on providing exceptional veterinary services, Nicole and her team are proud to support the pets and families of the Comox Valley and Campbell River, building lasting relationships and ensuring the best possible care for your furry companions.
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As we grow, we remain passionate about providing top-quality care and look forward to many more years of serving our wonderful community.

Our Team

Nicole - Practice Owner
Registered Veterinary Technologist
Nicole is our Practice Owner and lead Registered Veterinary Technologist who comes with years of experience and deep connections to the Comox Valley community. Nicole is passionate about creating positive experiences for your dogs and cats and making the vet clinic a safe and positive space for them. Beyond her role in the veterinary field, Nicole is a proud mom of two teenage boys and shares her love for the outdoors with her partner, Chris, In her spare time you can find Nicole enjoying the sun with her pets, or surfing the waves on her paddleboard.
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​For the past 12 years, she has been an active member of the Canadian Animal Assistance Team (CAAT), a role she cherishes. Nicole loves volunteering for the organization, contributing her skills and time to support animals in need. We are also very proud of Nicole for her ongoing participation in the Tour de Rock, raising money for children with cancer.

Dr Olivia
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dr Olivia was born and raised in the lower mainland and has always had a deep passion for animals.
After high school, uncertain about her career direction, she spent time working on various beef cattle ranches in northern BC. It was there that she decided to pursue a career in Veterinary Medicine.
Olivia completed her prerequisite courses at the University of Victoria before earning her veterinary degree from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon.
Following graduation, she practiced mixed animal medicine in rural Saskatchewan. Two years ago, Olivia and her husband moved to the Comox Valley, where she now focuses primarily on caring for cats and dogs.
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In her free time, Olivia enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and their dog, whether it’s walking, hiking, kayaking, or camping.

Dr Barry
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Barry has called the Island home since graduating from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2002. With a background in Zoology and Marine Biology, as well as seven years of research in animal welfare and behaviour, he has published numerous articles on topics ranging from fish diseases to farm animal behaviour. His research on sibling competition in pigs—yes, pigs—remains a fascinating part of his career, though these days, he’s much more focused on small animal medicine.
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Over the past 22 years, Dr. Barry has worked in small animal care, lab animal research, and fish medicine. In recent years, he has transitioned into small animal surgery and medicine full-time and is excited to be working with the Tsolum team.
Dr. Barry brings a wealth of knowledge, a bit of dry humour, and a real passion for animals of all kinds to our practice.

Dr Caitlin
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Caitlin joined the Tsolum Veterinary Hospital team after relocating to beautiful Vancouver Island from Vancouver.
Originally from North Delta, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of the Fraser Valley before completing her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2020.
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Caitlin is passionate about all things feline and proudly embraces her “crazy cat lady” status. She shares her home with two beloved cats, Roman and Rosie.
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With a deep love for animals and science from an early age, veterinary medicine has always been Caitlin’s dream career. She brings a warm, compassionate approach to her work and is excited to be part of the Tsolum community.
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Outside the clinic, Caitlin is an avid traveller and enjoys kayaking, contemporary dance, and unwinding with wonderfully bad reality TV. She's thrilled to now call Vancouver Island home and to be surrounded by the mountains and ocean once again.
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Jo
Office Manager
Prior to moving from the UK to Canada with her family in 2001, Jo was previously a paralegal and then an export manager. Once in the Comox Valley she decided to follow her interests and love of animals, and has worked in the veterinary field for over 18 years. Jo helps deal with our day to day administration, anything computer-related that breaks and other behind the scenes jobs that keep the clinic running. She also loves getting to know our clients and patients as a part of our Reception team.
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​Outside of work, she enjoys hiking with her two dogs, Matt – her very smoochy German Shepherd, and Poppet, a little pitbull mix. She also loves riding her horses out on local trails, keeping fit with spin classes, and cooking up a storm and entertaining at home.

Cheyenne
Registered Veterinary Technologist
Cheyenne brings a global perspective to our team since relocating from France to Canada in 2011. Fluent in both French and English, she graduated from TRU’s Vet Tech program in December 2023 and is on her way to becoming a registered professional.
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With a decade of veterinary experience in local vet hospitals, and a Fear Free Certification, Cheyenne specializes in feline care and is also a Certified Reiki Practitioner.
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​At home, Cheyenne shares her life with two chihuahuas, Leafie and Rin, and her main companion, FoyFoy, who has a great repertoire of tricks! When not studying, she enjoys expressing her creativity through various artistic pursuits and unwinding with video games. Cheyenne’s dedication to animal welfare, coupled with her holistic approach to healing, makes her a valued member of our team.

Trina
Receptionist
Trina has been with us at Tsolum since October 2022. Trina brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our Reception team since joining us in October 2023. Trina serves as a dedicated 4H Leader, specializing in both Beef and Dairy cattle. Beyond her role here, Trina nurtures her own thriving hobby farm, where she tends to a diverse array of animals, including cows, chickens, dogs, cats, and rabbits.
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Her understanding of cattle and livestock management isn’t just a personal interest; it’s a valuable asset that directly benefits our farming clients. Whether they’re seeking guidance for farm appointments or ordering essential medication and products, Trina’s knowledge ensures that our clients receive support tailored to their unique needs.
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​Trina is also a mom to 6 kids, so she’s always busy! And she takes care of us too!

Jan
Receptionist
Jan joined Tsolum Veterinary Hospital in 2024 after nearly 20 years in the veterinary industry in the Comox Valley.
With her wealth of experience and compassionate nature, she is dedicated to providing excellent care and a welcoming environment for pets and their owners.
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Outside of work, Jan stays busy with her large and loving family—she has four grown children and is a proud grandma to 14 grandchildren! When she’s not spending time with them, she enjoys travelling, boating on the ocean, gold panning and tackling home renovation projects.
Jan has two dogs, Penny and Dexter, and three cats, Reggie, Paddie and Henry. Penny is a very energetic Boxer/Ridgeback cross, and Dexter is a Chihuahua/Papillon cross, both of whom keep her on her toes.
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Jan looks forward to meeting you and your furry companions and will no doubt have an appropriate song depending on your pet's name!
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Suzanne
Receptionist
Suzanne has been an integral part of the Tsolum team for over 15 years, starting with the large animal clinic before transitioning to the small animal practice. Throughout her time here, she’s developed a deep appreciation for the care and compassion our team shows to both our pet clients and their owners.
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Outside of her role at Tsolum, Suzanne’s family owns a dairy farm in Courtenay, and she enjoys spending time with her two dogs— a 12-year-old Jack Russell Terrier and a 3-year-old Blue Heeler.
In her free time, Suzanne loves reading, cooking, and cherishing moments with her four grandchildren.
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After previously serving as our full-time office manager, Suzanne has returned to our team as part of our reception team, where she continues to offer her experience and knowledge to assist our valued customers. Her welcoming presence and expertise make her a key part of our clinic family.

Ashley
Veterinay Assistant
Ashley joined us in July 2022 and is currently pursuing her second year of studies to become a Veterinary Technician through Thompson Rivers University.
Ashley is Fear Free certified. This certification is to assist pets coming in for appointments, to help reduce fear, anxiety, and stress. Until recently, Ashley also worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in the Comox Valley. She thrives on the variety and challenges that each day brings, whether it was at the human hospital or the animal hospital! Ashley assists with treatment plans, diagnostics in our in-house lab, and with patient appointments. Her ability to manage her academic and professional time speaks volumes about her organizational skills.
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On top of all that, Ashley is mom to a very active, beautiful young son – we don’t know where she gets her energy! She shares her space with her companions Pepper, her mini poodle, and two affectionate cats named Bella and Cato.

Mikyla
Veterinary Assistant
Mikyla has been a valued member of our team since 2022 when she joined us to work after school and on Saturdays. She is currently working towards her dream of a career in veterinary medicine, studying online pre-vet courses through Thompson Rivers University.
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Mikyla works with us to help keep everything running smoothly. There are lots of behind the scenes tasks that our assistants juggle to keep us on track, such as housekeeping, feeding patients, etc. Mikyla also helps out as part of our Reception team.
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At home, she shares her life with an array of animals, including her eventing partner Spyderman, three dwarf goats, two cats, and two dogs.
Alongside her studies and work, Mikyla prioritizes her health with regular gym sessions and enjoys unwinding at weekend bingo events with her family. Her dedication to animals, personal growth, and community makes her an invaluable asset to our team.

Leanne
Veterinary Assistant
Leanne recently relocated from the Lower Mainland in May 2024 with her partner Jordan, bringing with her a wealth of experience and passion for animal care.
Prior to transitioning into veterinary medicine, she spent 12 years working at a dog daycare, boarding, and grooming facility, where she honed her skills in animal care and developed a deep understanding of the unique needs of pets.
At home, Leanne is equally dedicated to her own animals. She owns three dogs—a Chihuahua named Chewy, and two large German Shepherd mixes named Kevin and Kora. She recently rescued a young horse from auction, which has become a significant focus of her time and attention.
Whether at work or at home, Leanne is always engaged in something that involves animals. Another way she spends her spare time, is working on the fixer upper property that her and Jordan recently purchased!

Ella
Student Assistant
Ella is the newest addition to our Tsolum team.
With a wealth of experience in caring for both large and small animals, Ella is perfectly suited for our practice. Her daily farm chores, which include tending to pigs, goats, sheep, cows, and rabbits, have honed her animal care skills. Along with mucking stalls, feeding, she also assists with tasks such as vaccinating and hoof trimming.
Beyond her farm duties, Ella shares her home with dogs and cats, further enriching her understanding and compassion for animals of all shapes and sizes.
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When not helping out on the family farm, Ella spends her time riding her two horses, a Quarter Horse called Pilot, and a Quarter Horse/Appaloosa called Remmy.
We’re excited to welcome Ella – her hands-on experience and passion for animal care make her an invaluable asset to our team and to the well-being of our patients. Her great work ethic and her big smile make her a great team-mate.

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Are you our next team member?
Would you like to be the next member of our fun, focused and energetic Team? Check out our Careers page for more info.