Our Team

Dr. April Hahn

Dr. April Hahn grew up in the small town of Gananoque, Ontario.  As a second generation Veterinarian, April has learned a compassion not only for our 4 legged companions, but also a keen understanding for the deep relationship that they represent to their owners.  April, like her Father, is most genuinely thrilled when working on difficult problems or decisions, and using her skills to assist clients to a truly positive outcome

Shortly after graduating from the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph (2007), April travelled to New Zealand, Australia, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia for work, play and growth.  During this time she interacted with many different people with an equal amount of different approaches to medicine, work and life in general.  In practice today, April draws from her journey to offer her own unique brand of care that is kind, creative, respectful and fair.  

April and her husband Brent, plan on sharing their life passions for skiing, mountain biking, music, scuba diving, travel, and the outdoors, with their 2 children Oliver and Felix.  After moving to the Kootenays, in 2010, it was an easy decision to take up roots in this special little corner of B.C.

Dr. Christel Stanton

Christel grew up in Rossland, BC and always felt it was her home, even when attending schools as far away as St. Louis, Edmonton and Saskatoon. Following graduation from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008, Christel started work in mixed animal practice in Cranbrook, BC. Develping her skills as a veterinarian during this time, was a wonderful experience but the West Kootenays were calling her home.  She made the move to Castlegar in 2010 and was happy to be able to work and live, closer to family and friends. She started work in Nelson, in small animal practice, working mostly with dogs and cats but also developing a special interest in pocket pets such as rabbits, small rodents, guinea pigs, reptiles and some birds.  During her years in Nelson, Christel felt priviledged to experience and enrich so many relationships between people and their animal companions. 

In the last few years Christal has started a family and has two young children, Lane and Chasey that keep her very busy at home.   When not at work she loves getting outside and into the mountains.  Together she and her family can be found enjoying one of their favorite activities together.  Camping, quading, hiking, fishing, skidooing, snowshoeing, horseback riding, snowboarding and pretty much any other activity that takes them outside and into the mountains she grew up in!

In the years since graduation, Christel has found she enjoys the challenging cases in veterinary medicine, but has also discovered she derives great satisfaction in seeing the joy and comfort animals can bring to the owners.

Jennifer

Jenn still holds a special place in her heart for her Alberta roots, but since 1995 has called the West Kootenay area  home.  Jenn graduated from the Olds College Office Admin. Program in 1989 and worked at a Parole office.  However, since 1997 she discovered her love of the human animal bond and has had the opportunity to provide client service as a receptionist at West Kootenay Animal Hospital.  There is nothing that makes her more enthusiastic about her job than having a client leave with a smile.

As proud as she is of her important role at work, family is the centre of Jenn’s world and being voted “Best Mom” year after year by her son Josh feels pretty good!  With husband and best friend of 25+ years, Greg,  Jenn enjoys  camping, quadding, kayaking, travelling abroad and geo-caching (so far Australia ranks as the most distant destination for this).

Closer to home, baking, gardening, scrapbooking their travel memories, watching hockey or reading her  favorite author , Ann Rule,  are ways Jenn enjoys her “down time”.    And if you don’t find her doing those things, she’s probably cruising around in her 1967 Convertible Ford Fairlane.   Jenn and her family share their home with Princess Chloe, a very spoiled Chihuahua Mix!

Brenda

Brenda joined the team at West Kootenay Animal hospital in 2004. She loves to help people, so her role as receptionist is a natural fit.

Brenda has roots that branch deep and wide in the community of Fruitvale where she was raised, and where she has raised her own family with her husband Garth. Raising her three beautiful daughters and seeing them become compassionate people is what she is most proud of in life.

When not at work Brenda gives back to her community volunteering, or spending time with friends and family. She loves to relax camping or just enjoying time by the water. Having a grown daughter studying in Kelowna to visit also gives her a great opportunity to get her fix of city life occasionally.

Caitlin

Caitlin graduated from Olds College in 2013 and joined the team at West Kootenay Animal Hospital shortly afterward as a Registered Veterinary Technologist. She grew up in Krestova, and is very happy to be back in the Kootenays and near her family.

Caitlin is finding her position at West Kootenay Animal Hospital to be very rewarding. She loves being part of the process of helping animals return to health, and to be able to work in a place where puppy or kitten snuggles are part of the daily routine!

Family and friends are a top priority for Caitlin. This includes her cats Omar and Purdy, as well as the cat and three dogs she gets to see regularly at her parent’s home near-by. She enjoys being a scrap booker, golfer, baker, and cook, and loves any opportunity to joke and laugh.

Caitlin is very proud to have graduated with good grades from a demanding college program, and really values all the relationships in her life.

Cherie

Cherie grew up in Welland, Ontario and graduated from the Veterinary Technology program at the University of Guelph.  She has gained experience in her field by working in a variety of settings including humane societies, small animal practices and also an emergency clinic.  What Cherie loves most about her chosen profession, is watching the animals in her care recover from a major injury or illness and knowing she made a positive impact on that pet and owners life.  With a smile, Cherie admits that in her last position she was known as the cat or chihuahua "whisperer"!  While she is proud of her ability to work with anxious and nervous pets, she does not consider this out of the ordinary for a veterinary technician and says that some day she would love to pursue a veterinary technician specialty, in anesthesia.

 

While Cherie loves being a veterinary technician, she sometimes jokes that she should have been an astrophysicst or maybe a philosopher!  She loves asking the "big" questions, exploring new ideas and learning about a variety of topics.

 

Outside of work, Cherie recharges by spending time with her family; three cats, Milo, Noah & Buttons and her special buddy, Zero a Chihuahua/Pug mix.  Yoga and hiking are ways Cherie finds time to recharge.  She is thrilled to be living in BC together wih her partner Norm and faithful Zero.  She is looking forward to exploring the beautiful area she now calls home.

Amy

Amy grew up in Fruitvale and lived there her whole life until moving to Kelowna in 2013 to attend school. Amy graduated from Okanagan College in 2015 with a certificate in office administration. She worked in Kelowna, at the school district, following college graduation but the Kootenays where calling her home.  It was then that the opportunity to work as a Client Care Specialist at West Kootenay Animal Hospital came up and both Amy and the team are excited she made the move back home.

 

Amy has always had a passion for animals, especially cats. She grew up in a large family with 5 children so it was quite hectic, but they always had family pets. Amy currently has a kitten, Stella, and is very fond of her sisters dog, Charlie. Spring and summer are her favourite seasons to get out in the mountains to explore.  Whether it be a hike with friends or a weekend camping in the wilderness with her family, Amy loves the outdoors. She also enjoys reading and drawing in her spare time.  Family and friends are most important to Amy and she is very happy to be living back home close to her favourite niece, Lainey.

 

Working at West Kootenay Animal Hospital has been very rewarding, and she can't wait to see what the future holds. 

Dr. Emma Park

Emma was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. An active city nestled right beside mountains so I suppose it's no surprise she ended up living in Trail, BC. Growing up she was surrounded by animals of all sorts but guinea pigs, cats and dogs were the first to steal her heart. Her very first pet was a guinea pig aptly named "Scruffy" and is the creature where her love of animals started. A love and a passion which has followed her through an undergraduate degree in Animal Biology and her veterinary degree from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine which she graduated from in 2011. After graduation she spent her first few years in a small practice in Edmonton, AB.

Life changes, as it does, and an opportunity arose to move to Fruivale, BC and in July of 2015 Emma, her partner, 8 dogs, 2 cats and 2 guinea pigs found a new home tucked away in the mountains. Here she spends her free time with family and friends enjoying the beautiful outdoors. Hiking tops the list of favourite activites however, hockey, snow boarding, motorcycling, biking and camping definitely help pass the time. Emma loves the small town living and truly enjoys being part of such a wonderful community.

Emma does her best everyday to be the veterinarian to her patients that she would want for her own pets. She aims to deliver good, honest medicine, rich in compassion. She truly believes that animals enrich our lives in so many ways to be able to enich theirs in return is truly a gift.

Tara

Tara recently moved to the West Kootenays from the prairie’s in Southern Alberta. Growing up she has always been surrounded by animals and has spent her time volunteering at Humane societies; SPCA’s as well as working in the veterinary field. Working in veterinary medicine is very rewarding for her, she loves being hands-on in providing patients with the best standards of care. Her work in the veterinary industry has instilled the importance of ethical treatment of animals and public education. 

Tara’s passion for helping animals is what lead her to the West Kootenays. She recently graduated from an Environmental program and intends to combine her interests in animal welfare and wildlife conservation to peruse a career in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. Tara’s main focus is on the ethical treatment of our wildlife, she intends to give wildlife a voice through public education and rescue facilities.

The Kootenay’s have become Tara’s home and when she is not working she can often be found exploring the area. Hiking, camping, canoeing and running are some of her favourite activities but Tara also enjoys her quiet time snuggling up with her two cats.