Meet the Team
Meet the Team
Veterinarians
Dr. Hailey Bertrand
DVM, Practice Owner
Hello! My name is Dr. Hailey Bertrand and I am very excited to be the Veterinarian and Owner of Parkside Animal Hospital. Being able to provide the kind of veterinary medicine that we strive for at Parkside has been a lifelong goal for me. It all started with my childhood cat, Linus, who lovingly tolerated being endlessly fussed over, dressed up, and toted around and has progressed throughout my life. I was thrilled to get into the Ontario Veterinary College after two years of science at the University of Guelph and graduated as a Veterinarian in 2008.
I can often be found at the barn with my horses, Abbott (an Oldenburg gelding who is a snuggle bug and a challenging partner) and Murphy (a Trakehner gelding who is a 10 on the hot/crazy scale) or with my whippets Johnny and Andie and pocket bully Lilah. At home most off my time is spent playing veterinarian to my daughter Briar's millions of stuffies, who seem very accident prone, or creating lists of things to do for my husband Chris. The best part of my job is the people and pets I have the pleasure of interacting with. My special interests are dermatology (especially allergies), internal medicine, reproduction, laparoscopic surgery and endoscopy.
Dr. Nicole Holden
DVM
Hi! My name is Dr. Nicole Holden and I am so excited to be a Veterinarian on the Parkside Animal Hospital Team!
Originally growing up in North Bay, I was always split between my two passions, animals and dance. After 2 years of university in Toronto studying Dance, my life did a 180 and found me studying Veterinary Medicine at Massey University in New Zealand (I guess the animals won!). I spent six years in New Zealand pursuing my dream of becoming a veterinarian (while traveling the world!). When I graduated as a Veterinarian in 2012, I couldn’t wait to move back to my hometown and get started. I share my house with the adorable Sophie (an elderly shih tzu) and Larry – my ginger, belly-rub loving cat.
Being able to provide medical care to animals in my hometown, and being a part of such a compassionate and caring team has always been my career goal. I look forward to meeting you!
Dr. Julie Hansford
DVM
Hello there! My name is Dr. Julie Hansford and I am beyond thrilled to be one of the veterinarians a part of the Parkside family. Born and raised in North Bay, at the ripe age of four I asked my mother if it would be okay if I spent most of my time with animals. Her response was "why don't you become a vet" - and the rest was history!
My love of animals and the outdoors lead me to obtained a Bachelor's of Science in Zoology at the University of Guelph, in which after completion I walked across the street to the Ontario Veterinary College for my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. The next four years solidified my passion for companion animal medicine and surgery, and upon graduation in 2020 I found myself exactly where I hoped I would be - providing compassion and care to the beloved pets of my hometown!
Outside the clinic you can find me hiking and canoeing with my northern mutt, Ernie, or cuddled up with a book and my tabby cat Morty. I have maintained my outlook since childhood that pets are first and foremost family, and that is exactly how I plan to treat yours. Looking forward to meeting you and your furry companions soon!
Dr. Kelly St. Denis
MSc, DVM, DABVP (feline practice)
Hello! My name is Dr. Kelly St. Denis and I am one of six Canadian board certified feline medicine specialists, board certified with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in the specialty of feline practice. While I have been living in Southern Ontario for many years, North Bay is my hometown. I recently relocated to the area and have been delighted to be back.
In my early years of post secondary education I earned degrees in molecular biology and immunology. I spent a number of years in Toronto working in the field of cancer research after which I turned my attention back to my childhood passion, veterinary medicine. I graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1999. From 2007 to 2020 I owned and operated the Charing Cross Cat Clinic in Brantford, Ontario, a veterinary clinic exclusively for cats. Since earning my board certification in feline practice in 2013, I have expanded my activities, and am now an online consultant, an author, an editor, and an international lecturer on all things feline. I spend a good part of my time sharing my knowledge about cats with other veterinarians and veterinary teams.
In my spare time I enjoy outdoor activities such as snowshoeing in the winter and back country canoe camping in Algonquin Park in summer. All good reasons to move back to the Bay area, in addition to being close to my sister and her family, who live here too. I have 2 grown children, who are currently in school, finding their passions in life. My partner Dale and I live with 3 cats: Nala, Mary and Bean Sprout.
I am very excited to be working with the team at Parkside Animal Hospital. They are an amazing group, and the hospital is a Cat Friendly Certified Practice, all of which goes a long way to making a cat’s veterinary visit a positive, engaging experience. There’s a room here just for cats, and that is where you’ll find me! I look forward to meeting you and your feline friends in the years to come!
Registered Veterinary Technicians
Ali Black
RVT
Shannon Brydge
RVT
Hello! My name is Shannon Brydge and this is my Doberman Spencer.
I am a Registered Veterinary Technician.
I graduated from St. Clair College in 2016 and immediately gained my OAVT registration status. After spending a few years working in Southern Ontario I decided it was time to come back to my hometown roots of North Bay.
Outside of the veterinary world I am a professional bodybuilder, which helps to naturally encourage my love of animal health and nutrition. I spend an abundance of time doing continuing education and furthering my knowledge to best serve my patients and team!
At home I also have a fluffy white kitty named Kevin, who does live up to his name in the mischief department.
I can’t wait to share my passion for education and advocacy for your furry loved ones!
Megan Rainbow
RVT
Hello! My name is Megan and this is my Boston Terrier mix, Fiona. I am thrilled to be one of the Registered Veterinary Technicians at Parkside Animal Hospital.
I originally went to school for Kinesiology at Ontario Tech University where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Health Science. Upon graduation, I gained valuable experience in the human rehabilitation world, but soon realized my true passion lay elsewhere. I made the decision to change career paths and pursue my dream of working with animals. I graduated from Northern College from the Veterinary Technician program in 2021 and was fortunate enough to land a position with the Parkside Team after completing my placement.
Outside of work, you can often find me either engrossed in a good book accompanied by my two cats, Goose and Samson, or spending time outdoors with Fiona.
I am excited to be a part of such a compassionate, educated and dedicated team. Looking forward to meeting you and your furry companions!
Alex Stitt
RVT
Carine Neault , RVT
Hey there! I'm Carine and I couldn't be more excited to be apart of the Parkside family. I knew from the moment I stepped into Parkside animal hospital that this was going to be the place where I want to spend my career working. I started my new career path in 2021 at Northern College in the veterinary assistant program. From there, I continued my education to become a veterinary technician. Three years later from the start of this journey, I am now proud to say I have graduated from the veterinary technician program, and I am so excited to be able to finally care for all the wonderful pets coming through the doors. I have a special interest in surgery, and anything dog related.
Outside of work, I love to snuggle with our spunky but sweet cat, named Wink or you'll find me tending to my indoor tropical plants and outdoor gardens. My family and I love camping, going fishing, and spending as much time as we can at the cottage. I look forward to meeting all of you and your furry companions
Client Care Specialists
Samantha Vardy
Hey there! My name is Samantha, and I am part of the client care specialist team at Parkside Animal Hospital. I have been with Parkside since the doors opened March of 2014 and have enjoyed every minute of it. My first pet, when I was 11 months old, was a white cat named Snowball. He seemed to follow me everywhere, but maybe it was the other way around! Since then, I have had almost every kind of pet, from newts to turtles, degus to rabbits to hedgehogs, birds, and of course cats and dogs.
When I am not at the office, you can find me enjoying the outdoors with my husband Justin, our son Malcolm and our Dachshund named Redd!
I am very proud to say that I am one of the team members of Parkside Animal Hospital and I look forward to having the opportunity to meet you and your fur babies!!
Allie Smith
Hi, my name is Allie and I am one of the Veterinary Assistants at Parkside! You can find me around the clinic doing everything from answering phones to assisting in surgery.
My love for animals started at a young age with my first pet, a cat named Tango! A cat wasn’t enough to satisfy my passion and after years of begging I was finally gifted my first pony, Valley! From then my life has been fully devoted to our 4 legged friends, big or small!
When I’m not at the clinic I am probably exploring in the woods with my senior dog Wesson or working towards our agility and obedience goals with my puppy Bronco. When I’m ready to slow things down I enjoying curling up at home watching true crime documentary’s with my cats Sushi and Clark. I can’t wait to meet you and your furry companions!
Alisen Morissette
Hey there! This is me, Alisen Morissette, also known around the clinic as “The Dog Whisperer”. I am the face that meets your fur babies at the door and gives them constant snuggles throughout the whole appointment. What my days look like are pretty fun, other than the amount of animal excrement I clean up... that part not so fun.
Since a young age, I have always had a passion and love for animals. I’d say it first started when I use to run outside after a downpour and collet slugs and keep them as “pets”. I also have always been the one in my family to take home stray dogs and cats to help find their way back home.
In the future, I plan to attend college, to become an RVT, but in the meantime, I have been given an opportunity to work with an amazing team and meet all of our lovely clients and patients!
Christopher Sluman
Hello! My name is Chris, better known as “Dr. Bertrand’s Husband”. I can often be found around the clinic doing renovations or fixing anything that needs repairs. I have also been known to help Hailey and the team on weekends and evenings with emergencies. My training began pretty shortly after our first date lol. I have also had the pleasure of answering the phone when absolutely needed (when the rest of the team is needed for patient emergencies) and am so very thankful that everyone goes easy on me.
Being able to help the patients and assist the ladies at Parkside has been a wonderful addition to my life and very different from my day job of farrier. Having been a professional horseback rider (yes, that is where I met my wife), caring for animals, albeit bigger ones, has always been something I have been deeply immersed in and very much enjoy.
Tanya Sinclair
Melanie Pigeau
Hey! I’m Melanie and these are my Dobermans; Rya and Beau. I am very happy to be one of the Client Care Specialists at Parkside Animal Hospital. I have worked in the veterinary industry for 25 years and taking care of clients and their pets is incredibly rewarding. I also wear many hats! I am a Sipologist with Sipology and drive around in the early mornings doing lawn birthday displays of plastic animals. I also volunteer for the Lions Club and annually chair the Walk for Dog Guides.
I love anything Disney. My favourite holiday is Halloween and all things themed - every occasion must be an excuse for dressing up or decorating!!! My husband Troy and I enjoy our busy life together with our dobes and getting away to the camp when we can.
Vicky Gorecki
Hello there! My name is Vicky, and in the photo with me is my beloved Roxy. I'm incredibly grateful to be a part of the Parkside team as a Client Care Specialist. I grew up here in North Bay and am a proud graduate of Nipissing University, where I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in 2017. Animals have always held a special place in my heart, so you can imagine my joy when my partner Cory and I moved to our dream farm a few years ago. Our property has become a haven for a diverse array of creatures. Currently, we share our home with three dogs—Roxy, Millie, and Shyloh—along with our cat, Meowvin, our horse, Teddy, and a lively group of pot-bellied pigs named Hammy, Minnie, Bruno, Delilah, and Toby. We also have a tortoise named Abe, a fish tank, and a coop filled with various birds, including chickens, ducks, and one particularly entertaining turkey named Burt Reynolds. When I'm not busy delighting in the existence of our animal companions, you can often find me enjoying my favorite outdoor activities, such as horseback riding, biking, gardening, or simply soaking up the beauty of nature. I'm truly excited to reconnect with familiar faces and to have the opportunity to get to know you and your loved ones better. Feel free to reach out—I'm here to assist you and your pets in any way I can!
Adria Lingley
Hi there! My name is Adria Lingley and I joined the Parkside team in January 2024 as a Client Care Specialist. My pet obsession started at the age of 0 when I was lucky enough to grow up surrounded by dogs, cats and horses on a small hobby farm in Powassan. Before working professionally with animals, I was a die-hard dog person until I met a cat named Handsome that made me realize I’m more of a crazy cat lady! The cat-distribution system then brought me Mangoroo; a previously feral momma barncat, who decided the street life was no longer for her and I have been owned by her ever since. My love of animals encouraged me to join the pet care industry at the age of 16 when I started working in pet grooming, obedience and physical therapy, then veterinary medicine. I also earned my certification in Canine Hydrotherapy in 2019 and Veterinary Office Management Program from Mohawk College in 2022. I am grateful to continue providing compassionate care to clients and pets and I am looking forward to seeing familiar faces, meeting new ones and for my future at Parkside!
Hello! My name is Ali and I am a Registered Veterinary Technician. I graduated from Ridgetown College in June 2014 and got registered the same year. Originally from Toronto, I worked in Southern Ontario as an RVT up until May 2016 when I moved north and joined the team at Parkside. In practice, my special interests include emergency medicine, ultrasonography, and client education.
Outside the clinic, I enjoy spending my time outdoors with my two Labradors, Benelli and Tucker. Going to the cottage in Pointe Au Baril to spend time with family, exercising, and hiking are just a few of the things we like to do as a family. I’m very excited to have joined Parkside, and can’t wait to meet all of your wonderful four-legged companions!