Damon Thompson, RVT (OAVT President)

Alma Mater: Seneca College, King Campus

First job as an RVT: Forest Hill Animal Clinic

Favourite OAVT Conference memory: Dancing with a wooden Indian in a Hamilton bar.

Best career advice someone gave you: Never give up on your patients OR your clients!

Goals for the RVT profession: Revered professionalism, leadership and compassion ensuring exemplary animal welfare, disease prevention and human-animal bond reinforcement.

Cally Merritt, RVT, CEMT (OAVT Vice President)

Alma Mater: University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus

First job as an RVT: Village Centre Animal Hospital in Binbrook, Ontario

Favourite OAVT Conference memory: Catching up with old friends and classmates that I haven't seen in a while.

Best career advice someone gave you: Never be afraid to take a journey. Go in search of life's possibilities as they are endless.

Goals for the RVT profession: To see RVTs get the recognition they deserve and to be used to their full potential. For the public to see how highly trained and skilled we are so they better understand our role in their pet's health.

Christine Archer, RVT, B.Sc.

Alma Mater: Algonquin College

First job as an RVT: Junior Veterinary Technician at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute

Favourite OAVT Conference memory: Meeting Nancy Brock!

Best career advice someone gave you: “The quality of your work is the quality of their life”. I live by this now.

Goals for the RVT profession: I would like to see RVTs better represented in some less common fields such as research. We are passionate about what we do, and I feel that we can be the best possible advocate for any animals in our care.

Darci Burtch, RVT

Alma Mater: Northern College

First job as an RVT: A small animal clinic in Toronto

Favourite OAVT Conference memory: The first time I went to an awards dinner as an RVT. I saw firsthand the dedication and passion so many RVTs have and their drive to make animal welfare a way of life. It really inspired me!

Best career advice someone gave you: Know your worth.

Goals for the RVT profession: My hope for the RVT profession is that we continue to advance our field. There are already so many possibilities for RVTs, but I know we can do more. From increasing the areas that an RVT can specialize in, to realizing the valuable role an RVT plays in the field of veterinary care, to networking and forming an even stronger sense of community within ourselves as RVTs.

Julia Bitan, RVT

Alma Mater: Seneca College, King Campus

First job as an RVT: Thornhill Veterinary Clinic

Favourite OAVT Conference memory:  My favourite OAVT conference memory is from the 2016 conference, after not being able to attend the conference for five years, it was so amazing to be meet old school friends, teachers and all the reps I got to meet through my years in the clinic. It was great to be surrounded by so many amazing and inspiring RVTs in one room.

Best career advice someone gave you:  Lead by example - be positive and use humour as much as possible and remember that the our goal is helping our animal patients as a team.

Goals for the RVT profession: See RVTs involved in more government initiatives and public education for our profession.

Jody Carrick, RVT

Past President

According to OAVT by-laws, as the most recent past president of the board Jody will remain a member of the board for the next calendar year.

Stacey Huneke, RVT

Alma Mater: Seneca College

First job as an RVT: Woodbine Racetrack

Favourite OAVT Conference memory: Emceeing the 2014 awards ceremony, I started out by doing an RVT version of Joe Canada. I gave no introduction, people were still getting settled and lost in conversation. The music just started and I started yelling. It caught a lot of people off guard but I got the effect I was after. People still talk to me about it now.

Best career advice someone gave you: "Lift with your knees" and "You should have asked for help".

Goals for the RVT profession: To be recognized as a distinct profession.

Julie Jones, RVT

Alma Mater: St. Lawrence College

First job as an RVT: Mixed animal practice in Barrie

Favourite OAVT Conference memory: The "buzz" in the trade fair, laughter and chit chat, plus all the hugging.

Best career advice someone gave you: Keep your mouth closed when you are squeezing that.

Goals for the RVT profession: RVT's are the "CATALYST" in animal care.

Nancy MacFarlane, RVT, BA

Alma Mater: St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology

First job as an RVT: Northdale Animal Clinic in London, Ontario

Favourite OAVT Conference memory: Winning the Award of Merit (2006).

Best career advice someone gave you: Treat every patient as if they were your own pets.

Goals for the RVT profession: Recognition for the great profession that we are. We are credentialed professionals and are an integral part of the veterinary team and as such we are deserving of the recognition that we are seeking.

Lauren O'Leary, RVT, CVPM, B.Ed

Alma Mater: Centralia College (now Ridgetown)

First job as an RVT: Small animal practice in Newmarket Ontario, it came with an apartment and 2 free tonkinese cats!

Favourite OAVT Conference memory: There have been many over the years, but I have to say the “night at the improv” sessions with Andy Roark were a hoot!

Best career advice someone gave you: Find ways to live your passion, then it’s a career, it’s not work.

Goals for the RVT profession: Raising the public’s awareness of the many facets of our profession and what RVT’s contribute as respected members of the veterinary health care team. The watershed moment for me will be when legislation reflects our title and owners begin to ask if the staff caring for their pets are credentialed RVTs because they are seeking that standard of care. The pinnacle will be when the veterinarians we work with fully embrace that attitude as well.

Shaneka Willer, RVT

Alma Mater: St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology

First job as an RVT: A 24-hour small animal hospital in Windsor, on the night shift of course. 

Favourite OAVT Conference memory: The first time I stepped into the Trade Show while I was still in school.  Everything was so bright and shiny and new! I barely even knew what the products were, but everything was wonderful.

Best career advice someone gave you: Stop.  Think.  Make a good decision.

Goals for the RVT profession: There have been so many advancements to how our profession is perceived by the public during my short(ish) career, and I would like to see this continue.  It is my goal that RVTs be recognized as an educated, experienced, knowledgeable and integral part of animals' medical care.  I will continue to work hard every day to be considered more than just 'one of the girls in the back'.