The OAVT Board is made up of nine directors, including the president and vice-president.
The directors must be voting members of the OAVT (RVT members or Retired members), and they are elected into their position by the voting members of the association.
An election is held by the OAVT every February to fill open positions on the Board. A director's term of office is two years.
According to OAVT Board Policy, on behalf of the members, the Board will govern with one voice through written policies with an emphasis on long-term goals.
Learn more about our current Board of Directors!
Phil Nichols, RVT, CAWA - OAVT President
Alma Mater: Seneca College
First job as an RVT: Toronto Humane Society - Shelter RVT
Favourite OAVT Conference memory: Attending the conference my first year after graduating with my colleagues, it was a great experience and feeling to collaborate at the conference on how we could take what we were learning back to the shelter to make a bigger impact.
Best career advice someone gave you: Do what you love, follow your passion and stay true to your own course.
Goals for the RVT profession: To see RVTs recognized as unique partners in the veterinary health team with a defined and protected scope of practice.
Kirsti Clarida, RVT - OAVT Vice President
Alma Mater: Seneca College
First job as an RVT: Aurora Animal Clinic (Aurora, Ontario)
Favourite OAVT Conference memory: I always love catching up with people and hearing about what they have been doing since the last time we saw each other. Conference 2019 was especially memorable because I received my 20-year pin! Reconnecting with college friends was a blast.
Best career advice someone gave you: "You won't know if you don't try"
Goals for the RVT profession: Widespread public understanding of who we are, what we do and how we impact the animal health industry.
Lauralee Dorst, RVT
Alma Mater: Seneca College of Applied Arts & Technology, King Campus
First job as an RVT: Mississauga Oakville Veterinary Emergency Hospital, Overnights 3-12's
Favourite OAVT Conference memory: Being able to witness some phenomenal RVTs win awards for their amazing contributions to animal welfare as well as the RVT profession.
Best career advice someone gave you: "What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside you." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Goals for the RVT profession: I share the same goal as many of my fellow RVTs and that is to be recognized and respected as a well educated, knowledgeable and competent part of the medical team. RVTs are pushing fiercely ahead as a profession and what ever I can do to contribute to this goal.. I will!
Taryn Ghazarian, RVT, KPA-CTP
Alma Mater: Seneca College
First job as an RVT: Malvern Veterinary Hospital
Favourite OAVT Conference memory: The after party of my first OAVT Conference
Best career advice someone gave you: Marry rich
Goals for the RVT profession: To continue to educate the public as well as the veterinary community about the important and versatile role RVTs play within the field, in order to ensure our value is recognized and appreciated.
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.
Lisa Skentelbery, RVT
Alma Mater: Centralia College of Agricultural Technology
First job as an RVT: Worked at Kanata Animal Hospital in Ottawa and went on to manage it for many years.
Favourite OAVT Conference memory: Seeing classmates I don't get to see enough of! Visiting with friends old and new in the Exhibit Hall.
Best career advice someone gave you: Take time every day for some fun!
Goals for the RVT profession: Look forward to the day that RVTs are recognized as the professionals that they are with the salaries and responsibilities that go with that!
Andrea Steele, MSc, RVT, VTS(ECC)
Alma Mater: Ridgetown College, 1998
First job as an RVT: Ontario Veterinary College, Small Animal Wards
Favourite OAVT Conference memory: They are all my favourite since the OAVT took over the Conference and Speaker Planning! It has become a conference to be proud of!
Best career advice someone gave you: Always look up... never down!
Goals for the RVT profession: So many! Continued growth, legislation to further recognize RVTs, and more utilization by veterinarians!
Damon Thompson, RVT (OAVT Past President)
Alma Mater: Seneca College, King Campus
According to OAVT by-laws, as the most recent past president of the board Damon will remain a member of the board for the next calendar year.