Meet the Team

Nicole
Hospital Operations Manager

Nicole brings nearly two decades of experience in the veterinary field, with a background in general practice and intensive/critical care. Her animal care and nursing expertise ensures that every pet receives compassionate attention and a calming presence. Nicole is particularly interested in pain management, wound care, and geriatric pet wellness. She is dedicated to making each veterinary visit as fear-free as possible for pets and their owners. In her free time, Nicole enjoys cooking new recipes, spending time with family and friends, and caring for her rescue Pomeranian, Bucky. She is also an avid gamer and movie enthusiast.

Eden
Registered Veterinary Technician

Eden’s journey in veterinary medicine began in high school, leading her to become a Registered Veterinary Technician five years ago. Her passion lies in providing hands-on care and staying abreast of the latest advancements in veterinary medicine. Eden finds fulfillment in witnessing the recovery of pets, knowing she played a role in their healing process. At home, she cares for a diverse group of animals: two dogs named Leo and Blue, a friendly cat named Daisy, and a talkative bird named Connie. Eden’s hobbies include experimenting with new recipes, solving jigsaw puzzles, and staying active at the gym.

Samantha
Registered Veterinary Technician

Samantha has worked in veterinary medicine for 5 years, starting off as a Veterinary Assistant and then attending Seneca College to become a Veterinary Technician. Since she could remember, working with animals was always something she always aspired to do. She always wanted to help animals and wanted to make that a part of her everyday life. One of her greatest joys as a vet tech is making sure every patient feels comfortable and cared for, providing the highest level of treatment with a sprinkle of love for each and every one.

Samantha has had many animals throughout her life but currently she has a miniature bull terrier named Tommy Lee and a tortoise shell cat named Xena. She loves spending time with her family and travelling with her dog in her van to different places around the world.

Ovidiu
Veterinary Technician

Ovi graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Romania in 1996. Before relocating to Canada with his family, he practiced as a veterinarian in a small animal clinic in Bucharest, gaining extensive clinical experience in an emergency setting.

Since 2001, he has worked in multiple veterinary hospitals across Toronto prior to joining the Upper Village Veterinary Hospital as a veterinary technician. His primary professional interests include surgery, dentistry and diagnostic imaging. Ovi is particularly passionate about working with cats and dogs and is skilled in handling, assessing, and treating them with a calm, gentle, and attentive approach.

For Ovi, the most rewarding part of the job is knowing that he is making a real difference in the lives of animals and the people who love them. He finds that being able to use his skills and knowledge to help an animal recover, ease their pain or improve their quality of life is very fulfilling.

As an animal lover, Ovi owned a German Shepherd, a Cocker Spaniel, and a Jack Russell Terrier. He was also an accomplished Cocker Spaniel breeder, earning notable results at dog shows. Outside of his professional commitments, Ovi enjoys spending time with his family and travelling. His personal interests include dancing, swimming, and following NBA basketball.

Clare Grant
Veterinary Assistant

Clare has always loved animals as well as she has had animals her whole life. Before joining the team she worked with dogs at a daycare.

Clare enjoys helping animals as much as she can outside of work. When she isn’t at work she is out on trails with her dog enjoying nature, or at home giving cuddles to her cat.

Celeste Miller
Veterinary Assistant

Celeste has spent the past few years dedicated to animal care, with experience in both general practice and emergency veterinary medicine. Her passion for the field comes from a deep desire to be a voice for animals, ensuring they receive the care they need to live happy, healthy lives.

She loves being part of a team of compassionate, like-minded professionals and finds fulfillment in helping pets through illness, offering comfort when they need it most.

Outside of work, Celeste enjoys spending time in nature—whether hiking, camping, or horseback riding on the trails. While she doesn’t have a pet just yet, she hopes to welcome a cat and a dog into her home in the future.

Lauren
Veterinary Assistant

My name is Lauren and I’m a veterinary assistant. I’ve been in the field since 2014, spending nearly a decade in shelter medicine. I pursued vet med to make a difference for abused, abandoned, and unloved animals, giving them a second chance at life. I bring that same compassion to every patient I meet.

I first studied baking and pastry arts, so I’m technically also a pastry chef. At home, I have three rescue cats, Tuna, Rupawl, and Susu, each with their own quirks and stories. All were strays and foster fails, and I love them endlessly.

Outside of work, I enjoy cooking, baking, painting, biking in nature, and fostering bottle-baby kittens (my favourite age is 4–5 weeks). I also do Rover visits, mostly for cats who need medicine or diabetic care.

Sara
Veterinary Assistant

Sara is a graduate of Seneca College’s Veterinary Assistant program. After spending time in the graphic design field, she realized her true calling was in animal care.

Growing up, she cared for a variety of pets ranging from turtles and birds to bunnies and puppies. Her lifelong love for animals has always been at the heart of everything she does and continues to guide her today. She now shares her home with her two kitties, Bruno and Zevren, who are her entire world.

Outside of work, Sara enjoys watching true crime and horror, anime, and playing Nintendo and indie games. She’s also a big foodie and a nature lover at heart. As a Veterinary Assistant at Upper Village, Sara strives to ensure that every patient and client receives compassionate, high-quality care while continuing to grow and learn in the ever-evolving field of veterinary medicine.

Angela
Veterinary Assistant

Angela has always had a love for animals and knew from a young age that she wanted to work in animal care. With five years of experience working with animals and a background as an Assistant Manager at a grooming salon, she brings both hands-on care and leadership experience to the team. She recently transitioned into the veterinary field and finds the work incredibly rewarding, as it allows her to care for pets, support the people who love them, and make a meaningful difference every day alongside an amazing team.

At home, Angela shares her life with two cats, a black domestic shorthair named Suki, and a Bengal mix named Maki.

Outside of work, Angela enjoys the outdoors, cooking, staying active, reading, and spending time with friends and family. A fun fact about her is that she has worked closely with horses. She graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Bio-Resource Management, majoring in Equine Management.

Kiara Henry
Customer Service Representative 

Kiara has always had a passion for animals, which led her to pursue a career in veterinary care. Before joining the field, she spent several years working with pets as the owner of her own dog grooming business. Now, as part of the team, she loves helping pet owners and their furry companions feel welcome and cared for.

At home, Kiara has a chocolate doodle named Nala—an energetic bundle of joy who loves stuffed animals, off-leash trail adventures, and cuddling with family.

Outside of work, Kiara enjoys spending time with animals in all forms. A fun fact about her? She used to ride horses competitively and once had a beloved bunny who lived for 12 years!

Leslie Wells
Customer Service Representative 

Leslie developed a special kind of love for animals at a young age. Originally from Southern California, and new to Toronto, Leslie and her family enjoy exploring Canadian parks and ravines through the eyes of their Goldendoodle, Penny. 

She looks forward to getting to know all of the new furry patients and connecting with our amazing clients.   In her spare time,  Leslie enjoys running, cycling and spending quality time with her family.

Charlie
Customer Service Representative

With a passion for animals, Charlie ensures that every pet and their owners feel welcomed and cared for from the moment they step through our doors. He strives to make every visit to Upper Village a positive experience. Outside of work, Charlie enjoys exploring parks with his dog Oso, or playing fetch with his cat Tyrannosaurus. Charlie looks forward to meeting you and your furry friends!