The Granville Island Veterinary Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Tara

Tara started as a ward nurse here in 1991, making her one of our most long term team members. Tara provides loving care for all the patients that are lucky enough to meet her overnight. She is also a well known voice on the phone for many of our clients, fielding emergency phone calls expertly. Our doctors all pay very close attention to Tara's overnight observations in patients files, as her detailed care is often the difference in a critical patient's outcome. In her time away from the hospital, Tara takes care of Mr Jones, a special kitty with special needs.

Smilja

Smilja Jelec is one of our hospital's crown jewels! If Smilja isn't hugging a nervous puppy or comforting a cat recovering from surgery, she's making sure we're eating all our vegetables. Smilja was born in Doboj, Bosnia and lived in Germany for six years before moving to Canada in 1998 - bringing along her Guinea Pig, Gogo! Smilja has survived another job where she worked 7 days a week for 4 years, has survived 29 years of marriage to her doting husband, Mirko, and is currently surviving "Duke", her 3-year-old Bichon Frise. She and Mirko also have a very handsome kitty named "Edgar". Smilja is one of our most talented at helping very nervous kitties feel better while they're in the hospital. If your cat has had to stay with us, she likely has spent more than a few minutes cuddled up on Smilja's lap. She truly has a compassionate heart and it's easy to see why we all call her "Momma".

Jocelyn

Jocelyn came to GIVH with a desire for a career change. Having volunteered with us for a year she decided to pursue her VOA certificate at Douglas College, and was thrilled to join the team after her graduation in August 2008. Working as a day and night shift ward nurse, Jocelyn loves the exposure to all aspects of veterinary nursing and the challenges that come with it. Jocelyn has taken over the reigns of managing the volunteer program and welcomes anyone with interest in veterinary care to contact her at the hospital. In her spare time Jocelyn enjoys spending time with her husband and family, travelling worldwide, collecting wine and loving up her cat.

Ruby

Ruby came to us as a volunteer to gain experience and learn about veterinary medicine. When she displayed her incredibly quick learning style and natural aptitude for animal care, we hired her immediately. As a native Vancouverite who hasn’t quite become accustomed to the rain, Ruby has tried her animal rearing skills with a variety of pets including rats, toads and lizards. She loves to draw and paint when she’s not relaxing at home watching movies with her man Dylan, her doberman Payton and her bearded dragon Fenster. Ruby plans on obtaining her diploma in animal health technology through the distance education program from TRU. With a retirement dream of one day living on a ranch on the African coast with her husband, oodles of dogs and a Frisian; Ruby hopes this industry will allow her to travel to more remote parts of the world.

Ljilja

Although I grew up with animals around me and have taken care of and fostered my friends pets over the years, it wasn’t until I was offered a position of a night nurse at Granville Island Veterinary Hospital that I started considering animal health care as my profession. After a pretty challenging beginning I consider myself lucky to still have the opportunity to assist technicians and veterinarians to provide the best health care possible to our fury patients during my day shift engagement, and also to make sure this care continues during the night on my night shift turn. This is my fourth year at Granville Island Veterinary Hospital and it is an easy thing to be really dedicated with such a great team of dedicated animal lovers.

I immigrated to Canada from Bosnia 12 years ago and I am a proud companion of a feline senior named Jericho, saved from unnecessary euthanasia by Dr. Tara Huggins.

Ward Nurses