NIGEL BASS, BSc, DVM, MRCVS
Nigel qualified from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993, having earned a degree in biology from the University of Victoria. He was in mixed practice in Quesnel for two years and then moved to Calgary. Nigel and Jenni were married in 1996 (a vet school romance) and for two years Nigel worked at Calgary North Veterinary Hospital, a 25 veterinarian hospital. In 1997, Nigel and Jenni moved to England with all their savings and five suitcases. Having spent the savings, Nigel began work in a small animal hospital in Gloucester, England, where he was head of the Small Animal Medicine Department. In September 2000, Nigel and Jenni returned to Victoria, with seven suitcases, 1/3 of a shipping container, two children, a parrot and four tortoises. Nigel’s interests include canine reproduction and orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery. His favorite part of the job, however is being paid to play with puppies.
CATHIE HAY
Cathie has been the Lab Tech at the Sidney Animal Hospital since 1981. During that time she has had the honour of working with many great Veterinarians. She enjoys all aspects of her job but her particular interests include digital radiology, surgery, microscopic lab work with a very special interest in reproductive cases. Cathie is the owner of Truline Kennels. She breeds and trains Golden Retrievers. Cathie also is the owner of Rainbow Ridge Ranch where she raises Black Welsh Mountain sheep. She has found lambing season is almost as exciting as Christmas!
RACHELE RICKETTS, BSc, RVT
Rachele grew up in Calgary, AB where she completed her Bachelor of Science in Zoology at the University of Calgary before moving to Vancouver Island to be closer to the ocean. After working as a veterinary receptionist and volunteering at a wildlife rehab centre, she decided to go back to school to become a veterinary technician. She graduated from the AHT program at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops in June 2014, and joined the team at the Sidney Animal Hospital as a new graduate. She is now a registered vet tech and especially enjoys surgery, anesthesia and dentistry. She has two fur kids of her own, a sweet shepherd cross named Sierra, and a talkative brown tabby named Naavi. In her free time Rachele enjoys baking, exploring the beauty of Vancouver Island, and traveling the world.
TRINA LEGGE, RVT
Trina joined Sidney Animal Hospital in October 2014. She graduated from Ontario’s Algonquin College as a Registered Veterinary Technologist in 2012. Prior to working in the veterinary field, she resided in the Cayman Islands for four years where she volunteered with the Cayman Islands Humane Society. Trina’s interests in animal physical rehabilitation took her to Northern College, where she completed her Canine Physical Rehabilitation training in 2013. Trina is committed to providing care to all animals and she volunteers with Vets for Pets each month, as well as the Canadian Animal Assistance Team (CAAT). Prior to joining us, she went to Kuyquot, BC with CAAT and participated in a spay/neuter clinic. When she is not working, Trina is cooking, baking, sewing, exploring Vancouver Island with her dog, Nilla or participating in early morning bootcamp with friends.
KIM BEARE, BSc, DVM
Kim graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph in 2004, after having completed a degree in animal biology from the University of British Columbia. She was quick to move back to British Columbia after graduation and began practicing as a mixed animal veterinarian in Sooke. Kim started working at the Sidney Animal Hospital in 2007. She enjoys treating both our canine and feline patients. At home, Kim has three sons, two cats and a lab cross. in her spare time she enjoys training for triathlons, hiking and windsurfing.
KACEY STANCILL, DVM
Dr. Kacey Stancill is originally from the States, growing up in California and spending most of her adult years in Colorado. She graduated from Fort Lewis College with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1995 and then from Colorado State University with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2000. Her first two years were spent in rural Colorado in a mixed small and large animal practice, but has since limited her practice to just dogs and cats. After eight years of practice Kacey, Burke (her husband) and Quinn (her then three year old son) took a two year sabbatical to live and cruise on a sailboat in the Sea of Cortez. After sailing from Mexico to Hawaii and Hawaii to Vancouver Island, Kacey and her family found themselves settled here in Sidney. Dr. Stancill has been with our practice since June 2011 and reports that she really enjoys both the staff here at Sidney Animal Hospital and the clients – and of course their pets!
LINDA KOBLEY
Linda is our office manager and has been organizing the Sidney Animal Hospital since 1995. She also works as a receptionist and does some occasional nursing. When not at work Linda enjoys cooking, and spending time with her family, as well as her Labradors, parrot and cat.
KELLY WESTERN
Kelly joined the Sidney Animal Hospital Team in the summer of 2008; as of June 2013 she is now our assistant manager. She enjoys spending time with all the animals in the clinic, as well as her own miniature dachshund named ‘Bebe’, who is full of kisses as well as energy! She spends most of her spare time enjoying the outdoors, travelling and spending time with friends and family.
ALI NIELSEN
Ali joined the Sidney Animal Hospital reception staff in the winter of 2013. She came to us with a few previous years working in the veterinary field. She loves all animals especially her English bulldog “Roxy”. She enjoys traveling the world, and spends most of her spare time outdoors.
KATIE GILMORE
Katie joined the Sidney Animal Hospital staff in the summer of 2014. She keeps busy with her horse, chickens and two dogs, enjoying the best of BC, camping and dirt biking. Katie has taken the Vet Assistant program and is working towards becoming a registered Animal Health Technician in the future.