Meet Our Dedicated Team!

Dr. Jan Lacroix was born and raised in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan. She graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon) in 1992. Dr. Lacroix spent seven years in small animal practice in Winnipeg, Manitoba before joining the Highview/Meadows team in 1999. She is currently an owner/partner in the practice.

Dr. Lacroix appreciates all aspects of small animal practice and loves working with the great team of doctors and support staff here. She enjoys the variety of medical and surgical cases and has great satisfaction in knowing that she plays a role in helping to strengthen the bond between animals and their humans.

When not working, Dr. Lacroix likes to travel, read a good book, and spend time with family and friends. She and her husband, Joe, have two cats: Ella and Arlo.

Dr. Melanie Tallon graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2004 and came home to Thunder Bay to join the Highview and Meadows team until 2006. She returned to school for a Small Animal Medicine/Surgery internship at the Atlantic Veterinary College, and then jumped right across the country to Vancouver to join Canada West Veterinary Specialists as an ICU Hospitalist until 2009. During that time, she also served as an Emergency Locum with the Vancouver Animal Emergency Clinic until Highview and Meadows welcomed her back in July of 2009.

She is interested in all areas of veterinary medicine, with a special interest in ER/ICU, ultrasound, and geriatric medicine.

Dr. Tallon and her husband share their home with two trouble-maker rescue cats, Fate and Häxa. When the time allows, she has an interest in sustainable agriculture and horticulture in Northwestern Ontario, various craft projects (crochet, needle work, and her newest passion-pottery!) and the local arts scene.

Born and raised in Kenora, Ontario, Dr. Peterson returned to Northwestern Ontario in 1977, after completing an honours science degree at the University of Toronto and his veterinary degree at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph.

He has worked at the Highview/Meadows clinics since 1977, becoming an owner/partner in 1980.

Over the years Dr. Peterson has enjoyed the diverse aspects of a small animal practice. Being removed from a larger centre, and specialty services, he has been challenged with many unusual and complex surgical and medical cases. He enjoys all types of surgery and has a special interest in orthopedics and soft tissue trauma.

Dr. Peterson and his wife Sheila have enjoyed life in “God’s country”, raising four children and taking advantage of the recreational and cultural activities that the area has to offer.

When he is not on the job or picking away at his banjo, Warren and Sheila enjoy travelling, golfing, skiing, pickle ball, and spending time with their family and friends at their One Island Lake retreat. His secret to keeping his heart young and full are his beautiful grandchildren.

Education: Ontario Veterinarian College

Drew started volunteering at Meadows Animal Clinic since 2015 and is now employed as a veterinary assistant as of April 2017. Drew is a BSc biology student at Lakehead University with prospects of becoming a doctor of veterinary medicine in the future!

Exciting update: Drew has graduated in 2022 from OVC

Drew has a lot of experience working with animals prior to coming to work at Highview. She worked at the Thunder Bay Humane Society, Pet Valu, and has done volunteer work with the Superior Street Cats program.

Drew loves working with animals, travelling, hiking, and camping.

At home, Drew has a golden retriever named, Mya who is 9 years old and a 3 year old rescue cat named, Finnegan!

Education: Ontario Veterinarian College

Dr. Hailey Smallwood is thrilled to return to Highview after earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph.

The love and support throughout her studies from Highview/Meadows staff and clients has been overwhelming.

She is looking forward to caring for your furry friends!”

Highview clients will likely be familiar with Jennifer. She has been greeting them and their pets since 1990.

As part of the Highview family, Jennifer considers the team work that happens in the clinic, as ‘all important’. As Practice Manager she leads the way for clinic support staff.

Jennifer takes great pride in her Bloodhound show dogs. As American and Canadian Champions, Enzo, Wyatt have won many prizes and also win Jennifer’s heart. She also has a young Jack Russell mix named Monty.

Besides spending time at dog shows, Jennifer enjoys getting her hands dirty in her garden.

Crystal joined our team in June 2016 as a receptionist and will soon be graduating to our new HR manager. She is a very positive, caring person with a background in nursing. Crystal has always loved animals and previously spent her spare time volunteering at the Thunder Bay Humane Society. Crystal is a mother to 2 beautiful children as well as a few fur babies.

In her spare time, Crystal loves to read and cook!

Jessica started with Highview as a placement student in April of 2017. She is now a Registered Veterinary Technician in our clinic certified through Georgian College in Orillia, Ontario.

Jessica is very passionate about animal care. She loves animals so much that she left her previous career to pursue a new one as a Veterinary Technician. She states, “this is the best decision I have ever made!”

In her spare time, Jess enjoys running along side her two dogs: a Lab/Husky cross named Cooper and her Lab/Border Collie mix Stewie. She also enjoys going to camp at Island Lake, and curling her winters away.

Along with her pups, she also has two beautiful senior cats, Samantha and Martie.

Kendra recently graduated from the Veterinary Technology program at Northern College. She came to Meadows Animal Clinic as a placement student in January of 2015 and is now officially a part of the Highview/Meadows team as a registered veterinary technician!

Kendra has had experience with animals working and volunteering with various shelters since 2001. She worked at Lilac Grove Boarding Kennel for 5 years and also has previous experience fostering dogs for New Hope Dog Rescue!

Kendra loves helping all animals - it is her mission statement in life! Her favorite part of being a vet tech is the lab work portion. At home, Kendra has 2 beagles (Luka and Buddy - both 6 years old), A Chihuahua (Moe - 2 years old), a cat (Emmett 4 months old), and a rabbit (Clara)! In her spare time Kendra plays the flute and loves reading, music, and watching trivia TV shows!

Remy is our most recent staff member to graduate and become a Registered Veterinary Technician.

We welcomed our newest Veterinary Technician, Sarah, in January of 2019. Sarah is a Registered Veterinary Technician with her diploma through Saint Lawrence College. She has had plenty of experience through the Ottawa Humane Society and Manitock Veterinary Hospital.

Sarah has always loved the Veterinary Medicine field, with emphasis on surgery, recovery and rehabilitation. She is also very passionate about animal nutrition.

Sarah is originally from Atikokan, but after a 10 year stay in Ottawa, she made her way from Ottawa to Thunder Bay prior to the birth of her son. Sarah chose to live in Thunder Bay to have access to the wilderness of the North while bringing along her family and her two dogs, a Great Dane named Phoebe, and her Boston Terrier Halle. She enjoys hunting, fishing, and swimming during the warmer months of the year and snowshoeing in the winter. Her go to motto is, “All is good in the woods!”

Cassidy has been with our clinic since March of 2019! She previously worked at Northwestern Veterinary Clinic.

She is a proud dog Mom of a beautiful Blue Heeler named Macey, and a Chihuahua mix named Ella.

Cassidy has a strong passion for working with animals and loves working with all types and sizes, which includes caring for and riding horses frequently in her spare time! She also enjoys snow machining in the winter, and camping and fishing in the summer!

Collette is a longstanding member of the Meadows team-she is proud to have worked with the clinic since 1991. She feels strongly that the staff and doctors truly care for the well being of the clients and their pets and she personally cares for the animals as if they are her very own.

Colette enjoys reading, watching the UFC, listening to Lenny Kravitz, shopping, and hanging out with her hubby, her friends, and all her pets.

Her animal friends include four pugs: Kaylee, Rocky, Suki, and Frank. She also has two cats named Stan and Pear, and owns two exotic pets including a Green Cheek Conure named Chuckles, and a hairless guinea pig named Archie! Colette is always willing to add more to her menagerie.

Education: Robertson College VOA Program

Pets: Tobi 8 year old Tuxedo cat

Nicole started with Highview on March 29, 2021.

She is a caring and compassionate member of our team who would treat each patient as her own.

Hiking, kayaking and travelling

Education: Lakehead University

Pets: Lincoln (Daniff) Doofenshmirtz (cat) Lester+Fester (geckos) Minky +Juno (Rats) Zinc+Melman (snakes)

We welcomed Robyn to our team on August 31, 2020. Currently Robyn is a 2nd year student at Lakehead University in the Biology program. Robyn truly cares about all animals and their well being and being a part of this team allows her to help out any way possible.

Robyn loves to take long walks and hikes with her friends and furry friends.

Education: HBSc Biology with concentration in Animal Sciences Lakehead University

Pets: Odin 4 year old Alaskan Malamute Mix and Oscar a 2 year old Tabby cat

Tatiana joined our team on January 21, 2021. With her previous experience working at Canmore Veterinary Hospital and Bow Valley SPCA inspired her to want to become a future veterinarian.

Tatiana is a avid outdoor enthusiast! She enjoys rock and ice climbing, skiing, hiking, camping and fishing. Origionally from Calgary she moved to Canmore for elite cross-country skiing then to Thunder Bay to further her education.

Alexis has been with Highview/Meadows since 1997 where she began as a co-op student! She now works as a part-time receptionist while she runs her own business, Calico Coffee House!

Alexis has a house full of rescues which include: Chalupa – a 5 year old chihuahua mix, Xena – a 9 year old doberman, Kira – a 3 year old husky mix, Tuula – a 9 year old pug, Masha – a 1 year old doberman mix, Mogley – a 7 year old cat, and Aldous Snow – a 4 year old cat. Alexis has rescued/adopted all of her pets and also fosters cats and kittens for Kitty Kare!

In her spare time, she likes to go for hikes with the dogs and reading.

Corrina has been with Highview/Meadows Animal clinic since January 2012. She loves all animals and wishes she could have an entire house full!

In her spare time, Corrina enjoys travelling with her husband (especially to Vegas to see Celine Dion!), camping, gardening and spending time with her three beagles: Wendell, Linus and Higgins!

Jennifer has always had a great love of animals and realized a childhood dream when she started working at Highview in 2003. She graduated from Sheridan College with a certificate in Animal Care and Veterinary Assisting.

Jennifer is married and has a daughter, and two sons. The rest of her house is occupied by a basset mix named Foster, and two cats named Ziggy and Willy.

Jennifer enjoys to camp in the summer, spend quality time with her children, and enjoys travelling with her family and watching the Toronto maple leafs!. She is also a very talented baker!

Kayla is a great member of our team who hard working and compassionate. Having just graduated from Lakehead University, Kayla has decided to further her education in the veterinary field by working towards a Registered Veterinary Technician in 2 years from now. Kayla enjoys her off time from working and school with her many "weiner dogs".

Sarah joined our staff on September 6, 2022.
Sarah’s previous experience as a graduate of the veterinary assistant program in Toronto, makes her a wonderful addition to our team.
She enjoys this type of career as it makes her happy to be caring for our client’s pets and to be a part of helping them get well.
In her spare time she enjoys fishing, camping and hanging out with her fur friends, Boots, Remi, Turbo and Gus.

Sarah became interested in animal care when she did a high-school co-op placement at Meadows. She has been a part of the Highview/Meadows team since 2003.

Sarah has been an animal lover for as long as she can remember. She has a special bond with her pets and truly feels that she can relate to clients and their pets. She takes pride in being able to help clients in both the good and hard times of caring for their animals.

Two English setters are part of her family at home and Sarah is also Mom to two beautiful little girls. Sarah and Mike along with daughters Morgan and Myah enjoy recreation in the great outdoors and are avid campers in the summer.