ABOUT US
Who We Are
When you visit Shoreview Veterinary, we are exceptionally confident that you will have a warm, friendly and personal experience. Once you get to know our truly passionate and compassionate team, you and your pet will feel right at home. Being a part of your family and our shared community is extremely important to us.
The best care comes from the best people, and we have assembled a team of very experienced and dedicated veterinary professionals. In an industry that is known for burnout and high turnover, one of our main priorities is focusing on the well-being of our people. We utilize a model of team medicine and the latest technologies to ensure that all our staff are very well supported in every way – the outcome of this approach is a team that delivers the highest level of care to you and your pets at an exceptional level of efficiency and value.
Meet Our Team
Dr. Nigel Skinner
Veterinarian & Co-Founder ›
Dr. Janice Wozniak
Veterinarian ›
Tracy MacTaggart
Practice Manager & Co-Founder ›
Renata Schreier
RVT ›
Krystin Wallace
RVT ›
Steph Smith
RVT ›
Briana Pahalan
Senior Veterinary Assistant ›
Raveena Singh
Senior Veterinary Assistant ›
Evelyn Willis
Veterinary Assistant ›
Ashley Bleau
Client Care Director &
Shareholder ›
Catharine Coulthard
Client Care ›
On Our Watch
Here are the principles and values that we have decided to live, breathe and work by.
We will help you understand your options with knowledge, compassion & helpfulness.
Being a pet owner comes with a lot of responsibility and a lot of emotions. We work with our clients to offer as many alternatives as possible when cost is a challenge, and we do this without judgment so you can make truly informed decisions about your pet’s care.
Advanced / leading-edge — Yes.
Gimmicky / trendy — No.
We are forward thinkers and believe in embracing the most current and successful medical practices and procedures, BUT you won’t find us on trend bandwagons. Our approach is always scientifically proven and medically sound.
We promise you access to exceptional care – no membership required.
We make sure that our clients fully understand the benefits and value of our treatment recommendations and are totally transparent with all our costs. We are committed to providing your pet with access to the best care without asking you to pay a “membership” fee for the privilege.
Independently owned by family founders and valued team members.
Community, family, people. This is what matters to us. The past few years have been tumultuous for the veterinary profession. Many vet clinics changed from independent to consolidated corporate ownership or clinic groups backed by private equity. Because we are independently owned, we are bound only by our own ethics and experience rather than answering to a corporate structure.
We take great care with our people… so that you’ll always have the BEST people caring for you & your pet.
We know that the very best of our profession want to work alongside others of the same calibre and be provided with the support, facilities, equipment and culture that allow them to thrive as part of a high-functioning veterinary care team.
Dr. Nigel Skinner
Veterinarian & Co-Founder
Dr. Skinner is the co-founder of Shoreview Veterinary with his partner Tracy, and with his 20+ years of experience as one of the city’s most beloved veterinarians, they are pleased to open this new state-of-the-art practice in the Beach and Bluffs community, where their family has lived for more than 15 years.
Dr. Skinner graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2004 and was the previous owner of Kew Beach Veterinary Hospital until 2020.
In 2008, he trained in Laparoscopic Surgeries and became the first veterinarian in Toronto to offer Laparoscopic spays. Along with his expertise in canine and feline internal medicine and abdominal and soft tissue surgery, Dr. Skinner has a very special interest in minimally invasive procedures. He has trained other Toronto clinicians in the Laparoscopic spay technique and wishes to continue to share his knowledge and experience to expand the practice of minimally invasive surgical procedures in veterinary medicine.
He is known and respected by his clients for his compassion and sensitivity while also being transparent, pragmatic, and extremely knowledgeable.
Dr. Skinner is an avid wreck and cave diver, and underwater photographer. He writes a quarterly pet-care column for the local Beach Metro newspaper and website.
Dr. Janice Wozniak
Veterinarian
Dr. Janice Wozniak graduated with distinction from The Ontario Veterinary College in 2011 and has been practicing small animal medicine and surgery in Toronto since.
She has received a number of awards, including the P.A.W.S. of Georgina Animal Friendly Citizenship Award and the Molly Carrington Memorial Award for Outstanding Patient Care. Dr. Wozniak’s special interests in veterinary medicine include dermatology, ophthalmology, pain management, behaviour, and surgery. She is a “Fear Free Certified” practitioner devoted to providing care with empathy, patience, and sensitivity to ensure that your pet’s visit to the vet is as stress-free as possible.
Dr. Wozniak was born in Toronto and has enjoyed living in both city and rural areas, including living on a horse farm, before deciding to move back to Toronto and calling the Beaches her home. She enjoys photography, camping, hiking, paddle boarding and travelling with her partner.
Tracy MacTaggart
Practice Manager & Co-Founder
Tracy began her career as a Veterinary Clinic Practice Manager in 2016 at Dr. Skinner’s previous hospital. Tracy came into this position with twenty-five years of experience in television as both a director and an Executive Producer. She found that her managerial skills in the fast-paced and ever-changing environment of television were very transferable to the veterinary world… and her lifelong love of animals was an added bonus!
Tracy takes pride in creating and working with teams that feel respected and supported while enjoying working in a professional and fun way. She and Dr. Skinner have been working side by side on building Shoreview Vets and are very proud of this new family adventure they have embarked on.
Tracy and Dr. Skinner have lived in the Beach neighbourhood with their two boys and many pets for over 15 years and are so happy to be taking care of the pets in this community once again.
Renata Schreier
RVT
Renata graduated from Seneca College’s Vet Tech program in 2010 after earning her bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies from the University of Guelph.
She has worked as an RVT in GP practices around the city and has worked in neurology and ER for a number of years. Renata taught in the animal program at Seneca College for a few years as well and took some time off in 2012 to travel and work as an RVT at a Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand.
Renata lives with four dogs and her husband and likes to spend time with her horse, Jake, who is now retired.
Krystin Wallace
RVT (Registered Veterinary Technician)
Krystin began her career in 2016 in a small animal practice where she helped facilitate the clinic’s transition to a hands-free radiographic environment. She moved on to specialty medicine, starting off in patient care, where she was able to further her skills in anesthesia and pain management. She then quickly moved into Oncology, discovering her passion for forming deep connections with pets and their owners. Assisting in navigating the challenges of cancer care became especially rewarding.
Krystin enjoys playing hockey and video games and spending time training with her Brittany Spaniel, Luna (aka Looney Tunes).
Steph Smith
RVT (Registered Veterinary Technician)
Steph started her career working in a rural general practice clinic in 2012 and moved on to work in a specialty hospital for 8 years, in departments including internal medicine, oncology, emergency, and surgery. Since 2022, she has worked as an RVT in Internal Medicine, Oncology, ER, and Surgery. She loves continuing to learn about managing long-term diseases and anesthesia.
One of her favourite things about working in a clinic like Shoreview Vets is when all the medical staff get together to discuss the management of complicated cases. She thinks it’s wonderful to see patients being loved and cared for as if they were our own pets.
In her free time, Steph is an avid reader and an enthusiastic traveller who is always dreaming up her next adventure.
Briana Pahalan
Veterinary Assistant
Briana grew up in small-town Alliston… being surrounded by farm country and an abundance of wildlife helped kick off her love for animals.
Briana graduated from the Durham College Vet Assistant program in 2015 and has been working in the industry since 2016. One of Bri’s first jobs was with Dr. Skinner, whom she worked with for several years before rejoining him at Shoreview. She is very happy to be back with Dr. Skinner and several of her previous team members as a veterinary assistant.
Briana is also currently pursuing her training/certification as an RVT, which has always been her main goal and passion. She’s enjoying her continuing studies in anesthesia, cytology, nutrition, and pain management. Briana hopes to eventually blend her passion for animals with her love for travelling, with the goal of getting to assist with spays/neuters in different countries around the world.
Briana’s favourite band is King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. She lives with her partner, a chihuahua named Peaches, and a barn cat named Remi.
Raveena Singh
Veterinary Assistant
Raveena has worked in the veterinary field for about 4 years, starting out with specialty medicine, predominantly in radiology but also internal medicine. She holds a Bachelor of Science in biology and does some research work on the side, along with wildlife rescue & rehabilitation. She joined the Shoreview team because she wanted to foster a positive environment in the veterinary field with like-minded people who all have the same passion for helping animals.
Raveena has one dog, a maltipoo named Angelina. In their free time, they like to play and settle down with a good book.
Evelyn Willis
Veterinary Assistant
Evelyn is a very passionate veterinary assistant with a deep-rooted love for all animals. With continuous learning as one of her goals, she appreciates working in this industry with the mentors she has, allowing her to expand her knowledge every single day.
She grew up with cats and dogs her whole life and has a special interest in equestrian life, riding for 10+ years. She would love to work specifically with horses in this industry one day. Her dream is to one day own lots of land and be able to rescue, home, and take care of all animals!
Evelyn enjoys and appreciates nature (but not as much when it’s COLD!) She loves to draw and make music with her brother!
Ashley Bleau
Client Care Director & Shareholder
Ashley has a Specialized Honours Degree in English Communication from the University of Toronto, but after starting work in the corporate world, she quickly realized she wanted something different and pursued a career in management within the Veterinary Industry.
She has held various administrative positions for over 14 years at different veterinary practices around the city. She adores her role and what it brings to her life every day.
Ashley lives in the Beach community with her husband, daughter, and two spoiled cats. They hope to rescue a dog within the next couple of years to complete the family.
Catharine Coulthard
Client Care
Catharine’s experience in client care and as a veterinary assistant makes her a valuable clinic team member and a better pet owner herself. She confidently supports her medical team when needed – from administering subcutaneous injections/fluids and surgery assistance to holding animals for procedures. She loves to engage with clients in discussions about important pet care topics such as prevention, vaccines, oral hygiene, and nutrition. She embraces each day as a new learning opportunity – no two days are ever the same – and loves talking to our network of reps about the newest technologies and products out there.
Catharine grew up close to the Bluffs and currently lives in the Upper Beach with her pizza-loving husband. Her pets include 2 rescue dogs from South Korea, 3 cats, and 1 pony.