Our Bellevue Team

Dr. Shelagh Hislop has been working with us since 1992 after her graduation from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon. She is originally from Calgary, Alberta. Her love for animals, people, and science are what drew her to veterinary medicine as a career. Shelagh is seeing patients at the clinic 2-3 days/week, while raising her kids (and an everchanging array of pets at home). Her special interest areas are dentistry and soft tissue surgery. She enjoys running, and gardening.

Dr. Natacha Lesage started her work with us in March 2006. She graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon in 2002. Prior to her work here, she had practiced veterinary medicine in Oregon and also in England, as she and her husband traveled in Europe. Dr. Lesage has a very gentle nature and thus has a calming influence on our four-legged patients and their owners. Natacha is in the clinic 3 days/week, while she and her husband, David, are raising two young boys, and their canine child, Rocky.

Dr Cindy Smith graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1992. After
working in Alberta for a few years, she moved to Chilliwack to join Cheam View Veterinary
Hospital where she worked and eventually owned the practice for 17 years. She moved to
Parksville in 2011 and worked at Pacific Rim Veterinary Hospital until joining Bellevue
Veterinary Hospital in November 2020. Currently she shares her home with two Chihuahuas
Lexie and Terra Belle, and Loki a Ginger Tabby. She has a soft spot for senior pets and enjoys
working with them and their owners to keep them happy and comfortable into their golden
years.

Dr. Jessica Paravicini grew up in Qualicum Beach and attended Vancouver Island University where she completed a degree in Biology. She then moved to Saskatoon to attend the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated with great distinction. She returned to Vancouver Island to practice at a small animal hospital in Port Alberni before choosing to join the team at Bellevue Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Paravicini is a compassionate person who strives to provide high quality medicine to her patients. Her interests include preventative medicine and dentistry. When not at work she spends time with her husband, son, dog and horse. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, reading and horseback riding.

Jennifer is a Registered Veterinary Technologist (RVT). She graduated from the 2-year Animal Health Technology Program at Olds College (Alberta) in June 2002. She had previously worked and learned the ropes, at Bellevue, as a volunteer during high school. We’re thrilled that she wanted to come back and work with us after getting her formal education. She’s a great asset to our team and has become our head technician. Jen, along with her husband and 2 children, have a black lab, some cats & horses. Her interests include reading, drawing, horseback riding, spending time with family, hiking and camping.

Marti, a Registered Veterinary Technologist, hails from Northern Alberta, and graduated from Fairview College’s AHT program in 2001. After working in a veterinary clinic for 6 years, she took a break to work in radio. She moved to the island in the fall of 2013, and we were very lucky she joined our team in July 2015. In her down time, she enjoys a variety of activities, ranging from running, hunting, to crocheting.

Gwyneth, a Registered Veterinary Technologist (RVT), graduated from the Animal Health Technology course at Thompson Rivers University in 1995. She spent most of the following 20 years working with marine mammals and exotics as a technologist and trainer. Many of those years were at the Vancouver Aquarium, but also included 3 years at a facility (Fjord & Baelt Centre) in a small town in Denmark. Gwyneth met her husband, a Research Biologist, while working at the Aquarium. They married in 2007 and were thrilled to welcome sons over the following years. Gwyneth joined the Bellevue team in July 2015 and we are thrilled she is working with us, and small animals again!

Delilah joined the Bellevue reception team in Fall 2019, and has been loving it since! She was born and raised in beautiful Errington BC, and has had a love for animals from a young age. She currently shares
her home with two cats and one dog, and is pursuing a Bachelors degree in Criminology with future career goals in law enforcement. When not at work, Delilah can be found riding horses in reining, ranch riding,
and cattle sorting disciplines as well as reading, studying, and hiking local island mountains and trails with her sheltie Maisie.

Megan started working at Bellevue in 2011 after completing the Animal Care Aid course at Vancouver Island University. She took a 2 year pause, but we’re happy to have her back, working as a Veterinary Assistant and Receptionist. In her spare time she enjoys hiking with her family and they share their home with an active Australian Cattle dog, Cedar, a one-eyed orange tabby, Noel, plus various chickens and ducks.

Holly is our bookkeeper. (She was previously our office administrator for 8 years.) She enjoys hiking and cycling and shares her home with her energetic Westie named Piper.