Our Bellevue Team

Dr. Shelagh Hislop has been a part of Bellevue since 1992 after her Biochemistry degree at the U. of Calgary, then veterinary degree, with distinction, from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon. Her love for animals, people, and science are what called her to veterinary medicine as a career. Her special interest areas are dentistry and soft tissue surgery, and she loves opportunities to learn about new treatments and techniques. Shelagh has an everchanging array of 4-legged family members, and keeps trying to teach herself piano. Also, she runs (slowly), reads, and loves to grow food.

Dr. Jeff Dahl started working with us in May 2000 immediately after his graduation from Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Jeff originates from the Victoria area and was glad to return to the Island from his veterinary training in Saskatoon where he obtained extra experience while working 2 summers in the department of radiology. We're sure he was born with veterinary medicine in his genes because both of his parents were veterinarians too! Jeff works full time in the clinic while he and his wife, Denise, are raising two young boys, 2 cats (Margaret and Maisy), and Lily the Labrador.

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 boys, and their canine child, Rocky.

Dr. Jessica Paravicini has been working with us since 2020.  She 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 coming to our team at Bellevue. 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, her 2 young children, her dog and horse. If there is any 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.

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!

Alexandra joined our reception team in November 2019. She now assists everywhere in the clinic! She has always been very fond of animals and has future plans to further her skills and abilities in this field. She currently shares her home with two large mixed breed Labradors and two domestic short haired
cats. Alexandra spends most of her free time outdoors adventuring Vancouver Island by either
hiking or 4×4. She enjoys the beautiful place we live and plans to see as much as she can.

Cody came to the Bellevue team in the spring of 2022. He works as a veterinary assistant and loves helping to care for all the patients that come into the clinic. He is a new pet parent to his beautiful German Shepherd, Poppy. 

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.

Stew joined the Bellevue team in the fall of 2021.  Since then, he’s been helping manage ordering, receiving, and inventory. He loves music, the Calgary Flames, walking in the forest, and spending time with family (especially his 2 daughters).