Meet our veterinary care team!
Meet the Veterinarians & Team of Chemainus Animal Hospital in Chemainus! We’re pleased to provide vet care for your pets!
Please call us at (250) 246-1222 to speak to one of our veterinary staff members!
Dr. Pollock
Owner & Veterinarian
Dr. Pollock has been the practice owner for nearly 20 years. He graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1998, and shortly after made the Cowichan Valley his home. In his spare time, Dr. Jay can often be found exploring the Gulf Islands in his old boat.
Leanna
Registered Veterinary Technologist
Leanna has been a Registered Veterinary Technologist since 2012 and has worked on Vancouver Island and the interior of BC. She grew up on a dairy farm in the Fraser Valley and has been working in the Vet industry for over 16 years with specific interests in surgery, anesthesia and nutrition. Leanna enjoys island life with her dog Dixie and loves to ride horses in her spare time.
Dr. Kelsey Stepaniuk
Veterinarian
Dr. Kelsey joined the Chemainus Animal Hospital team in 2022. She was born and raised on Vancouver Island, and attended the University of Victoria for her undergraduate studies. Kelsey completed her studies in Veterinary Medicine at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2016. Since then, she has worked at various clinics on Vancouver Island, with a focus on small animal medicine and surgery. Dr. Kelsey lives in Duncan with her husband, two kids and plethora of animals.
Samantha Love
Technician Assistant
Samantha Love joined our clinic in 2023 and is currently undertaking the Registered Veterinary Technician diploma at Thompson River University. Samantha has a deep love and passion for animals and educating clients. She is a fur parent to her dog named Jellybean, her cat named Jezebelle and her bearded dragon named Mogwai.
Julian Ermark
Vet Assistant / Receptionist
Julian is one of our receptionists . Originally from Germany, he has a strong passion for working with animals and a background in agriculture. His love for the outdoors led him to Vancouver Island, where he enjoys the beautiful natural surroundings. With his experience and dedication to animal care, he provides compassionate service to both pets and their owners.
Peyton Haslam
Vet Assistant / Receptionist
Peyton is part of our reception team and grew up on Vancouver Island. She has always had a soft spot for animals and grew up raising beef steers and riding horses. In her spare time she loves hopping on any horse she can and hanging out with her new puppy Sawyer.
Harmony Kunkel
Vet Assistant / Receptionist
Harmony is part of our assistant team and new to the island. On her spare time she enjoys Mountain biking, surfing, camping and hanging out with her kitty Bean.
Derrick
Part-time Vet
Derrick Milton, B.Sc.(ecology), D.V.M, MRCVS, graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1991. Since graduation, Dr. Milton’s career has involved nearly every aspect of veterinary medicine, working in research, mixed animal practice, zoo, and wildlife medicine. He worked full time at his own clinic on Saltspring Island for 13 years. After selling his clinic, he worked as a locum vet for several years, during which time he worked in about 50 clinics in Canada and England. After a locum stint at Chemainus, he decided to stop all the travel, and restrict his veterinary work to cats and dogs, at the Chemainus Animal Hospital, where he really enjoyed the staff, clients and their pets. Prior to his veterinary career, Derrick was a professional musician who performed with the Canadian Opera Company, Orchestra London, Tom Jones, and the Stratford Festival among others. There was no time for music during most of his veterinary career, but he has found a nice balance between his veterinary and musical life since reducing his veterinary career to part time. These days, if you don’t find him at the hospital, you could try looking for him performing at the Crofton Hotel or the MacPherson Playhouse. Derrick brings years of caring, practical experience to every pet he sees at the Chemainus Animal Hospital. He leaves his trumpet at home since the pets don’t seem to appreciate his music much.