About Our Vets and Staff
At Madeira Park Veterinary Hospital, our staff is the heart of our hospital. We value the relationships we have with our clients and the trusted relationship that allows us to take extra special, loving care of your pets. Before you come to our hospital, you can learn more about our staff.
Dr. Rick Smalley, DVM
Rick grew up in West Vancouver and Edmonton, and attended the University of Alberta for his pre-veterinary years. He was accepted into the Western College of Veterinary Medicine after two years at U of A and graduated with his DVM in 1972.
After graduation, he practiced for three years in Burnaby before moving back to Edmonton where he opened Westbrook Veterinary Clinic which became a busy three-man practice. After nineteen years of practice in Edmonton, Rick and his wife fulfilled a dream by selling their respective businesses and moving to Pender Harbour.
A couple of years of being established in the community followed by some part-time veterinary work on the coast and it became evident that although Pender Harbour was a very small community, it could use a full-time resident veterinarian. Madeira Park Veterinary Hospital was established in 2003 and the community's support has been remarkable.
Dr. Jackie Ordronneau, DVM
Originally from California, Jackie moved to Seattle in 1967 to obtain a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Seattle University. After working in a lab for 7 years, she decided to follow her heart and pursue veterinary medicine, graduating from Washington State University in 1983 with a DVM. She subsequently became a partner at Northeast Veterinary Hospital, a large Seattle practice. She felt fortunate to move to Pender Harbour in 2001 and truly enjoys our relaxed coastal lifestyle. When not filling in for Rick Smalley at Madeira Park Vet, she spends time with her cat Nikolas, organizes April Tools, helps with community events, hikes with her friends and attempts to grow vegetables in her garden.
Carley Whitehead: Veterinary Assistant
Carley has lived in beautiful Pender Harbour since early 2007. She moved here with her family from Bancroft, Ontario, where her love for animals all began. She was raised on two farms with her grandparents while her mom and dad were working to support the family. There she grew her passion and respect for nature, and dreamed of working with animals. When she and her family moved to the coast, she instantly fell in love with the area, and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
Carley began working at Madeira Park Veterinary Hospital as a Veterinary Assistant in the beginning of January, 2019. She has been trained on-site with hands-on experience and plans to go to school to become a Registered Veterinary Technician.
When Carley is not at the hospital, she spends every possible moment with her dog Togo, hiking the trails, swimming at the beaches, and boating to new islands to explore. When she gets home, she spends the evenings with her partner Cameron and cuddling with her spoiled cat, Hobbes.
Tamara Juozaitis: Veterinary Assistant
Biography to come
Andrea, Office Manager/Receptionist
Brought up in Vancouver in a family of boaters, Andrea spent many summers in and around Pender Harbour. After 13 years spent on BC’s wild and remote Central Coast, she moved with her family to the much larger community of Garden Bay.
Andrea has been with Madeira Park Veterinary Hospital since the fall of 2009. Her love of animals drew her to the position, but it is the amazing staff and wonderful clients she works with every day that has kept her here (not to mention all the neat stuff she’s been learning along the way).
When not at the hospital, Andrea enjoys the multitude of outdoor activities that the Sunshine Coast has to offer with her 2 sons and her Golden Retriever Rufus.
Rufus & Holly
“I'm Rufus, the handsome red - head, and this is Holly, my curly-haired cohort. Together we are the meat and potatoes of this joint, the peanut butter, and jelly to their bread. We have many jobs around here, but the most important one is comedic and therapeutic relief for both our staff and patients. We are paid in cookies, so please feel free to stop by and give us one!”