Meet Our Team

Dr. Laura Kortschak

BScAgr; DVM Ontario Veterinary College 1986

Dr. Kortschak, or Dr. K as she is fondly called, graduated from the University of Guelph, with a Bachelor of Science in Animal and Poultry Science in 1982 and from the Ontario Veterinary College with honors, in 1986. She worked at various practices in Southern Ontario until her husband was transferred to Vancouver in 2002. She started working at South Surrey Veterinary Hospital in September of 2002 and quickly came to realize the beauty of the practice and the wonderful clientele it serves. When Dr. Olafson was looking to retire she saw the opportunity of fulfilling a lifelong dream and purchased the practice from him in November of 2008.

She brings with her many ideas from her years of practice and much enthusiasm for making the practice grow and achieve the potential that exists. She has a special interest in dentistry and is very satisfied when a dog or cat’s health improves after a dental. Her favourite part of practice is interacting with the pet’s owners. She enjoys nothing more than sharing a four legged family member’s escapades with their owners or discussing all your concerns for your pet’s health.

Dr. Kortschak and her husband Ernie have 3 wonderful children, Eric, Collin and Meaghan who are well on their way to being grown up. Eric is happily married and recently welcome his first child. He continues to teach school in North Vancouver; Collin is working in the film industry in Vancouver and Meaghan recently graduated with her nursing degree from the University of Victoria, and is working at Lion’s Gate Hospital. She has two cats “Kevin” and “Nigel”, and her beloved black lab “Gracie” who enjoys coming to work with her. Dr. Kortschak has recently brought her husband Ernie into the practice to help with the office management so she can focus on veterinary medicine. In her spare time she sings in the church choir, enjoys hiking and fitness and has returned to performing in local theatre productions.

Dr. Kortschak is a member of the BCVMA, CVMA and the SVBC. She also works a few shifts a month at the Animal Emergency Clinic of the Fraser Valley. She would like to see South Surrey Veterinary Hospital active in the community by visiting schools, cub groups and hosting special events at the hospital.

Dr. Hilary Hunter

BSc, Biology Acadia University: DVM, Ontario Veterinary College

Dr. Hunter graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2023. She has always had a passion for travel which led her to the east coast to complete her Bachelor of Science in Biology at Acadia University in Wolfville Nova Scotia. Upon completion of her BSc, Dr. Hunter was accepted into the DVM program at OVC, graduating with distinction in May 2023.

After graduating, Dr. Hunter decided to move to British Columbia to be with her partner and to explore all B.C has to offer. She lives with her partner Josh and her cat Thea.

In her spare time Dr. Hunter enjoys traveling, horseback riding, hiking, skiing and cooking. Dr. Hunter is enjoying these outdoor activities in beautiful B.C but is also discovering the wide variety of cuisines Vancouver has to offer and is looking for the next new gem.

Dr. Hunter grew up on a horse farm surrounded by animals large and small. From a young age she knew she wanted to be a veterinarian. From taming feral cats to competitively showing horses, she could not get enough of the human animal bond. Even though retired from the competitive show ring, Dr. Hunter still enjoys the company of horses and loves trail riding. She still has her childhood pony, Fergie, who lives with her family in Ontario.

Dr. Hunter has a special interest in Dermatology, Ophthalmology, soft tissue surgery and pain management. She realizes the importance of the human-animal bond and believes that every client and patient that comes to SSVH deserves the best care possible. Being a pet owner herself, she knows that our furry friends are not just companions but family. Dr. Hunter values communication, respect and empathy, offering this to all clients and patients.

As a recent graduate Dr. Hunter brings to SSVH new medical techniques and the most recent veterinary standards. She is beyond excited to start her journey in veterinary medicine at SSVH and cannot wait to meet everyone.

Dr. Rifat Alibhai

University of Edinburgh, MRCVS

Dr. Alibhai grew up on a small tropical island called Mombasa (Kenya, East Africa). After finishing high school, she attended Michigan State University for her pre-veterinary medicine. She moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, a year later to attend the University of Edinburgh's, Royal School of Veterinary Studies where she completed her veterinary degree and graduated in July 2003. Post graduation, she worked in England and then moved to Canada in 2008.

In her spare time, Dr Alibhai enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 children. Her hobbies include reading, listening to music, kayaking, cooking, and travelling. She has a labradoodle called Bilbo Baggins and some fish.

Dr. Alibhai has a special interest in all aspects of internal medicine, geriatric care and likes to practice fear free techniques in her everyday interactions with her patients.

She is looking forward to practicing at SSVH!

Dr. April Lau

University of Melbourne, DVM

Dr. Lau received her veterinary degree from the University of Melbourne in 2023. After graduating, Dr. Lau ultimately decided to return to B.C., where she grew up.
Dr. Lau grew up surrounded by pets since an early age which led to her developing a strong appreciation for these furry companions. Her passion and interest in animals were the main motivators in achieving her childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian.
Dr. Lau has an adorable but lazy Ragdoll, "Udon". Her extended fur family also consists of "Muiju," a Bernese Pyrenees mix, and "Mocha," a rescue tabby. In her spare time, Dr. Lau enjoys taking her cat out for strolls, watching dramas, and trying out new eateries with her partner. She has also recently taken up crocheting small animal plushies. As an avid drinker of coffee and bubble tea, Dr. Lau is always up for a coffee and bubble tea run.
Although Dr. Lau hasn't developed a special interest in any area, she is, however, very excited to see all there is to offer in the field of veterinary medicine. She is happy to bring new perspectives using her experiences working in Melbourne.
She is elated to take the first steps into her veterinary journey with SSVH and is looking forward to being another pillar of support for everyone.

Dr. Ben Taylor

University of Glasgow MRCVS, BVMS, BSc

Dr. Taylor, an avid traveler, earned his veterinary degree from the University of Glasgow in 2022. After spending 5 years exploring the land of bagpipes and tartan, he decided to return home to join the SSVH team. Until all his final paperwork and Licensing is through, Dr. Taylor will be with us as a veterinary intern. Dr. Taylor is a familiar face to the team as he worked alongside the SSVH family in 2020 during the onset of the pandemic.

During his time in Scotland, Dr. Taylor worked closely with the CVMA as president of the University of Glasgow chapter, and earned the CVMA International Student Leadership Award. He also worked alongside the university studying small mammal populations on campus, leading to a re-wilding effort to make the university more ecofriendly. Dr. Taylor could also be found running around the university lacrosse pitch spreading his love of the sport with the student population.

Dr. Taylor can often be found exploring the mountains and lakes with his partner Alyssa and their family pups Khaya and Kali.

Having worked in real estate before his transition to veterinary medicine, Dr. Taylor understands the importance of doing what you love, and he pours that passion into every patient he sees. Dr. Taylor has a passion for environmental science and surgery and cannot wait to explore his exciting career alongside the expert mentorship of Dr. Kortschak and the SSVH team.

Ernest Kortschak, B.A.Sc., P.Eng., CIM

Ernie joined SSVH full time in 2018 as practice manager after retiring from DuPont where he enjoyed a professional career of almost 40 years. As practice manager, Ernie is responsible for the business activities of the practice, providing a safe work environment, and ensuring that the daily operations of the clinic runs smoothly allowing the entire team to focus solely on consistently delivering our mission to provide our patients and their owners the very best in veterinary care and service.

As Dr K’s bio explains, we are very proud parents of three grown and successful children and daughter in-law, who add an additional three cats to our two cats and a dog providing for some very exciting and active family gatherings. In his spare time Ernie enjoys woodworking, hiking and skiing.

Some quotable quotes:

“When I look into the eyes of an animal, I do not see an animal. I see a living being. I see a friend. I feel a soul.” (A.D.Williams)
“Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.” (Steve Jobs)

Sarah Kilborn

Sarah knew she wanted to work with animals ever since her family got their first puppy when she was five. Having many different kinds of animals growing up increased her love for animals even more.
Sarah has worked in the veterinary field since 2013 and joined the SSVH team in 2018. Over the years she learned she wanted to become more involved in the day to day workings behind the scenes, and in 2023 she became our Office Manager. She is passionate in not only giving the best care to your pets but also in providing a great workplace for the SSVH team and helping our clients whenever needed.

Joan Katz

Joan joined the SSVH Team as a receptionist in June 2020. She had recently relocated back to Delta after 15 years in Terrace, BC where she worked as a veterinary receptionist / assistant.
Joan has always had a love of animals and has counted rabbits and numerous cats and dogs among her family members for as far back as she can remember. Joan has a son who lives in the Lower Mainland and a daughter and grandson who reside in Terrace. Staying close with family and friends brings the greatest joy to her life along with a love of gardening, reading, shopping, seasonal décor, and everything Christmas!
While currently without pets of her own, Joan takes every opportunity to shower affection on our patients and clinic cats. Joan is dedicated to providing our clients with the best possible care and service. Her calm and professional nature is an asset to our front desk team.

Angel Davis

Angel was born and raised in the lower mainland, spent her teenage years in Nashville Tennessee and has lived in various places as an adult, happily settling finally in the South Surrey area. She is an avid traveler, and very passionate about seeing the world. She loves to explore any chance she gets whether it’s a road trip a couple of hours away, or a flight across the world. Her favourite places to visit so far have been Scotland and Ireland.
Angel has always been a farm girl at heart, loving all animals large and small. She enjoys gardening, being in her gum boots, enjoying autumn bonfires and being around horses. She has a border collie Named Lottie and a Great Dane cross named Hogan. She loves all dogs, and small fluffy kittens, but the giant breeds have a special place in her heart.
Angel joined us in October and her warm smile and great sense of humor makes her a perfect fit. You will hear her pleasant voice when you call us so, please make an effort to say hello.

Katelyn Hayter

Katelyn has always loved animals since she was a little girl. Katelyn was a foster parent to over 50 cats and kittens before adopting her two cats from V.O.K.R.A. Her “foster tails” are two awesome cats named Lacey and Jasper. After fostering, Katelyn decided to take the Veterinary Assistant Program at Douglas College in 2019. She aspires to be an advocate for all animals in need. Her goal is for all clients and their fur babies to have a great experience when they visit SSVH.

Tammy Castor

Tammy started with us in 2018 and has been a welcome addition to our team. She became an Animal Health Technician as she loves to help animals in need and to work to help the sick ones leave happy and healthy again. She has a lovely patient way with the animals and it shows every time she works with them. Tammy's fur family consists of "Cha-Chi", a 10 year old chihuahua, "Tobi" a 7 year old American Cocker Spaniel, and "Miko" a 12 year old Domestic Short Hair.
Tammy's philosophy to live by is "Forget the mistake, remember the lesson"

Debbie DeBeck

Debbie joined the team almost 2 years ago now but has been a Veterinary Technician for a little over 25 years. She feels her decision to become a technician has been one of the best decisions she ever made. Her love for animals shows in all aspects of her work. Her goal is to have every cat that comes to SSVH love her the most.
Debbie has a senior cat, "Wink" who she started out fostering but was soon welcomed as a loving addition to her human family. She has recently brought home a kitten, "Grover", who has won everyone's heart.
Debbie's philosophy in life is to work hard but play harder and her spirit shows at work a she keeps us all smiling with her take on life.

Jennifer Jao

It has been a dream of Jennifer’s ever since she was a little girl to work with animals, leading her to the Veterinary Technician Program and becoming a Registered Veterinary Technologist. Being Fear Free Certified, her passion includes not only taking care of patients physically, but also mentally. Nothing makes her more happy than to see a patient excitedly pull their pet parents into the hospital! She has self proclaimed as the “cat lady” and has experience fostering cats and kittens for various cat rescue organizations since 2014. The most cats she had at once in her home temporarily was 15 kitties! Jennifer has Otter the dog, and Nona and Finnigan the cats. In addition to her fur children, she has great interest in freshwater aquatic fish and has a large planted tank as a hobby!

Jen Labelle

Jen has always had a love for animals, and this is what led her to pursue her career in animal care.
Jen graduated from the Granville business college in 2005 and has been working as a veterinary assistant since then. Jen has been a part of the SSVH team since 2018 and has just recently returned to us after a maternity leave. She has a keen interest in the role of nutrition in keeping your pets’ healthy.

Jen has a Labrador named Chevy, a cat named Penny, and a bunny named Poppy. In her spare time you can find her enjoying her two little girls, walking and appreciating the outdoors.

Jen’s goal is to provide each patient with the care and attention as if they were her own.

Cheyenne Belmond-Griffin

Cheyenne grew up in the lower mainland with 3 siblings and her family always had cats and dogs. She even got to experience farm animals on her aunts’ farm and rode the horses every weekend! Since she can remember she has had a passion for the field of veterinary medicine and animals of every kind. Cheyenne graduated from the Veterinary Health Care Assistant program from Vancouver career college in spring 2023 and is excited about learning and growing her knowledge and career surrounded by people (and animals) who carry the same passion. She currently shares her house with her two Great Danes Skyla and Theo, and three cats Kahlúa, Stella, and Max. On her days off, Cheyenne enjoys hiking with her friends and family (and pups) and travelling as much as possible!

Alysha Makowsky

Alysha was born and raised in White Rock. She went to Granville college to obtain her Veterinary Assistant Certification and graduated in 2018. She has worked at other veterinary hospitals before joining the SSVH team this year.
She has a 1.5 year old Boston Terrier named "Minnie" who she loves to hike with. In her spare time she likes to crochet, cook and bake.

Rey Brisson

Rey has had an affinity for animals and the field of Veterinary Medicine ever since she was a child. Her childhood dog “Cooper” had considerable trips to the veterinarian and whenever he had to go Rey would beg to come along, hoping to get a glimpse of how things worked at a veterinary hospital. After obtaining her own cat “Salem” in high school, Rey wanted to learn how to properly take care of him and what better way than to go with him to his vet visits and ask the right questions. After high school Graduation Rey attended Douglas College's Veterinary Assistant course, a very rewarding experience for her. At the end of the Veterinary Assistant course, each student has to attend a practicum and what better place for Rey to do so than the clinic her family went to with their pets, SSVH. For Rey, watching everyone in action was like seeing her heroes go to work, she was able to put her classroom learning to use and she fell in love with the veterinary field all over again. At the end of her practicum Rey was asked to join the team at SSVH and we are very glad she agreed. Rey has been a great addition to our amazing team of people!
In her free time and outside of work, Rey is a big fan of getting out in nature, living for camping and exploring beautiful BC. Rey read all kinds of literature, one of her favorites being poetry. She also enjoys movies and art.

Nicole Hughes

Growing up Nicole was always surrounded by many different types of pets, such as cats and household exotics. These experiences are what grew her love for animals and her dedication to want to work with and care for all animals.

She graduated from the VOAC Douglas College program, where she loved learning and volunteering at clinics and shelters. Becoming a veterinary assistant has been a dream come true for Nicole, where she can help care for animals and constantly learn more about the field.

Nicole shares her life with her two cats, a Bengal named Scout and a melanistic Savannah named Mage. Nicole grew up with Bengals all her life and fell in love with the breed and their high intelligence. She enjoys spending her days tiring out her cats by walking them on outdoor leash walks, playing with them, and watching them run on their cat wheel.

Nicole likes reading, playing games and researching all types of animal care for fun. She watches veterinary documentaries at home to relax, and likes spending time up at her cabin at Lac La Hache where she can enjoy nature and wildlife. "

Cassidy Clisby

Cassidy was accepted into her first year of Veterinary Medicine at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatchewan. She will be graduating in 2027, and I sure she will be spending some if her summers here with us at SSVH.

Gracie

Gracie is Dr.K’s black lab and has been a member of our team since she was 7 weeks old. Her role at the clinic is multi-purpose. She is the official greeter and is often found at the front door having a sleep. In fact you will likely have to step over her as she enjoys this spot so much she's loathe to move. She is also our official "cookie tester" as she samples treats on a daily basis and it makes Dr. K's work hard to keep her slim and trim. She is also a grief counselor and is very willing to give a hug if you are sad or just feel the need for a lab snuggle. She has an incredible wardrobe of bandannas that she models daily.

Gertrude & Minerva

Gertrude and Minerva, or Gertie and Minnie, are two of our resident cats. Born at the clinic in 2009, they have been with us ever since. Even though they are sisters they have very different personalities. Gertie is often our "greeter" and you'll find her sitting at the front desk welcoming you to the clinic. Minnie is a little more shy and takes her role as "chair warmer" very seriously as she is often found on Dr. Jen's or Dr. K's desk chair sleeping.

Olive

Olive appeared on a our doorstep as a foundling a number of years ago and was originally adopted by a staff member. As the years went by Olive's owner was unable to find accommodation that would allow her to keep her beloved friend so we agreed to adopt Olive back. Olive is our clinic clown as you can see by the photo. She enjoys getting into tight places, doing silly things and just generally making us laugh.

Dante

Dante is the latest addition to our Clinical Support team. He originally belonged to Dr. K's mother in Ontario. 2 years ago Dr. K's mom had to move to a home where she could no longer have a pet. Dante was flown out here and joined the staff at the clinic. He is the only male among the female pets and holds his ground quite well. He and Olive are particular friends and can often be found sleeping in the towel cupboards together.