Staff

Our Team

Dr. Ken Wright, DVM, Owner

Dr. Ken Wright was born and raised in Southern Alberta. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with Work Co-op from the University of Lethbridge in 2001. His Co-op involved antimicrobial resistance in beef cattle at the Research Station in Lethbridge. He then obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon. Upon graduation in 2005, he and his wife Natalie moved to Claresholm where they fell in love with the small community and all that it entails. All of his free time is consumed by his four sons and their activities. His main area of interest is Beef Cattle production but loves the variety of mixed practice and the challenges it brings.

Dr. Kelsey Vandervalk, DVM, Owner

Kelsey grew up in Carbon, AB where she spent the majority of her time on her grandparents' purebred Charolais cattle operation. From a very young age Kelsey had a strong passion for cattle and was involved with many junior livestock organizations including 4-H, Charolais youth associations, and the cattlemen's young leaders program. Kelsey graduated from Carbon High School in 2006 and did her pre-veterinary courses at Red Deer College prior to being accepted to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon in 2008. She graduated from Vet School in 2012 and moved to Claresholm to work at Claresholm Veterinary Services as a mixed animal vet. Kelsey became a partner in the clinic in 2021. Her main interests are in small animal surgery and dentistry, small animal emergency medicine and anything bovine! Kelsey and her husband Darren farm and ranch with Darren's family east of Claresholm. Their cattle operation, Flying V Cattle Co., now sells their locally grown beef directly to consumers in the Claresholm area. Darren and Kelsey have 3 kids; Keston, Sutton, and Kaycee who keep them very busy!

Dr. Jocelyn Gibson, DVM, Owner

Dr. Jocelyn Gibson grew up west of Red Deer riding horses and with her cat and dog. She obtained her BSc from Augustana Campus University of Alberta and spent her summers working at the beef and swine units at the research station in Lacombe. She went on to graduate from the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. She has practiced throughout Alberta at mixed animal practices before settling in Claresholm. Dr. Gibson enjoys the variety of a mixed animal practice. She particularly enjoys soft tissue surgery and dentistry in both large and small animals. Dr. Gibson became a partner in the clinic in 2021. Outside of work, Dr. Gibson spends time with her partner Duncan and their two pets, Lou (Dog) and Chuck (cat). She enjoys working on various crafts in the winter (sewing, knitting, painting) and has a self professed addiction to audiobooks and podcasts (she is always on the hunt to learn something new - both personally and professionally) Be forewarned, Dr. Gibson likes a good pun (though staff will tell you that the term 'good' is used loosely.)

Dr. Keliesha Roth, DVM

Dr. Keliesha Roth graduated from the University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine program in 2015. She has practiced mixed animal medicine in Alberta since graduating, and has a strong interest in cattle and small animal. Dr. Roth is excited to be splitting her time between Claresholm Veterinary Services and Country Vets in Pincher Creek. She and her husband Brady are both happy to be living in Southern Alberta where they enjoy hiking and camping in the mountains with their family.

Terryl Way, RVT, Owner

Terryl Way was born and raised in Sparwood, B.C. and has been working at Claresholm Veterinary Services as an Animal Health Technologist since 2002. Terryl became a partner in the clinic in 2021. She completed her RVT course in Fairview, AB in 2000. Terryl has a special interest and training in small animal dentistry and wildlife, but enjoys working with all species that a mixed animal practice has to offer. She and her husband live on an acreage east of Stavely with their son Wyatt. They have horses, cows, goats, chickens, sheep, dogs and cats to keep them busy. In her spare time she enjoys woodworking, gardening, reading, photography and spending time with family.

Crysal Caradonna, RVT

Crystal was born and raised in Southern Alberta. She has had a passion for animals from a young age. Graduating from Olds College in 2007 as a Veterinary Technologist. Her passion for mixed animal has taken her to a few different areas but she has always stayed in Southern Alberta. Crystal started her tech career at Claresholm Vet and rejoined the team in April 2021. She and her husband James live in Claresholm with all their critters.

Holly Busby, RVT

Holly was raised in Claresholm and recently moved back to town after living in Calgary for many years. Holly graduated from Olds College in 2022 as a Veterinary Technologist. Prior to this she worked as a Paramedic for four years but made the change from human to veterinary medicine due to her love for animals from a young age. Holly's special interests include emergency and large animal medicine.
Her three boys are Ron (siamese cross), Eddie (cowboy corgi) and Tucker (boxer cross). In her spare time Holly enjoys racing cars in the summer and spending time with her family, friends and animals.

Darcy Blair, Office Administrator

Darcy grew up in the Claresholm area. She joined Claresholm Veterinary Service's team in 2011 and enjoys interacting with all the clients and patients. She enjoys all the challenges a mixed animal practice brings. Along with her family, they manage a cow/calf herd on the family farm.

Natalie Pedersen, Reception

Natalie was born and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland. She has lived in Southern Alberta for 16 years, moving here from New York where she lived for 10 years and attended University. In her spare time she enjoys camping, boating and riding ATV's. She lives on an acreage NW of Claresholm with her family, 3 dogs and 8 cats.

Sophie Campbell, Veterinary Technical Assistant

Sophie Campbell was born and raised in Calgary. She lived there until she was 17, after graduating high school she moved to Edmonton for the summer. In the fall of 2018 she attended Olds College and graduated with a certificate in Veterinary Technical Assistant. She moved to Claresholm in 2019 and joined the team at Claresholm Veterinary Services. She come from a family of 4 with an older brother who lives in Lethbridge. For fun she likes to crochet and watch horror movies. She also has a love of animals and has a cat named Snowball......nicknamed Snowy!

Lyndsay Rabbitt, Veterinary Assistant

Lyndsay grew up in Salmon Arm, BC and made her way to Alberta in 2008 to attend college and play basketball. Her love for camping and dirt biking brought her out to Claresholm, where she met her partner, Brad. They farm and ranch east of Claresholm. She has really enjoyed learning life on the farm, from driving grain truck, hauling hay, feeding cows (sometimes a little too generously, which Brad says they will never financially recover from!), and especially calving time. Lyndsay really enjoys spending her spare time with her dog Jennie, Brad, family and friends, cooking, photography, laughing and anything outdoors. She loves working with all the different animals at the clinic and meeting all the clients.