Dr. Mirna Topic
Veterinarian
Mirna is thrilled to have joined the Tsolum team in March 2020, and she’s excited to be working with farm pets and companion animals alike. Using her passion for general practice and preventative medicine, Mirna looks forward to working with each and every one of you to keep the animals in your life happy and healthy.
From a young age, Mirna grew up spending every spare moment working at a barn looking after horses and any other animal that wandered by. From there her desire to become a vet grew naturally. Following a Bachelor of Science from the University of British Columbia, she completed her veterinary studies at the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest in February 2019. When the opportunity to work in mixed animal practice arose, it was a no-brainer decision to be back around the animals she first fell in love with.
Growing up in Vancouver and moving to the Island has been a shift for Mirna. Luckily, she’s never too far from her right-hand-man and stray rescue, Alfie. Not one to sit still, Mirna loves downhill skiing and has mastered both the “pizza” and the slightly more advanced “french fries.”
Suzanne Knopp
Office Manager
Suzanne joined the Tsolum team in 2010 when we were just treating farm animals. She became the office manager of the clinic in the spring of 2022. Her and her husband own a dairy farm in Courtenay, and she can occasionally be seen driving the silage truck or a tractor during the spring or summer. Her pets include Diesel, a Jack Russell Terrier, and Roxy, an Australian Blue Heeler.
Chrissie
Receptionist
Chrissie joined the Tsolum team in 2018 and has been part of our vital receptionist team ever since. Although her contagious smile has been hidden under a mask for the past year or so, trust us when we tell you that Chrissie’s positivity and cheer is infectious. Outside of work Chrissie enjoys road trips, the beach and spending time with her beautiful dog Kendasah.
Kate
Registered Veterinary Technician 
Kate is one of our exceptionally talented Registered Veterinary Technicians. Her years of experience and compassionate heart make her a vital piece to the Tsolum puzzle. Kate enjoys the beauty of the Comox Valley with her family and her lovely rescue dog Barry. An avid runner, you may even catch Kate going for a jog during her breaks!
Shaylee
Veterinary Assistant
Shaylee grew up in the Comox Valley and has always had a fierce passion for animals. Her caring heart led her to Tsolum Vet in 2017 to become a Veterinary Assistant. Shaylee is now seeking to expand her qualifications in the veterinary field and is currently in her third year of her Registered Veterinary Technician Program (while luckily for us still working full time at Tsolum!). Shaylee has a soft spot for any dog in need and can often be seen going above and beyond for your pet. Her spare time is devoted to her two trusted rescue dogs Tia and Togo.
Nicole
Registered Veterinary Technician
Nicole is our locum Registered Veterinary Technician who comes with years of experience and deep connections to the Comox Valley community. Nicole is passionate about creating positive experiences for your dogs and cats and making the vet clinic a safe and positive space for them. In her spare time you can find Nicole enjoying the sun with her pets, or surfing the waves on her paddleboard.
Larisa
Veterinary Assistant
Larisa joined the Tsolum team in the summer of 2020 for some work experience on her quest to apply for veterinary school at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatchewan. A quick study, Larisa has excelled as a veterinary assistant and has been working on honing her hands on skills with small and large animals alike. She started veterinary school in the fall of 2021. We wish her luck and look forward to having her back working with us during the summers.
Kayla
Veterinary Assistant
Kayla joined the team in the summer of 2021 after a switch in career goals. She is now gaining experience in veterinary medicine with a goal to one day be a veterinarian herself. Outside of work you can find her walking her dog Gracie and helping rehabilitate local wildlife at MARS wildlife rescue.
Summer Students
At Tsolum Vet we aim to provide opportunities to students (highschool, university and veterinary) who are interested in the field of veterinary medicine. This summer we have a wonderful team of students joining us from local highschools as well as a UBC Aggie (fun fact: both Dr. Parke and Dr. Topic are Aggie alumni of the Department of Agriculture, now Land and Food Systems at UBC).