William Woodstock

MStJ- Board Chair

William Woodstock brings over 20 years of experience in emergency services, including policing, firefighting, pre-hospital medical care, and military service. He has dedicated his career to protecting and serving the public, with a strong focus on community health, crisis response, and emergency management.
William previously served on the Board of Directors for St. John Ambulance – Durham Region, where he held the role of Community Services Chair. He is also a current member of the Lakeridge Health Board Community Advisory Panel, contributing to regional health strategy and public engagement.
In recognition of his humanitarian efforts and commitment to public health, William was invested into the Order of St. John in 2024, and was awarded the Kings Coronation Medal in 2025. A decorated first responder, his leadership is grounded in compassion, service, and a deep understanding of community needs.
William has completed executive education at Harvard Business School and formal training in emergency and disaster management through the FEMA Emergency Management and Disaster University and Emergency Management Ontario. He brings both frontline experience and strategic insight to his leadership.
As Board Chair of the Community Veterinarian Program, William provides governance, strategic oversight, and partnership development to help remove barriers to veterinary care for vulnerable populations.

Dr. Kristy Rebek

BsC, DVM – Board Vice-Chair

Kristy Rebek obtained her honours, Bachelor of Science in Biological Science from the University of Guelph and then went on to earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ross University, and completed her clinical year at the Royal Veterinary College in London, England. Since graduating, she has worked at several small animal veterinary clinics across Canada and Australia.

Kristy brings several years of experience providing veterinary care to vulnerable populations, as well as teaching, research, and leadership experience. She has volunteered for Community Veterinary Outreach for the past 7 years in both a veterinary and public health capacity, where she became passionate about providing care to under-serviced communities. Through vet school, she was on the executive committee for VIDA, a non-profit organization providing affordable and accessible veterinary care throughout the Caribbean. She was also the former Event Coordinator for the University of Guelph Future Vets Club.  She developed an interest in clinical research through her time in St. Kitts researching sea turtles and now sits on the Animal Health Advisory Council for Morris Animal Foundation. She acts as a mentor to recently graduated veterinarians around the world through MentorVet and previously taught as a Teaching Assistant at Ross University. She is passionate about volunteering and has been the recipient of the Ontario Volunteer Service Award and City of Pickering Outstanding Leadership Award for her previous volunteer efforts.

Dr. Devon Barnes

BsC, DVM-Director

Bio in progress.

Dr. Lindsay Patterson

BsC, DVM – Secretary

Dr. Kate Bishop-Williams

MSc, PhD – Director / Chair-Clinical Research

Dr. Kate Bishop-Williams is an epidemiologist, program evaluator, human-animal-environment health practitioner, and public health leader with a passion for improving community wellbeing through equity-driven systems change. She holds a PhD in Epidemiology and brings over a decade of experience in public health, research, and evaluation.
Kate has led large-scale evaluations and supported frontline programs across Canada, including community paramedicine initiatives and emergency homelessness services. She is the Director of Strata Health & Research Consulting, where she works with organizations to design and assess high-impact programs across the health and social sectors. Her expertise spans program evaluation, grant development, and the integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into organizational strategy.
Kate also serves on the Board of Directors for Home of Grace Care Centre, a children’s home in rural Kenya, where she has contributed for over eight years to strategic planning, partnership development, and fundraising.
She is honoured to bring her experience and commitment to accessible, compassionate care to the Board of Vets Around the Corner.

Venessa Drakes

RVT – Director

Venessa grew up in Mississauga with multiple cats as part of her family. Venessa started working in veterinary clinics at 16 as a high school co-op student and continued working in veterinary clinics throughout her high school and university career. Venessa graduated from Brock University with a degree in English Language and Literature in 2010, and then graduated from Seneca College in 2012 with a Veterinary Techician Diploma. Venessa became a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) in August of 2012 and has been fostering a special interest in anesthesia. Venessa has previously worked for the Toronto Humane Society, and has volunteered extensively with Toronto Street Cats where she helped provide free spay and neuter services to feral street cats in the GTA. Venessa is currently the Lead Anesthesia RVT at Toronto Animal Health Partners and is working towards a Veterinary Technician Specialty designation in Anesthesia and Analgesia. She currently lives in Richmond Hill with her husband Kris, and cats Meatloaf and Riggs. In her spare time, Venessa enjoys reading, embroidery, swimming, and going for walks in nature.

Ann Rose

Treasurer

Ann Rose brings over 15 years of leadership experience in sales, business development, and team building, with a strong passion for community impact and animal welfare. As a senior leader in the tech sector, she has built and scaled high-performing teams across North America and Europe, with a focus on mentorship, equity, and sustainable growth.

Ann has a long history of volunteerism in the animal advocacy space. She served on the board of Pugalug Pug Rescue for five years and has been a dedicated volunteer with St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program, where she also held the role of Central Unit Coordinator. Her blend of executive experience and deep community involvement makes her a valuable asset to the Community Veterinarian Program’s mission of delivering accessible care to pets and their families.

Ann lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and three dogs and is excited to bring both her heart and strategic insight to advancing compassionate veterinary support in the community.