Dr. Christina Karkanis - DVM + Practice Owner
Dr Christina has known throughout her entire childhood that she wanted to be a veterinarian. Raised in Milton Ontario on a small hobby farm, she pursued her studies at the Ontario Veterinary College. During school, through a prestigious externship at the Baltimore Zoo, she immersed herself into not only companion animal medicine, but exotic animal care as well. She graduated from Ontario Veterinary College in 1995, then took a step further and obtained her Chiropractic license by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association in 2001.
Her expertise in exotics combined with her specialization in Chiropractic care, she brings in a unique blend of services to not only her practice, but to the entire city and surrounding area as the only chiropractic and exotic veterinarian!
After years of hard work and devotion to veterinary medicine, Dr Christina’s vision of owning a practice finally came to life. She purchased and renovated her building in 2012, and her clinic officially opened its doors in 2013, turning her dream into a thriving reality.
Dr Christina is committed to delivering compassionate and personalized care to the animals and families we serve. When away from the clinic, family time is precious to her. Her days keep busy by spending cherished time with her husband, beloved children, and lovable zoo of pets, including two dogs; Buzz Z and Ophelia, three cats; Penny, Lexi and Bluebin and her five horses; Dal, Cy, Jess, Sol and Francesca!
Meuriza Contant - Practice Manager
More commonly known as Rhys, with a passion for animals that spanned her entire life, Rhys has dedicated nine years to the veterinary industry. She proudly joined the Bay City team in 2018, and in working her way up, she has now assumed the role as practice manager. Rhys is committed to supporting her incredible team and delivering exceptional care to the patients in the hospital.
When she is not managing the hospital, Rhys loves spending time with her enormous family of kids and pets alike – Her two beautiful boys Avery and Leo, her horses Fox and Bleo, her two lovely dogs Shilo and Khaleesi and even her little axolotl friends, Seze and Solan. As a proud mom and pet parent, Rhys understands the importance of family and is devoted to providing top notch care to our valued clients and patients of Bay City. Her journey is a testament to hard work and dedication, and she is thrilled to lead a team that shares her love for animals.
Ashlynn Croft - Veterinary Receptionist
We are proud to welcome Ashlynn to the team. Joining in June 2025, Ashlynn is our friendly face at the front lobby. As a veterinary receptionist, she’s dedicated to making every pet owner feel welcome and cared for. Growing up in Mattawa and spending her whole life with family pets including cats, dogs and rabbits, Ashlynn has a deep love for animals. When she is not working, she loves spending time with her beloved nephews as a proud aunty, and with her own furry feline friends, Lola and Nora. We are thrilled to have Ashlynn on board and can not wait to see the joy she brings to our clinic!
Lily McCubbin - Assistant Manager
As Dr Christina’s daughter, Lily is no stranger to the veterinary world. She joins our team as a Veterinary Receptionist and Assistant Manager, making seasonal appearances like a migratory bird – but we are always happy to see her fly in! When she is not helping out at the clinic, Lily is a full time student at Carlton University in Ottawa, chasing her dreams and making us proud. Her enthusiasm and contagious smile brings a burst of energy to our clinic and we are thrilled to have her on board, even if it is a few months at a time!
Emma Gordon - Veterinary Technician
When she's not saving furry (or scaly) lives here at the hospital, Emma can be found hiking, camping, or splashing in the water. This outdoorsy enthusiast is passionate about exotic animal medicine and has a wealth of experience working with large animals. A proud graduate of Northern College's veterinary technician program (class of 2023), Emma has come full circle - growing up in North Bay, venturing to Niagara to start her career, and returning home to join the team here at Bay City. At home, Emma's menagerie includes two mischievous cats, Lucifur and Sulley, two lovable dogs, Shaggy and Harley, a bearded dragon named Billie, and a crested gecko named Morticia. With her love for adventure and dedication to animal care, Emma is a valuable addition to our team.
Lauren McCoy - Veterinary Assistant
Originally from Brampton, Lauren has called North Bay her home for the last two years. With five years experience in veterinary medicine, Lauren brings a passion to animal care to every aspect of her work here at Bay City. When she is not helping her furry patients feel their best, Lauren can be found practicing Muay Thai or expressing her creativity through art. With a soft spot for police dogs, she shares her life with an enormous, beautiful Belgian Malinois, Molly and a tiny budgie, Zucchini (Zazu for short!). Her artistic side and martial arts hobby bring balance to her life; however veterinary medicine is where her heart truly lies.
Critter - Clinic Mascot
Meet Critter, our clinics resident cuddle expert and mischief maker extraordinaire. This little black kitty was rescued and brought into our clinic (and hearts), where he’s been perfecting the art of napping, snuggling and chewing open food bags since. Rumor has it, he’s secretly plotting world domination – but only after his next nap. Don’t worry, he’s all bark (err, meow) and no bite – unless you’re a bag of kibble. A special shoutout goes to our loyal clients who have fallen victim to Critter’s chewing habits and are familiar with the “Critter Discount”. Yep – we offer a discount on those bags with “character” (aka, his chew marks) We make the most of his mischief… we love you Critter.
Snapshots of laughter and memories made together. Take a peek at our team’s fun side
