Murdo Messer, BA (Email)

Murdo was born in Labrador but grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, and St. Anthony Newfoundland. He now resides in Hilden, Nova Scotia, with his wife Helene. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1993. He works for the federal government as a graphic designer. Murdo is an accomplished sculptor and painter and designed and built the CWRC’s flight cage.

Barbara Hildebrand, DVM

Barb grew up in Fredericton, New Brunswick and received an undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of New Brunswick. She completed a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the Atlantic Veterinary College in PEI in 1991. Barb has been working in companion animal hospitals since 1991. She is the consulting veterinarian for The Animal Care Facility at Saint Mary's University in Halifax and teaches the veterinary portion of the Veterinary Assistant Program at the Maritime Business College in Dartmouth. She is an avid birdwatcher and credits her initial love of birds by work done as a student with the Canadian Wildlife Service. She has now been involved with avian medicine, surgery and rehabilitation of over 14 years. Barb is co-founder of the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and she lives in Elmsdale with her husband, son, Henry the dog and aviary.

Helene grew up in New Waterford, Nova Scotia and did her undergraduate training at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Truro, Nova Scotia. She completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the Atlantic Veterinary College in 1991. Helene has been primarily involved with companion animal practice since graduation. While living in Newfoundland, she was a consulting veterinarian for the Salmonier Nature Park and was part of the park’s rehabilitators network.Helene also worked with marine mammals, as part of the Whale Research Group of Memorial University of Newfoundland. Helene practices companion animal veterinary medicine on a part-time basis. She is currently a sessional lecturer and instructs Clinical Skills Labs at the Animal Health Technology program at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. She is also an Advanced Skills Instructor for the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council. Helene is a co-founder of the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and she lives in Hilden with her husband Murdo, their 2 dogs and 3 birds.

Curtis Alexander Stiles, DVM 

Curtis was born in Ontario and spent most of his formative years as an Upper Canadian. Upon graduation from high school he began his transformation into a Maritimer. He attended the NSAC in Truro from 1995-1998 and then was shipped back to Ontario to start his veterinary medicine degree at the Ontario Veterinary College. He successfully escaped Ontario and once again and returned to Truro. He formed a loose association with the CWRC in the summer of 2002. Since then, the bond has become more formal as he was accepted on to the Board of Directors in 2003. Curtis was recently accepted into the Small Animal Internship program at the Atlantic Veterinary College. He will be moving to the Island with his dog, three cats and rabbits in June, but will retain his bond to CWRC during his time away.

Michele Sheppard, RVT

Michele is a native of St. John’s, Newfoundland. She has a diploma in Animal Health Technology from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College and, in 1995, became a nationally certified Registered Veterinary Technician. In addition to working at Acres Animal Hospital full-time, Michele is completing a BSc at Dalhousie University. She has held various positions on the executive of The Eastern Veterinary Technician Association since 1996 and is currently Vice-President. Michele, her husband Mark, two daughters, two cats and a Dachshund all live in Dartmouth.

Patrick Clowater, BSc

Patrick is a native of New Brunswick. He graduated from the University of New Brunswick, in Fredericton, in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He worked for a number of years as a representative for a pet supply company and currently operates an independent home-based business. Patrick lives in Truro with his wife, Julie, and two children.

David Kaulback, MBA

David is a Nova Scotia native who grew up in the Annapolis Valley. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees in business from Acadia and Dalhousie universities, respectively. David has worked in Communications for the federal government since 1992. He was a Senior Communications Officer with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and is currently a Communications Advisor with Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC). In 2001, he acted as the NS Director of Communications for HRDC for a period of five months. David, his wife Carol and two sons live in Halifax.

NaDeana Norris, BSC

NaDeana grew up in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2001, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree (Biology) from Memorial University of Newfoundland and soon after moved to British Columbia where her love of wildlife rehabilitation began. While living in B.C. she was a volunteer with a local rehabiliation centre and completed an internship in wildlife rehabiliation. She also holds a Certificate in Animal Welfare from the University College of the Cariboo and is a member of the IWRC. Currently, NaDeana works at Central Nova Animal Hospital as a Veterinary Assistant. NaDeana, her husband Michael, their 8 cockatiels, 2 Shelties and 2 cats live in Belmont in a rather noisy house.