Vision Therapy CanadaAbout Us
About Us
As Canadian Optometrists, we are dedicated to enhancing optometric education and public awareness of Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation to improve the lives of our patients.
Meet Our Board of Directors
- Virginia Donati, OD, FCOVD – President
- Michelle McKenzie, OD, FCOVD – Vice President
- Shirley Ha, OD, FCOVD – Director of Membership
- April Eryou, OD – Director of Continuing Education
- France Corriveau, OD, FCOVD – Secretary
- Kiran Ramesh, OD – Director of Internal and External Affairs
- Ronald Gall, OD, FCOVD – Treasurer
- Paul Rollett, OD, FCOVD – Director of Marketing
- Anglela Peddle, OD – Past President
Virginia Donati, OD, FCOVD – President
Dr. Donati attended the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia where she first learned about vision therapy by becoming a patient herself. Upon returning to Canada, she had the desire to bring her passion for vision therapy to her own patients so that they do not suffer needlessly with undiagnosed vision problems.
During her training, Dr. Donati received instruction in the latest in eye health and eye disease, refractive conditions, and children’s vision. She interned at several outstanding optometric and ophthalmologic clinics. She has authored and co-authored two articles in major optometric publications, one of which earned her the Award in Clinical Ethics from the American Schools and Colleges of Optometry. Dr. Donati has completed the Optometric Extension Program’s Clinical Curriculum in Vision Therapy and is an instructor-in-training with OEP. She is a founding member of COVT&R, the lead instructor for COVT&R’s Practical Vision Therapist Accreditation Program (PVTAP) in Ontario and is keenly interested in the education and training of new and existing vision therapists.
Dr. Donati welcomes patients of all ages and has a particular soft-spot for patients with vision-related learning problems.
Michelle McKenzie, OD, FCOVD – Vice President
Dr. McKenzie attended the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science where she received her Doctor of Optometry and Honours Bachelor of Science degrees. She completed an internship with OMNI Vision Centre in Atlanta, Georgia. Bolton was the perfect place to build a practice and raise a family, so in 1994 the Bolton Optometry Clinic opened its doors.
Having a special interest in pediatrics, binocular vision and neuro-rehabilitative optometry, Dr. McKenzie studied with the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPf) and completed the Core Curriculum. She is a Board Certified Fellow in the practice of vision development and vision therapy through the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD). Dr. McKenzie is a member of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA) and the Ocular Nutrition Society (ONS). She is also a member of the College of Syntonic Optometry (CSO) and has studied with Stefan Collier and his Next Generation Syntonics. Dr. McKenzie has completed the Padula Institute’s Neural-Visual Processing Treatment. She continues to attend regional, national and international courses in order to bring the latest information home to her patients.
Dr. McKenzie is a founding Board Member of the Canadian Optometrists in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation. She believes that education and communication is vital in spreading the news about developments in vision therapy and rehabilitation to Optometrists, other professionals and patients. In the spirit of giving back the community that has been so supportive, the Bolton Optometry Clinic has expanded to become a Professional development education center where Canadian and International experts meet with optometrists, therapists and other professionals to learn and experience new ideas.
Shirley Ha, OD, FCOVD – Director of Membership
Dr. Shirley Ha received her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science. After serving the residents of St. Catharines and its vicinity for 16 years, Dr. Ha moved to Burlington to be close to her family in 2006.
Dr. Ha believes true professionalism means giving back to the profession that has supported and helped her. She served on the Ontario Association of Optometrists Board of Directors from 1999 to 2006 and held the position of OAO President in 2004-2005. She is also a contributing member of the Questions Committee for the Optometry Examining Board of Canada (OEBC), as well as a Clinical Skills Assessor to verify skills competencies for the Canadian Assessment of Competence in Optometry (CACO).
Her interest in developmental and neuro-rehabilitative optometry, together with her passion for improving her patient’s lives took her on a path of professional development to include the completion of the Optometric Extension Program Foundation’s core clinical curriculum, the Padula Institute of Vision and Rehabilitation’s Neuro-Visual Processing therapy Levels 1, 2 and 3, the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association’s skills development Level 1 and 2, the Robert Sanet San Diego 5-Part Powerful Vision Therapy Seminar Series, the Cedarville Seminar Series for Optometric Vision Therapy, the Collier’s Syntonics Optometry Next Generation Levels 1, and 2 and many other regional and international clinical education related to vision therapy and habilitation/rehabilitation. She is committed to a lifetime of learning to increase her knowledge base.
Dr. Ha is a Board Certified Fellow in developmental vision and vision therapy by the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and is currently pursuing fellowship with the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association.
Dr. Ha is a founding Board member of the Canadian Optometrists in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation and hopes to increase awareness of the benefits of vision therapy and vision rehabilitation to parents, educators and allied health professionals through this non-profit organization. Her motto is to give patients of all ages the gift of functional vision beyond healthy eyes and 20/20 eyesight and afford them every opportunity to see, succeed and have a good quality of life.
Connect with Dr. Ha on Twitter, LinkedInor Pinterest, or subscribe to The Sight for Life Gazette for eye related health tips and information.
April Eryou, OD – Director of Continuing Education
Dr. Eryou got her Bachelor’s of Science and Doctor of Optometry from the University of Waterloo in 2008. It was during her fourth year internship at Evan Brown’s practice in Aukland, New Zealand that she was first introduced her to Vision Therapy and Behavioural Optometry. This experience drastically changed Dr. Eryou’s career plans as she decided that this was a field of optometry she must learn more about and practice. To continue her learning in the field she joined Dr. Shaun Golemba’s practice in Port Alberni, British Columbia. While at his practice, she took the Optometric Exentsion Program core curriculum courses. She also took Primitive Reflex Training with Dr. Sam Berne and Vestibular and Strabismus training with Dr. Jason Clopton and Dr. Curt Baxtrum.
Dr. Eryou moved to Toronto, Ontario in 2013 to be with her now husband. She locumed at various practices included travelling up to Northern communities to provide eyecare. Shortly after moving to Toronto, Dr. Eryou started Toronto Vision Therapy and Optometry. She has continued her quest for knowledge by taking clinical skills 1 and 2 with the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), doing Syntonics Training with Dr. Stefan l, taking an advanced Strabismus course with Dr. Samantha Slotnick, participating in a Sports Vision course run by Dr. Geoff Heddle and learning about the Z-Bell test with Dr. Deborah Zelinski.
Dr. Eryou has a passion for learning and sharing her knowledge with others. She loves learning both formally and from her patients. She is excited to share her passion for learning with COVT&R as the Director of Continuing Education.
France Corriveau, OD, FCOVD – Secretary
Dr. Corriveau received her Doctorate of Optometry from the Université de Montréal in 2008. She has always had a strong passion for binocular vision and developmental optometry and started providing vision therapy very early on in her career. Since graduation, Dr. Corriveau has been pursuing specialized training with a number of organizations, including: the Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEP), Canadian Optometrists in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation (COVT&R), and Padula Institute of Vision. She is a Fellow at the College of Optometrist in Vision Development (COVD).
Dr. Corriveau knew from a very young age that she wanted to be an optometrist and that she wanted to help people. Her kind, attentive and patient nature, along with her fluent bilingual skills, has allowed her to serve a wide range of patients; from serving as an in-house optometrist for old age homes across Ottawa to volunteering in Ecuador to fit glasses to children in need.
For leisure, Dr. Corriveau enjoys reading, playing the piano, cycling and is currently training for her first half marathon. She lives in Ottawa and travels to Montreal often to visit with her nieces and nephew.
Kiran Ramesh, OD – Director of Internal and External Affairs
Dr. Ramesh attended the University of Calgary where she received a Bachelors in Biochemistry. She then attended the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science where she received her Doctor of Optometry in 2004. She moved from Alberta to Ontario in July 2005 where she began work as an associate at Vision Care Centre. By January 2007, she took ownership of the clinic and began infusing the office with her personality.
In 2014, Dr. Ramesh was ready for more space and wanted to pursue her interest in binocular vision. She expanded to her current 4,000 sq. ft. space and began taking courses in binocular vision. Her courses were affiliated with Optometric Extension Program Foundation (OEPf), Syntonics with Dr. Stefan Collier, and Sanet Vision Seminars with Dr. Robert Sanet. It was at this point that her interest became a passion. Not only did she realize how she could further help people but also realized how much she had been struggling with her own binocular visual dysfunction. What she had always attributed to feeling tired, lack of interest, “a wandering mind”, and despite her accomplishments, feeling “dumb”, was a result of an undiagnosed visual dysfunction. Vision Therapy not only helps Dr. Ramesh’s patients but, helped Dr. Ramesh to redefine herself.
Dr. Ramesh has since made it her mission to increase the awareness of Vision Therapy both in and outside of Optometry. She now serves as the Director of Internal & External Affairs COVT&R.
Ron Gall, OD, MSc, FAAO, FCOVD, Diplomate (BVPPO)- Treasurer
Dr. Gall is an optometrist who believes “Vision is the Difference”. He cares for patients and is excited when they reach their potential and achieve success. From the beginning, Dr. Gall has offered vision therapy as an option for success. In 1993, Dr. Gall received his Doctorate in Optometry, then in 1995, he received his Master of Vision Science in the area of binocular vision after which he started his practice. In 1999, he received his Fellowship from the American Academy of Optometry (AAO), earned by only 5% of optometrists who give back to the profession in terms of research and leadership. In the fall of 2010, he moved his practice to a larger facility and opened the Foundation for Learning Centre – Vision is the Difference.
Paul Rollett, OD, FCOVD – Director of Marketing
Vision Therapy and neuro-visual rehabilitation have been Dr. Rollett’s optometric passion since graduating from the University of Waterloo in 2011. Suffering from convergence insufficiency throughout his schooling years, he has personally experienced the immense benefits of the services that his clinic now provides. Based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Dr. Rollett currently runs Okanagan Vision Therapy – a dedicated centre for Vision Therapy and neuro-visual rehabilitation.
As a Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and graduate of the OEPF clinical curriculum, Dr. Rollett eats, sleeps and breathes Vision Therapy. Seeing the expansion of this service in Canada is what continues to drive his purpose.
Outside of the clinic, Dr. Rollett loves spending time with his beautiful wife, pretending to be a wine connoisseur, and participating in nearly every amateur sport imaginable. He also enjoys pointing out how funny it is to write bios in the third person – we all know who’s penning these words.
Angela Peddle, OD – Past President
Dr. Angela Peddle received her Doctor of Optometry degree from Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Upon graduation, she completed a Residency in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation from SUNY State College of Optometry in New York, where she gained expertise in the area of pediatrics, special needs examinations, vision therapy, and neuro-rehabilitation. Upon completion, she received the distinguished Dr. Martin Birnbaum Memorial Award for Outstanding Knowledge and Skill in Behavioral Optometry.
Dr. Peddle now practices full scope optometry with a focus on vision therapy, neuro-rehabilitation, sports vision enhancement, pediatrics and special needs examinations. She is an adjunct faculty member and lecturer at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry in both the Binocular Vision and Special Needs Clinics. She is also the first private practice optometrist in Canada to offer a residency program in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation for Canadian optometrists.
With a keen interest in education, Dr. Peddle has published articles and posters on strabismus, amblyopia, and learning-related vision problems. She is also an international lecturer, offering courses in vision therapy techniques, oculomotor dysfunctions, binocular vision, and the newest research in strabismus and amblyopia therapy. Dr. Peddle is a board certified Fellow in developmental vision and vision therapy by the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (FCOVD).
Dr. Peddle is the founding and immediate Past President of the Canadian Optometrists in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation, a non-profit organization that promotes public and professional awareness and education in vision therapy.