If your beloved furry friend calls Jasper home, chances are you are familiar with Dr. Janet Jones, Jasper and Valemount’s local veterinarian. 

For the past 30 years, Dr. Jones and her team at the Jasper Veterinary Clinic have been at the helm of caring for local animals.

But now Dr. Jones is hanging up her stethoscope.

The Jasper Local sat down with the compassionate, consummate professional to learn more about her extensive career, what she loves most about caring for animals and what’s up next. 

Dr. Jones, you’ve been in Jasper for the past 30 years, a significant amount of time to dedicate to a place and career, what brought you to Jasper in the first place? 

I came in January of ’89 for four months of maternity leave and I left briefly for about a year afterwards, but otherwise I’ve been here ever since. I came out here when I was 13 and I just fell in love with the mountains. I grew up near Toronto and so the mountains were a big draw.

Tell us a little bit about what a typical day would look like for you at the clinic. 

Well, it’s hard to say what typical is, because things can always change. In the beginning it was just me and so two days a week I was going to Valemount. We did do surgeries most days so mornings would have a couple of appointments, then surgeries, then in the afternoon you do appointments again. [There is] lots of routine stuff like vaccines and things like that but you could have almost anything. We didn’t have a ton of emergencies here but if you had something, you pretty much had to deal with it because it’s a long way to the city. 

What inspired you to become a veterinarian?

British vet, James Harriet. I think everyone in my class had read James Harriet and had watched the TV program. But I always liked animals and was interested in medicine. You have to deal with people more than you initially think. At first I just want to help animals, but it’s [actually] all about people. I liked that I could be my own boss, that I could do lots of different things. I just always kind of thought that’s what I want to do.

What would you say has been your biggest highlight of your 30 year career?

A big highlight was being involved in the wolf relocation down to Yellowstone. That was a big deal a the time. And, just being able to get to know people and every day making a difference. You don’t save a life everyday but there are days when you save lives. 

How did last summer affect your operations? You unfortunately lost your clinic in the fire. 

I had put the clinic up for sale five days before the fire, so I was kind of ready to move on and so with the fire it changed things quite a bit and I no longer had a clinic to sell. What we did is we carried on in Valemount twice a week and then brought stuff back for people here. We closed down Valemount in October and brought everything to Jasper. We got a trailer from the Humane Society in Edmonton so there was a little surgery suite and we could do a fair bit of things. What it did do for me is brought something that was kind of out there in the distance to the now. It’s a terrible way to have it happen and I wish it hadn’t happened but it’s moved my plans a little bit further ahead and made them more certain.

So last summer’s events helped you solidify your plans for retirement. What are they?

I’m still going to do locums, do some work for Sarah [the new owner], still be involved in the community. I’m going to travel more. I’m going to see my family and friends more. I’m still going to be doing some work here and there. It’s bittersweet because I’ll miss the staff and I’ll miss the clients but I’m not totally getting out of veterinary medicine. 

It’s time to start your new chapter. Is there anything you wish to say to the community as you bid farewell?

It’s been a pleasure and it’s been an honour, and it’s been a great community, really welcoming and respectful. I’ve really felt that this community has been supportive and really good to be a part of. I thank all my clients for their patronage and for caring as much as they did about their animals. It’s been a real pleasure to have been an integral part of Jasper.

Georgia Ristivojevic // info@thejasperlocal.com

Dr. Jones and her friends will be having farewell drinks at The Jasper Legion on Saturday May 10th from 5 p.m. on. Join her and the team for a proper sendoff as she thanks the community for their support over her 30 year career.