Our Practice in Grande Prairie

Dr. Finlay grew up by the gold mines in South Africa and knew from a young age she wanted to follow a medically related career. She applied to and was accepted to study optometry at the former Rand Afrikaans University in South Africa.

During her last year of studies, Dr. Finlay worked on the Train of Hope: South Africa’s Phelophepa. This custom-built train (now 2) travels throughout rural South Africa to deliver top-quality primary healthcare to disadvantaged communities. It was a wonderful experience to bring sight to so many people that otherwise do without. Those memories always remind her of why she loves practicing optometry.

For the following 10 years, Dr. Finlay was approached by various stakeholders to open and run new practices predominantly in the outer lying regions of South Africa.

Due to her special fondness for children, Dr. Finlay trained in and ran a branch of the Wise Eye Reading Clinic to provide a means of measuring reading dysfunction with a visograph and devising a treatment plan for those children struggling with reading problems.

After that, wanderlust won, and she cast her eyes to the Tropics. Dr. Finlay moved to the Twin Islands of Trinidad and Tobago and spent a wonderful 8 years working, playing, and scuba diving.

In this magical environment, she was exposed to and developed a special interest in many serious eye diseases, the most prevalent being glaucoma, diabetes, and keratoconus.

It once again became time for Dr. Finlay to broaden her horizons, and the magnificent landscapes of Canada called. She applied and was accepted to enter into the International Bridging Program hosted through the University of Waterloo. And so began her transition into Canada. After completing her bridging to allow Dr. Finlay to work in Canada, she accepted a position in Grande Prairie, AB.

As fate would have it, Dr. Finlay met her husband in Grande Prairie, where they live happily with their 4 rambunctious Great Danes.

Teagan was born in South Africa and raised there until she came to Canada in 2020. While living in Vancouver she spent summers shadowing her aunt Dr Finlay at the clinic. She officially moved to Grande Prairie in 2022 and joined Dr Finlay full time. You will likely find her styling patients with their perfect frame or in the pretesting room prepping you for Dr Finlay. Teagan is working towards her Bachelor of Science so she can enter the medical field.

In her free time, she enjoys crafting, crocheting and playing with her dogs Flynn and Lexi.

Karlee was born in Lethbridge but has lived in various places in western Canada including Whitehorse, Vancouver Island and Calgary before making Grande Prairie home. She is a very passionate Optician who obtained her license in 2012 after graduating with an Optical Sciences diploma from NAIT.

Starting at Doctors EyeCare in 2022, she is now looking forward to taking her career to the next level by becoming a Contact Lens Practitioner which she is currently in school for under the mentoring of Dr Finlay. You can find Karlee at her dispensing desk styling and fitting patients for frames or in our on-site edging room cutting lenses for clients.

In her free time, she enjoys walking her dog Jade, spending time outdoors, side-by-siding and participating in fitness classes at Bliss Be Fit.

Krysta was born in BC but grew up in Grande Prairie where she studied Business Administration and Makeup Artistry. After working as a safety administrator for the oilfield she operated as a teacher’s aide for special needs children while pursuing makeup artistry on the side.

In 2021 Krysta joined Doctors EyeCare where she could combine her artistic side with her desire to help others. Starting off as an Optical Tech she quickly learned about the optic world through pre-testing patients for Dr Finlay. Now, you will usually find her at the front desk or working a camera to create content for our Facebook and Instagram accounts.

In her free time, she enjoys reading and true crime documentaries. If you are looking for someone low on small talk but big on makeup or cold cases, she is your gal.

Nikki was a journeyman goldsmith in South Africa before moving to Vancouver to start her optical journey in 2020. This summer she made Grande Prairie her home base and joined Doctors EyeCare. In her free time, she enjoys sewing and being with her children.