Our Practice

Dr. Amarnath is passionate about eyesight and eye health. With that enthusiasm, he started up New Tecumseth Optometry Clinic in 2002, with his partner Dr. Peacock. He has built his practice in all aspects of eye care, placing special interest in glaucoma, pediatric care, specialty contact lenses and preventative eye care. Dr. Amarnath prides himself in believing that patient care comes first, as a result his patients regard him as a friend and not just their eye care professional. His belief that quality of life is very much dependent on eyesight has led him to participate in many community initiatives and volunteer his time performing free eye exams in underprivileged areas around the world, including in Canada. He also does home visits and provides on-site nursing home care.

“The moment you stop trying to become a better person, is the moment you start to become worse than what you already are” (– Carroll Bryant) is one of Dr. Amarnath’s mantra in life. When Dr. Amarnath is not in the office, he can be found on a tennis court or spending time with his wife and 2 children. He has a very active lifestyle and enjoys travelling and spending time with good friends and family.

Dr. Amarnath started his undergraduate degree at the University of Alberta before moving on to the University of Waterloo to do his optometry training. Upon graduating from the University of Waterloo in 1999, Dr. Amarnath received the Dr. Michael Gutwein Award for combining academic achievement with community service. His ongoing training included an internship at the Omni Eye Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, where he worked with top retinal, glaucoma, cataract and laser specialists.

A graduate of the University of Waterloo in 1999, Dr. Peacock is experienced in both an academic and practical sense. After he graduated he took an internship in Phoenix, Arizona, where he gained extensive experience alongside cataract and laser specialists.

An avid traveller, Dr. Peacock combined his love of eye care with his desire to experience other cultures and languages. He spent two summers studying Spanish and volunteering in central Mexico with I-Care International. This unique experience was compounded when the University of Waterloo sent Dr. Peacock to Santiago, Chile to help create Spanish Optometry courses.

Dr. Peacock, in partnership with Dr. Amarnath, purchased the New Tecumseth Optometry Clinic in 2002.

ACHIEVEMENTS, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, AND OTHER IMPORTANT POINTS

Participated in Providing Legendary Patient Care in 2009.

Dr. Letty Lau graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Honours, Life Science) from Queen’s University. She went on to complete her training at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry where she participated in numerous internships including working at the Bethesda Laser & Cataract Institute in Maryland, where she was involved with the management of retinal disease, cataract and laser refractive surgery.

Dr. Lau strives to provide excellent care through a comprehensive vision and eye health exam. She takes particular satisfaction in counselling patients so that they may better understand their ocular condition. She enjoys her daily interactions with pediatric and geriatric populations and is experienced in contact lens fitting, assessment of binocular vision as well as management of both acute and chronic eye disease.

She is committed to active community service and has volunteered with the Special Olympics Opening Eyes program to provide athletes with special needs with eye care. She has also visited nursing homes and provided eye care to patients with limited mobility. As a member of the Canadian Optometric Association and Ontario Optometric Association, she stays up to date with advances in the eye care field.

In her free time, Dr. Lau enjoys travelling, taking on Do-It-Yourself projects at home, and cooking for her two lovable and rambunctious young children.

Shauna Henry is the Office Manager and has been working alongside Dr. Amarnath and Dr. Peacock since they started their practice in 2002. Her role includes administration, human resources, and overseeing customer service to ensure that every patient’s experience is pleasant, timely and educational.

Shauna is a certified Optometric Assistant whose post-secondary studies in marketing and business administration, coupled with an extensive retail background, enable her to assist the NTOC/GBOC team with bringing a unique approach to customer service and patient care. She enjoys working with patients and meeting new people, and finds it most rewarding when the NTOC/GBOC team has more than exceeded patient expectations.

Shauna is married with two children, and when not at the clinic, she enjoys time with family and friends, reading everything she can get her hands on, volunteering at the local food bank, walking with her three dogs, and playing Cards Against Humanity!

Sarah has been an integral part of the NTOC family from its inception in 2002, and has been working in the optical industry since the age of 19. She completed her CCOA certification in 2006, and is now the clinic’s Dispensing Coordinator and Frame Buyer. With a keen eye for style, Sarah loves the challenge of finding each person their perfect pair of glasses. Having extensive past experience running NTOC’s in-house edging lab, she is well-versed in the latest lens technologies and trends. It is always her goal for you to have a memorable, fun experience.

Sarah lives in Alliston with her husband and her Five Pound Dog Benny, loves travelling, good food and better wine.

Karrie is a year 2000 Honours Graduate of the Georgian College Opticianry Program in Barrie. She joined the NTOC team in 2003 after returning to her home town of Alliston from Saskatoon. During her time in Saskatoon, Karrie was able to develop her skills as an Optician while working at a large optometry practice. She attends regular continuing education seminars to keep updated on the latest trends and technologies.

Karrie particularly loves seeing the surprise on our patients’ faces when they try on their “new eyes” for the first time.

Karrie is married with two children, and enjoys spending time with family and friends. She is a dog lover and her Border Collie, Cooper, and twins keep her very busy and entertained.

Jalisha is a Registered Optician who graduated with Honours from the Georgian College Opticianry Program in 2010. She has been working in the industry since graduating, and started with the NTOC team in 2013. She has been wearing glasses since she was six years old, and this is where her love for unique and unusual frames started! Jalisha loves working with children, helping them to pick out and love their first pair of glasses.

Jalisha has a great passion for working with contact lenses and enjoys instructing people on how to use them to improve their everyday lives. When she is not at work, Jalisha enjoys karaoke, cooking, volunteering and spending quality time with her husband, family and friends.

Kim worked as a Student Optician during her entire time in school at Georgian College and continued her career as a Registered Optician right after graduating in 2015. Prior to starting with NTOC in the Spring of 2017, Kim worked as a Registered Optician in a variety of locations including Vaughan, Newmarket, Barrie and Alliston.

Kim’s favorite part about her career is getting people out of their comfort zone and into a stylish look that they will love. On top of that, she loves to watch the excitement of patients who put their glasses on for the first time, especially children. She comments “It brings a warm feeling to your heart when you get to witness the true happiness and excitement of seeing everything clearly for the first time and knowing you helped make that happen”.

Kim grew up in Utopia and has always lived a very active lifestyle. From chasing waterfalls and hiking the various trails of Ontario with their furbaby, to sports games and festivals, Kim and her boyfriend are always up for doing something fun and adventurous.

Lauren has been at NTOC since October 2014. Before joining the team at NTOC, she worked in sales and would conduct live cooking demonstrations at trade shows across Canada.

What Lauren enjoys best about her position is the role she gets to play in such a positive and well-run office. She says it is a great feeling to come to a workplace where everyone enjoys their job and working with our patients.

Lauren is married to a Mountie (she says she is funnier than him!) and has lived in multiple places across Canada. She has two children who keep her on her toes. She enjoys running… from her children and to maintain an active lifestyle.

Amy McQueen is a 2018 Honours graduate of the Opticianry program at Georgian College in Barrie.

She is passionate about eye care, and loves working with patients of all ages. Amy has a particular interest in contact lenses, and enjoys helping patients incorporate them in their active lives.

Amy lives in Barrie with her husband, three children, and shaggy dog Finn.

A huge Toronto Raptors fan, she also enjoys tennis, skiing, and getting outdoors with her family. Amy volunteers with Swim Ontario, and is a Level II Swim Officiator.

Shelly has been working with the NTOC team since October of 2015. She graduated from CDI College for Medical Office Administration in 2013, and soon after, she worked at an optometry office in Hamilton & Burlington.

Shelly has strong customer service skills and enjoys working with our patients. She is pleased to be a part of an amazing team of Doctors and staff. Shelly feels we have the best patients at NTOC, and she enjoys meeting and getting to know all the amazing people in our town and surrounding areas.

Shelly is blessed to be the mother of two beautiful adopted children who keep her very busy when she is not at NTOC.

Kelly Nickleford is one of four Healthcare Receptionists at NTOC. She was very excited and thrilled to start her career with NTOC in April of 2016.

Kelly is a local girl who, after graduating from St. Thomas Aquinas in Tottenham, went on to continue her education at Georgian College and completed a certificate course in Office Administration as well as a Medical Terminology course. Kelly has many years of customer service and enjoys working and interacting with all of NTOC’s amazing patients.

Kelly enjoys playing softball in the summer and keeps herself busy working at Swiss Chalet on weekends.

In October 2019, the NTOC team welcomed Suzanne as its newest member. She has a diverse background in customer service, administration and sales that included roles with the City of London, running a home daycare and Mountain Co-op Equipment.

Suzanne is excited to be a member of the NTOC team and is looking forward to getting to know the patients and learning about the NTOC team while taking on this new opportunity.

Suzanne has recently moved to Alliston, with her husband and two kids. Suzanne enjoys spending time with her family, along with camping, canoeing, outdoor activities and travelling.

Brooke has recently joined the team in January 2020 as a Healthcare Receptionist after being a patient of the clinic since she was a child. Brooke was born and raised in Alliston. After graduating from Banting Memorial High School, she pursued Health Sciences at Georgian College in Barrie, then further pursued her love for science studying biology at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie.

While living in Sault Ste. Marie, Brooke discovered her passion for Ornithology through working as an Ornithologist Research Technician for one of her biology professors, a passion that has also followed her home as she enjoys bird watching in her spare time. Outside of work, Brooke also enjoys taking her two dogs; Bear the Shar Pei and Honey the Bernese Mountain Dog, on walks around the farm or to the dog park with her fiancé.

Brooke is looking forward to working with the team at NTOC, getting to know the patients and building her knowledge on the study of Optometry.

Saara has been working as a Healthcare Receptionist at NTOC since August 2016, but has been a loyal patient of the clinic since 2002. Before joining the NTOC team, Saara worked at the Dufferin County Museum & Archives as their Co-ordinator of Customer Service and Special Events.

Saara’s favourite aspect of her job is watching patients put on their new glasses, pick up the reading board and get excited they can read the smallest print. “Their faces just light up – it’s so awesome to see their reactions when that happens.”

In her spare time, which is quite limited with living on a 92-acre horse farm, Saara enjoys hiking, trying new restaurants and hiding away from the world with a book.

Kim joined the NTOC team in 2008. She is another of the friendly smiles you will encounter upon entering our clinic. In addition to reception and related duties as well as special projects, Kim’s organizational skills contribute to an efficiently run in-house finishing lab.

Kim has many years of administrative experience and an extensive background in the customer service industry. She has completed two courses in customer service. Kim finds that working with our patients is the most enjoyable part of her job.

Kim is married with a family of two children and three dogs. When not at work, she enjoys long walks, snow-shoeing in the winter months, reading and crafts.