Meet Our Clinicians! Back Row from left: Dr. Roop Conyers; Dr. Simon Bonnington;
Dr. Bob Barkwell. Front Row from left: Dr. Caroline Hancock; Dale Young, Nurse
Practitioner; Dr. Jennifer Cram; Beth Bent, Family Practice Nurse. 

Beth Bent, Family Practice Nurse

In 1995 Beth graduated from UNB Fredericton with a Bachelor of Nursing.  Following graduation, she worked in Long Term Care for 5 years and taught a course for Home Care Nova Scotia.  In 2000, she started working in the ER/Short Stay Unit at ACHC where she worked until September 2011.  At that time Beth joined the Annapolis Collaborative Practice Team to work as a Family Practice Nurse.

As a Family Practice Nurse, Beth works collaboratively with the clinicians in the office to better serve our patients and community.  She has thoroughly enjoyed the change in career path that she has chosen and looks forward to future growth.

Lauren Webster, Licensed Practical Nurse

Lauren Webster is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)  committed to providing holistic care and preventative health care to individuals, families, and communities. After graduating from the NSCC Practical Nursing Program in 2015, she worked at Soldiers Memorial Hospital on the Medical Unit for nine years, serving the community she grew up in. She gained extensive experience in managing patient care, collaborating within the interdisciplinary team, and supporting both acute and chronic care needs.

In December 2023, she transitioned to Primary Care Nursing, joining the Middleton Collaborative Practice before moving to the Annapolis Collaborative Practice. Lauren continues to emphasize health promotion and illness prevention, ensuring comprehensive and proactive patient care. 

In her free time, Lauren enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as with her dog, Cali, and her horse, Lady. She loves being outdoors and often goes on adventures like four-wheeling or relaxing by the lake in the summer.

Simon Bonnington, Physician

Having moved to Annapolis Royal from England in 2010, Dr. Simon Bonnington and his family are delighted to have been welcomed so warmly into this vibrant and stimulating community. Building upon thirteen years as a GP in the UK and with time spent in rural hospitals in Zambia and South Africa, he finds that the holistic and comprehensive Office based, In Patient, Emergency Room and Multidisciplinary care available at ACHC offers the best of all worlds. As a Champion for the advantages of Electronic Health Records to support effective consulting and chronic disease management, his insight into the foreknown challenges of modern medical care has helped to model a locally collegiate response to healthcare delivery.

This heritage heart of Canada provides the opportunity for a wonderful work-life balance – Dr. Bonnington is an enthusiastic member of the local theatrical group and mid-week soccer sessions, assists youth soccer coaching, as well as being an emerging gardener and fly-fisher. His two children are thriving at our local schools; the family lives in the picturesque village of Granville Ferry and are in fellowship at Parkers Cove Baptist Church. They enjoy the fine dining and widely varied cultural opportunities of the area.

Roop Conyers, Physician

Originally from Toronto, most would think the move to the Annapolis Valley would be quite an adjustment for Dr. Roop Conyers.  Fortunately, he and his family have adapted to the rural life of Annapolis Royal nicely.  Dr. Conyers loves that the small community acts like a family, where everyone is invested in not only knowing who you are and what you do, but also being genuinely concerned about your well-being.  Professionally, Dr. Conyers keeps busy with his clinical duties as a Family Physician, his work in Emergency Medicine and administratively as the Site Director of Dalhousie University Annapolis Family Medicine Program. 

Despite his busy work schedule, Dr. Conyers manages to find time to indulge himself in rural life by taking hikes with his family, playing golf, cross country skiing, gardening, wood working, and caring for their chickens, horses, dogs and cat. 

Colin Newman, Physician

Dr. Newman is originally from Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland. He completed medical school at Memorial University in 2010 and residency training in family medicine in 2012.  Since then he has been working in a rural hospital in Twillingate, Newfoundland where he did a mix of outpatient clinics, inpatient hospitalist care, emergency medicine, minor procedures, and house calls.Colin was attracted to the Annapolis Collaborative Practice because of the modern design of the practice which incorporates comprehensive, patient focused medical care.

In his free time, Colin likes to camp, hike, kayak, and snowboard. Colin, his wife (Anna Kate, a native Nova Scotian) and two daughters (Grace and Sadie) are excited to join the beautiful community of Annapolis Royal. 

Hillary Lavelle, Physician

Dr. Hillary Lavelle is originally from Revelstoke, BC who completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Victoria and went on to work in community and vocational support for adults living with brain injuries.  Here she was struck by the positive benefits of collaborative an interdisciplinary care for patients - these principles are alive and well at the Annapolis Collaborative Practice. 

Hillary attended medical school in Cork, Ireland and completed her family medicine residency at the Annapolis Collaborative Practice from 2017 to 2019.  Upon completing her residency she decided to stay in the area and join the Annapolis Collaborative Practice in September 2019, where she has proven to be a welcome addition to the team.  

In her spare time, Hillary enjoys travelling, hiking, kayaking and camping.  A former alpine ski racer, Hillary has now switched her downhill skis for cross-country skis! 

Chris Picken, Physician

Dr. Chris Picken joined the Annapolis Collaborative Practice on 3 June 2024.  Chris is originally from Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. He completed medical school at Queen’s University Belfast in 2001, subsequently joining the UK military on completion. During his military service he undertook multiple operational deployments in the Royal Navy Submarine Service before completing his Family Medicine training in 2009. Transferring to the Royal Air Force he was deployed on operations overseas to areas such Cyprus and Afghanistan.

He retired from the UK military as a Wing Commander in 2017 and became a Family Physician for the Isles of Scilly, a remote location of the coast of the UK, where the clinic he owned and operated had a UK rating of outstanding.

He has significant clinical experience in Family Medicine, Occupational Medicine, Aeromedical Evacuation, Diving Medicine, Radiation and Trauma Medicine as has trained other doctors in the past.

Chris, his wife Kerrie (and dog Cian) were attracted to Nova Scotia and particularly Annapolis Royal after meeting the local community. It’s fair to say they were stunned by the warmth of the people and the beauty of the locality.

In his free time, Chris likes to shoot clay pigeons (badly), undertake work in the garden and house, and generally enjoys all outdoor activities.

Matthew Sinclair, Physician

Dr. Matthew Sinclair, originally from Bermuda, completed his medical degree in Ireland and his Family Medicine residency at the Annapolis Valley Site. He will continue to work in the Valley, splitting his time between the Annapolis Collaborative Practice (Annapolis Royal) and the Valley Regional Hospital (Kentville).

Though not raised in the Maritimes, he considers it a second home, having spent two years in Cape Breton, where he lived in L’Arche, a community for people with and without intellectual disabilities. His time there shaped his values and inspired his commitment to person-centered care. He really enjoys connecting with patients and colleagues and jokes that the reason he became a physician is so he could have a new audience every fifteen minutes!

Beyond medicine, Matthew enjoys wandering without purpose, reading, running, and cooking. 

Hannah Snow, Nurse Practitioner 

 Hannah Snow grew up in Berwick, Nova Scotia and completed her nursing degree at St. Francis Xavier University in 2016. She worked for a year in Halifax before moving to Victoria, BC. After another year of working on medical wards, she completed the critical care nursing program and worked in ICU for two years. She then moved to Vancouver, BC and worked in interventional radiology while starting the nurse practitioner program through the University of British Columbia.

She moved back home to Nova Scotia after graduating in June 2023 with her husband and dog. They were drawn to a rural lifestyle after living amongst the hustle of the Vancouver area and made the decision to settle in Lequille. She practiced at the Kings and Annapolis Primary Care Clinic for a year before transitioning to the Annapolis Collaborative Practice. She is thrilled to now be working in her community.

In her free time, she enjoys getting into nature with her dog and exploring the local trails, yardwork, reading and spending time with her family.

Rayan Alfuhaid, 1st Year Resident

Dr. Alfuhaid is embarking on an exciting new chapter as he begins his residency at the Annapolis Collaborative Practice (2024-2026). His medical education at Newcastle University, combined with diverse clinical rotations across Canada, has laid a solid foundation for his expertise in patient care and quality improvement. 

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Alfuhaid enjoys mentoring medical students and looks forward to guiding future residents. Outside of his professional life, he maintains a healthy balance through hobbies like soccer, weightlifting, and biking, setting the stage for continued success in Annapolis Royal.

 Sona Ebadi, 2nd Year Resident

Dr. Ebadi is thrilled to have her residency at the Annapolis Collaborative Practice for the next two years. She completed her medical school at Urmia University and gained experience working as a general practitioner in both rural and urban areas in Iran.  She then began working in Hematology in-patient at QE2 in Halifax, where she provided care for cancer patients and developed strong skills in in-patient and critical care. However, her passion for primary care and guiding patients through the healthcare system led her to pursue a degree in Family Medicine at Dalhousie University.

During her personal time, Sona derives immense joy from the art of oil painting. She also enjoys spending time in nature and reading.

 Cindy Young, Social Worker 

Cindy joined the Annapolis Collaborative Practice in Nov 2023, after moving from Vancouver, B.C.  Cindy completed her Bachelor of Social Work from UBC in 2019. Cindy initially worked a short stint at Surrey Memorial Hospital before switching to social work in a long-term care setting. Within a year, Cindy became a Site Leader for 2 Long-Term Care homes in Agassiz, BC which she did for 3 years before her decision to relocate to Nova Scotia and move closer to family.

Cindy completed a Death Doula Certificate from the Conscious Dying Institute in Denver, Colorado in 2018, and volunteered in various hospices for 6 years.  Cindy finished a two-year spiritual practice under contemporary spiritual teacher, Thomas Hubl. Upon completion of the Timeless Wisdom Training, Cindy continues to be a senior student where the focus is on healing collective trauma.

Prior to life as a Social Worker, Cindy worked as a Human Resources Manager for 15 years in various industries such as, Mining Engineering, Glass Manufacturing, Food Logistics and Airline catering.  In 2006 Cindy graduated from the University of the Fraser Valley with a major in Psychology.  Previously, Cindy enjoyed being a Stay-at-Home mom for 16 years raising her three children. This has been the most rewarding part of her life and family continues to bring her much joy.  When not working, Cindy enjoys traveling, reading, creative writing, time with her grandson, time with friends, and playing with her two kittens.

Shannon Kay, Primary Healthcare Coordinator

Shannon joined the Annapolis Collaborative Practice full time in February 2019 after working in healthcare at Soldiers Memorial Hospital, Annapolis Community Health Centre and Digby General Hospital. She is an honour graduate from the Medical Office Assistant program in June 2015.

Shannon grew up in Hillsburn, attended the local high school and is so thrilled to be able to work in her hometown.  She loves to travel, read and spend time with her family at the lake. Most of all, Shannon loves to spend any of her free time playing with her son, Oliver and daughter,Lila.  She is excited about her career here at ACP.

Shannon is currently filling a maternity leave position as Primary Healthcare Coordinator, but still works with the ACP team on a regular basis. 

Karen Bent, Secretary

Karen has been a valued member of the Collaborative Practice Team since November 2006.  She came to the team with many skills and qualifications, including 29 years experience as Administrative Assistant at Britex. Karen’s primary role at the practice is chart management, although she contributes to the team in a variety of ways.  She is always willing to help out the team wherever needed.

Ariana Lindale, Secretary

Ariana moved from Ontario to Nova Scotia and quickly fell in love with Annapolis Royal.  She has a strong love for the arts, and some of her hobbies and interests include; travelling, gastronomy, history, and writing.  It has been a dream come true for her to live in such an enchanting town, with lovely people, rich in history, and with its breathtaking scenery.  She occupies her time with learning new things, enjoying the company of family and friends, cooking, reading, gardening, and long walks with her dogs.

Ariana started working at the Annapolis Collaborative Practice in June 2022 and has been a welcome addition to the team.  She looks forward to utilizing her many years of experience in healthcare to assist our clinic and clients.

Sarah Young, Secretary

Sarah joined our team to cover a maternity leave in March 2023, and now had a permanent part-time position with the ACP. She graduated from the Medical Office Administration program with Honours in 2016 and has a varied background in customer service that eventually led her to the Annapolis Collaborative Practice. Sarah grew up in Bridgetown and is happy to be back in the area supporting her community. 

In her spare time, you can find Sarah running around with her daughter or whipping up a new sourdough recipe.

Donna Shea, Secretary

Donna joined the Annapolis Collaborative Practice in May 2024 filling a temporary role, and in July 2024 she accepted a full-time permanent position.  Donna  brought with her 35 combined years of administration, customer service and sales experience. 

In 2021 Donna retired from her sales career with Sherwin Williams, sold her home in Ontario and moved to Vancouver Island to join her adult children and grandson.  In 2022 she and her family moved to the east coast where she now resides in Annapolis Royal.  She feels grateful to have landed in such a beautiful, welcoming, and creative community.

Donna enjoys playing Pickleball and walking her beautiful Boxer Harley, singing at Karaoke, enjoying concerts and movies at King’s Theatre and spending time with her family and friends enjoying all that this gorgeous community has to offer.

Janelle Messer, Secretary

Janelle joined the Annapolis Collaborative Practice in January 2025 to cover a one year position. She grew up in Digby and has settled in Bear River with her husband Royden, and 3 children  Ayden, Noah and Eli. Janelle spent the past seven years working in an administrative role in a First Nation school.  Before that, she worked as a Continuing Care Assistant in a nursing home for 10 + years.

When not working you can find Janelle at the rink watching her boys play hockey, or at the court watching them playing basketball. She enjoys travelling and spending time with her family and friends.

Donna Trimper, Office Manager

Donna joined the Annapolis Collaborative Practice (ACP) in May 2018 and brought with her 30 years experience in the administrative field.  After obtaining her business administration certificate, she began her career working at the military hospital at CFB Cornwallis, where she provided administrative support to the physicians and support staff.  With the closure of the military base in 1994, Donna obtained work at the Pearson Peackeeping Centre (PPC), as Administration and Services Manager where she provided corporate oversight to various departments and support services.  Following the closure of the PPC in 2011, Donna worked at Acadian Seaplants Ltd providing general administrative and financial services to a very busy manufacturing plant.

Since joining the ACP, Donna has found the position to be very rewarding with completing a variety of administrative tasks, tackling new challenges, and supporting the team with various projects as needed. 

Outside of work, Donna enjoys spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren, and her precious poodle, Miss Molly.