Dr. Catharine Shankel was born and raised on the North Shore. She received her BSc in Marine Biology from UBC, where she had the opportunity to assist in research on underwater biodiversity of a remote section of the central coast of B.C. She then attended the Western College of Veterinary Medicine where she was awarded the Faculty Gold Medal upon graduation for outstanding achievement. During her education she travelled to Uganda to help study the links between communities, wildlife, and domestic animals.

Catharine has been practicing emergency medicine since 2005 and is passionate about medical ethics and patient safety. On a personal note, she has sailed offshore with her two children, ran her first marathon in 2018, and enjoys art and spending time with her cockatiel Erik Léopold.