Dr. Michelle McKenzie, a University of Waterloo alumnus, opened the Bolton Optometry Clinic with her husband, Dr. Vince Panzica, in 1995. a mother herself, Dr. McKenzie developed a keen interest for pediatric optometric care and started a personal journey to education in binocular vision and vision therapy. In 2014, she became a founding board member of the Canadian Optometrists in Vision Therapy and Rehabilitation (COVT&R), which became Vision Therapy Canada (VTC) in 2019. Following the death of her colleague and friend, Dr. Betty Fretz, Dr. McKenzie motioned to the COVT&R board to establish a scholarship fund in her honour to be used to provide financial aid to patients across the country who need vision therapy but do not have the means. The Fretz Fund continues to operate and provides VT scholarships every year. The Fund has awarded over $75,000.00 since it's inception.
A teacher and nurturer by nature, Dr. McKenzie became a Clinical Supervisor for the University of Waterloo's student interns before becoming the second OD to supervise an Optometric Peds/BV Resident with UW. Twelve interns and one resident have the privilege of having learned from one of the best peds/VT optometrists in the country.
Dr. McKenzie served as President of VTC from 2021-2023. Despite being diagnosed with ALS in 2022, she continued to supervise her interns and resident, and continued to see patients until physically unable to do so. Dr. McKenzie sadly passed away in December 2024, but her contributions to our profession and all Canadian patients who have benefited from them, will be felt forever.