Our focus at Merivale Vision Care is to treat our patients with care and kindness while ensuring all of their vision related needs are met.
We have been a leader for innovative vision care in the Ottawa community since 1987. Our team is made up of passionate professionals with a love for progressive vision care. Each one of our optometrists has a personalized approach with a shared goal of creating an innovative, welcoming, and fun environment for your vision needs.
Originally from Toronto, Dr. Jamie Lau moved to Ottawa in 2011 after graduating from the New England College of Optometry in Boston. She completed internships at the Veteran’s Affairs Hospitals in Manchester and Boston, then returned to Toronto and trained at the nationally renowned Vision Institute of Canada. Outside of work, Dr. Lau is enjoying the adventure of being a new parent and spending time with her family. In January 2016, Dr. Lau joined Merivale Vision Care and is currently accepting new patients.
Dr. Alibrando was born in Montréal and grew up in Cornwall, Ontario. He earned his Honours Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science at the University of Ottawa in 2017, then his Doctorate of Optometry at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in the spring of 2021. After rotating through several community health centers and high-volume private practices in the United States, he began working as an independent Optometrist in Canada in 2021. Dr. Alibrando is now pleased to be a member of the Merivale Vision Care community in Ottawa. In his free time he enjoys playing and recording music, as well as partaking in winter sports such as hockey and skiing.
Dr. Zagury is from Montreal and joined Merivale Vision Care in June 2008 when she moved to Ottawa. She received her education at the University of Waterloo, first in the Biomedical Sciences and then in Optometry. She is a former co-president of the Ottawa Society of Optometrists. Dr. Zagury enjoys getting to know patients and their families. Outside work she likes going to concerts with her husband, taking Ashtanga Yoga classes, and playing with her son & daughter.
Dr. North has been working at Merivale Vision Care since 1992 and is now one of the clinic’s owners. Dr. North enjoys getting to know her patients in order to better meet their vision needs. Dr. North is very passionate about the profession of optometry and spent many hours advancing the profession through positions on both the Ontario Association Board and the Canadian Association Council. She was president of the Canadian Association of Optometrists from 2009-2011. She has been living in Ottawa since 1992 when she graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry. She enjoys spending her free time with her family.
Dr. MacDiarmid is originally from Miramichi, New Brunswick, where she began her training in science at the University of New Brunswick. After graduating from the University of Waterloo with a Doctor of Optometry degree in 1993, she practiced several years in New Brunswick. In 1996, she moved to Ottawa and joined the Merivale Vision Care team. She has completed a 100-hour training program in pharmaceutical treatment of eye disease and enjoys the challenge involved in the diagnosis and treatment of eye disease. Dr. MacDiarmid is a member of the Canadian Association of Optometrists and the Ottawa Society of Optometrists. Dr. MacDiarmid has traveled to Jamaica to provide eye exams to those without the access to health care. In her spare time, she enjoys playing hockey, ringette and tennis as well as helping with her kid’s sports teams.
Dr. Scott is originally from New Brunswick. After completing her bachelor’s degree in Biology at St. Francis Xavier University she went on to complete her Doctor of Optometry at the University of Waterloo. Dr. Scott started practicing in 2007 in Vancouver and moved to Ottawa in 2012 with her husband and their two French bulldogs. Dr. Scott joined the Merivale Vision Care team in 2012. Follow her on Instagram @drmelscott to see her Frenchies modeling Merivale Vision Care’s newest eyewear! Dr. Scott is an avid traveler and has participated in eye care missions in Ghana, Guatemala and Nicaragua. She enjoys seeing a wide range of patients from children to adults and seniors.
Dr. Tanya Merwiak is happy to return to her hometown of Ottawa to practice optometry. She completed her undergraduate degree in Sciences at the University of Guelph before going on to complete her Doctor of Optometry at the University of Waterloo in 2018.
Dr. Merwiak has experience volunteering at an eye mission trip in Ecuador and interning at a Veteran Affairs hospital in Tallahassee, Florida where she gained knowledge on the treatment of ocular disease. She enjoys providing personalized care to all of her patients. Her hobbies outside of optometry include travelling, spending time at the cottage, swimming, reading, and snowboarding.
Dr. Clarke received his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Optometry degree in 1992. Since moving to Ottawa, Dr. Clarke has been providing comprehensive vision care in the Ottawa community. Dr. Clarke is a true sports fan and has been volunteering in the area of sports vision with the Special Olympics world games and locally with the Ottawa Senators, the Ottawa 67s, the Ottawa Rough Riders and Renegades.
He is a member of the International Sports Vision Academy and the American Optometric Association Sports vision section. Dr. Clarke coaches and sponsors the South-end Minor Hockey association and South Ottawa Little League teams. He is a guest lecturer at the University of Waterloo in the area of sports vision and concussion rehabilitation.
Originally from Ottawa, Dr. Bonell obtained her undergraduate degree at Carleton University then moved to Wales to complete her Optometry studies at Cardiff University. Dr. Bonell is thrilled to be back in her hometown after three years as an Optometrist practicing in England. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors, traveling, reading and the adventures of having a new puppy.
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Below are some of the honorable causes that MVC is proud to support.
The Ottawa Food Bank provides fresh and non-perishable food, as well as supplies such as diapers, toiletries, and cleaning supplies to its network of over 100 food programs across the city.
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The ALS Canada Walk to End ALS is the largest community fundraiser for ALS research, advocacy, and community-based services. It is a fun, family-friendly way to celebrate hope for a future without ALS, honour those we have loved and lost, and show support for Canadians and their families living with the disease.
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Kind Space is a community centre in Ottawa – unceded Algonquin territory – that offers resources, events, social and educational programming. Our work celebrates, supports, and prioritizes oppressed sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions.
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The Canadian Cancer Society is a nationwide support system in the country for people with cancer and their family, friends and caregivers.
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As one of Ottawa’s largest child and youth-serving charitable organizations, BGC Ottawa provides vital programs and services to an annual average of 4,500 young Members each year.
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The Eye See…Eye Learn® program is dedicated to making sure that parents across Ontario understand the importance of regular comprehensive eye exams for children.
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CNIB passionately provides community-based support, knowledge and a national voice to ensure Canadians who are blind or partially sighted have the confidence, skills and opportunities to fully participate in life.
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The Zonta Club of Ottawa, Ontario, is a member of Zonta International, a leading global service and advocacy organization with more than 30,000 members worldwide. Zonta is made up of executives and professionals who work together to empower and assist women locally and internationally.
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Renowned for clinical care excellence and incomparable patient satisfaction rates, their team provides unparalleled cardiac care. Their researchers are alive with discovery, ingenuity, insight, and invention, setting new standards of clinical care.
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Operation Come Home is an employment, education, and support centre for homeless and at-risk youth age 16 and up. Their programs focus on what works and what matters to youth, as well as encourage personal growth of everyone as an individual. Operation Come Home is based in Ottawa, Ontario.
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