About Us

OUR TEAM

Dentists:
Dr Roger Armstrong _B.D.S (Practice Owner)
Dr. Roger Armstrong is not only a dentist at Great Slave Dental, but also the practice owner. Born and raised in New Plymouth, New Zealand, Dr. Armstrong decided to go into dentistry after being mentored by a close family friend who was also his dentist. After completing dental school at the University of Otago in 1986, he moved to Australia where he practiced for six years. In 1992 Dr. Armstrong moved countries again, this time coming to Yellowknife where he continued practicing dentistry until he was able to buy a practice in 2001. Now Dr. Armstrong is not just a skillful dentist, but a well known member of the Yellowknife business community. Becoming the owner of Great Slave Dental saw the achievement of a major goal in Dr. Armstrong’s life. He continues to set new goals for himself through continuous professional development, staying up-to-date with new practices, and mastering new skills and techniques. Dr. Armstrong is currently pursuing a Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry, marking the completion of yet another significant goal he set for himself.

Dr. Armstrong takes pride in his work and enjoys all aspects of his profession. Out of his many experiences, he still fondly remembers a big aesthetic case where, the patient was overwhelmed with happiness after the work was completed, this remains one of Dr. Armstrong’s favourite memories.

Outside the office, Dr. Armstrong is a family-oriented man who enjoys living a healthy and active lifestyle. An avid cyclist, he both road bikes and mountain bikes and trains for triathlons. He also enjoys a good game of squash, down hill skiing and fishing.

Dr Tara Kean _{BSc, DDS, GPR} (Associate)
Dr. Tara Kean grew up on Hornby Island, British Columbia and moved to Yellowknife in July, 2009 to work as a dentist at Great Slave Dental. She has a comprehensive education starting with an undergraduate degree from the University of Victoria in British Columbia. From there, she was involved with cancer research, attended dental school in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and then completed her residency in Vancouver, B.C. Although finished with her formal education, Dr. Kean elected to continue studying and completed a number of oral surgery courses at both Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, and at Columbia University in New York. At this point Tara’s education was already more than complete, but her high standards of learning and her passion for the field of dentistry pushed her to continue her studies. This included conducting research at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario as well as an overseas experience in Africa where she both studied and worked.

As your dentist, Dr. Kean will guide you through a friendly and pleasant check-up. She will also perform fillings, extractions, crowns, bridges, and root canals. You can rest assured in her very capable hands.

As is to be expected, Dr. Kean is not just goal-oriented in her professional life, but also in her personal life. She has finished two full marathons in Vancouver and Prince Edward Island. And in 2008, while in Africa, Tara hiked to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro! Although there are no mountains to climb in Yellowknife, Tara continues to take advantage of all the outdoors has to offer and she loves hitting the trails with her cross-country skis.

Dr Bill Croft (Pedodontist)

Dr Gerry Sears (Locum)

Hygienists:
Carol Ann Rossiter
Originally from Newfoundland, Carol Ann Glavine completed her education in Nova Scotia at the Dalhousie School of Dental Hygiene. After working in Toronto and Dawson Creek Carol came to Yellowknife where she has become a keen snowmobiler, snow shoer, ice skater and depending on the temperature, movie watcher. At Great Slave Dental Carol provides instruction for oral hygiene and care to patients while she carries out dental prophylaxis (cleaning) to keep patients mouths healthy between routine treatments. She has a passion for the job and is excellent at helping nervous patents through treatments while seeing them smiling on the other side. Carol also has a passion for the industry and wants to see standards kept high for all dental hygienists. As for herself, Carol wants to continue being a competent and caring registered dental right through to retirement.

Joan Van Vliet
Joan is one of our dental hygienists. Originally from Whitby Ontario, she has lived in Alberta, Ontario and Philadelphia. Joan first moved to Yellowknife in 1991 and now divides her time between this city and Sioux Centre, Iowa. Being a dental hygienist is about taking care of patients needs and concerns, says Joan, and she is proud of the fact that she has worked for so long and still enjoys her job. Joan loves to travel, her job has taken her to many different places and given her many good memories. In her spare time Joan enjoys spending time with her family, especially her grand kids, she likes knitting, cycling, looking after her garden, and still finds time to go travelling.

Becky Stam
Originally form the small lakeside town of Kinkardine Ontario, famous for it’s beautiful beach and boardwalk, Becky is a new arrival in Yellowknife. Becky has wanted to be a dental hygienist since she had her first braces fitted when she was in middle school. Being a dental hygienist means a lot to Becky and beyond her day to day activities at the clinic, she considers promoting oral health in the community to be an important role.

Becky feels that a lack of education about dental hygiene and oral health is a serious issue in the north. She takes her work very seriously and is always looking for ways to enrich her knowledge and grow as a professional. Her favourite memories of the job are mainly of kids and the hilarious things that come out of their mouths.

In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her friends and family and still has love for the beach.

Sharron Wong

Office Manager:
Dianne Armstrong

Receptionists:
Ruzanna Harutyunyan (Head Receptionist)
Another valuable member of our team at Great Slave Dental is Ruzanna Harutyunyan who offers administrative services to our patients. In December, 2002 she moved to Yellowknife from the country of Armenia where she graduated from the University of Foreign Languages and subsequently taught English as a Second Language. Ruzanna can speak three languages – Armenian, Russian and English! Along with her love of languages, Ruzanna thoroughly enjoys working with people which is why she chose a career at Great Slave Dental. When she’s not working, Ruzanna enjoys curling up with a good book or playing the piano.

Jodi Rolles

Miriam Paquin

Assistants:
Sylvia Stojkanovich (Head Assistant)
Sylvia is a dental assistant at Great Slave Dental who enjoys working with people. Originally from Serbia, Sylvia also lived in Hamilton, Ontario and Norman Wells before moving to Yellowknife in 1990. Sylvia is a very experienced chairside assistant and in her free time her top priority is spending time with her family.

Jo-Lynn M. Arndt
A first aid instructor, Internal Auditor, and mom, Jo-Lynn moved to Yellowknife in May 2011. Originally from Medicine Hat, Alberta, she is new to the north and enjoys learning about the people and economy of the Northwest Territories.

At Great Slave Dental, Jo-Lynn keeps track of the patients’ appointments from her place at the main reception. She gets to meet and talk to all kinds of people, checking them in and out of the clinic. She also makes sure insurance claims are sent out, and maintains all our client records. For Jo-Lynn, working at a dentist’s office is a new and different experience, and one she thoroughly enjoys on her path to completing her education.

Outside of work she leads an active life, trap shooting, boating or skidooing in the company of her family.

Luba Arzumunyan

Lidija Trailovic

Amanda Lillis