Birchland Dental

Dr. Rick Barr grew up in Edmonton and attended the University of Alberta for his undergrad and dental studies. He graduated in 1980 and moved to Ponoka right out of dental school. He is married to Marg and together they raised their two sons and two daughters in Ponoka. He still practices dentistry full time with recreation time filled with hockey, golf, racquet ball and playing bridge.

Dr. Christian Hazell was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta where he graduated from the University of Alberta with his Doctor of Dental Surgery certificate. He also graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Science in 2018.

Dr. Hazell is a General Dentist who is interested in all aspects of dentistry and is focused on providing patient-centered care and building meaningful relationships with his patients. Dr. Hazell enjoys the diverse experiences and the kind patients in Ponoka. He also enjoys the charm and relaxed pace of small town living.

Prior to enrolling in university, Dr. Hazell took 2 years off to dance professionally, he had the opportunity to dance for many events and projects such as the G7 summit with Cirque du Soleil, the Pan Am games and various film and TV shows filmed in Vancouver.

When Dr. Hazell is not in the office he enjoys travelling, water sports and spending time with his family and wife.

Dr. Joshua Handy is a graduate of the University of Alberta School of Dentistry, and he is extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve his community. Dr. Handy was born and raised in Calgary, where he frequently visits his parents and younger brother. During his undergraduate studies in microbiology at the University of Calgary, Dr. Handy developed a keen interest in dentistry. While growing up, he had always admired his family dentist and believed that dentistry uniquely combined his passion for science and craftsmanship with the fulfilling experience of helping others.

In his leisure time, Dr. Handy enjoys reading. He and his brother have compiled a “100 books to read before you die” list and have engaged in a friendly competition to see who can complete it first. Additionally, Dr. Handy is an avid long-distance runner who enjoys playing football and basketball and has recently developed a newfound appreciation for playoff hockey. Notably, Dr. Handy tied the knot with a dental school classmate, and in his own words, “I am the fortunate individual who had the privilege of marrying the most beautiful girl in school.”

Dr. Handy eagerly anticipates the opportunity to meet you and your families in the near future!