ABOUT – Stewart Optical

HISTORY OF THE NAME

"I bought an existing optical store in late 1991 and changed the name to Stewart Optical. I came up with the old Stewart Optical logo by copying a logo my father used in his accounting business. My thoughts then were to have my name on the business as hopefully people would recognize that and support me. In April of 1996, I joined Stewart optical with another business and formed a local business for almost 25 years. After being forced to make a decision, I left there and with my son Tyler. We returned to the Stewart Optical as the name of the new business. Our thoughts are the same as they were in 1991: having our name on the business, we are hoping people recognize it and with support us again."

- Jim Stewart, Owner

Jim and Tyler Stewart of Stewart Optical

JIM STEWART

I started in the optical business at age 15. I worked in an optical lab after school. After I graduated in 1979 I was offered a job in the retail side of the optical industry. I started the Optician apprenticeship program in the fall of 1980 and became a licensed optician in 1983. I have enjoyed the optical industry ever since and have seen so many changes and trends.

I am a past president of the Medicine Hat Rotary Club, Former board member of the CORE Association, and past Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce ambassador.

I have coached my sons in baseball and ball hockey. I love sports, both watching (Jays, Raptors, Riders, and Medicine Hat Tigers) and playing several of them: squash, golf, and slow pitch. I still play slow pitch in the Medicine Hat Senior Slow Pitch League and travel to tournaments. I try to play as much golf as possible and enjoy playing senior golf scrambles now. I would like to do more hiking and relaxing in my other spare time.

TYLER STEWART

Like my father I started working at his optical office when I was 15. After a couple of summer jobs at the golf course in the Elkwater, after graduation in 2016 I started full time on the retail side of the optical business.

Like dad I love sports both watching and playing. I played high school baseball for CHHS for 4 years then returned to help coach for 3 years.

I love to play golf now and am now better than dad. I will be coaching the special Olympics golf team. When not doing sports, I like to go camping with my friends.

DR. CHRIS GLASS

OPTOMETRIST

Dr. Glass is a born and raised kid from Redcliff. He graduated on the Dean’s Honors List from the University of Waterloo in 2019 and is extremely excited to be back home providing the wonderful people of Medicine Hat and surrounding area the eyecare they need! Outside of work he enjoys golf, skiing/falling down the hill and camping. He loves to spend time with family and friends as well as his little fur nieces and nephews. You can also catch him watching golf, hockey or basketball on lazy weekends.

BROOKE STIEFEL

BOOKKEEPER AND OPTICAL ASSISTANT

Brooke has been in the optical field for over 20 years, working for Jim since 2004. She started on the sales floor and eventually moved into her role now as bookkeeper. She has been married for 11 years and has 2 boys. If she is not running her boys to a hockey or lacrosse practice or game you will find her reading, golfing, or baking.

CELINE MORISSEAU

PRETESTER

Local Medicine Hat girl. Enjoys cooking new recipes and working on projects around her home which means mostly building things for her rescued cat. New to being an optometric pre-tester but very excited and lucky to be starting this new chapter of her life with such an awesome team.

CHRIS MADSON

DR RECEPTION

Chris has worked in the optical industry for 13 years and has been a certified Optical Assistant since 2018. She is our Contact Lens Tech and is looking forward to help aid patients with their vision needs. Chris has a genuine interest in people and she enjoys connecting with patients. When not at work she enjoys spending quality time with her beautiful kids and loving husband, biking around the paths in Medicine Hat and just being outside.

PRESLEE LONGMUIR

LASER TECHNICIAN

Preslee Longmuir grew up in Redcliff. Previous Preslee worked as an Aquatic Leader for 9 years. Preslee has always had a passion for skin care, and fell in love with laser Technology when it cleared her skin of acne/acne scarring. Outside of work Preslee enjoys working out, paddle boarding, golfing and shopping.

RHONDA LONGMUIR

OPTICAL ASSISTANT AND DR RECEPTION

Rhonda has been in the optical industry for over 7 years and genuinely loves working with patients. She married her high school sweetheart and they have 3 children all living in Medicine Hat. Spending time with her family and friends along with weekend getaways to the family cabin are how she spends her spare time.

KALYNN SREEDHAR

OPTICAL ASSISTANT AND DR RECEPTION

Kalynn was born and raised in Medicine Hat. She is excited to be joining the optical industry. She loves dealing with people and is excited to help people with glasses and their eyewear needs. On her free time she loves to spend it with family and going for walks with her husband and puppy!