New WCVM scholarship honours Saskatchewan teen’s passion for animals

Tragically, Arabelle passed away at only age 16 in August 2023 due to complications from COVID-19.

Arabelle lived on a farm east of Prince Albert with her grandparents, Valerie MacDougall and Chuck Hawkins. After her death, MacDougall and Hawkins knew they wanted to develop something special as a legacy for their granddaughter. They chose to establish a new award at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) called the “Arabelle Gola Pursuit of Passion Award.”

The award is aptly named — MacDougall says the word passionate is “the best way to describe [Arabelle]. Because everything she did, she did it fully, passionately, completely.”

The annual award recognizes a current WCVM veterinary student who displays their passion for animals and demonstrates why they want to become a veterinarian. Based on a gift from MacDougall and Hawkins as well as contributions from many others who loved Arabelle, the WCVM scholarship provides $1,500 to each recipient.

Hawkins says his granddaughter lived life on the edge and wasn’t afraid of anything. He adds that she “had a way” with all animals — livestock, companion animals and wildlife. For example, if a bird flew and hit one of the house’s windows, Arabelle “would be [outside] nursing it.”

On their farm, Arabelle and her grandparents cared for a variety of animals, including 16 Nigerian dwarf goats and babydoll sheep as well as her beloved dog, Fiji. MacDougall says her granddaughter was often outside spending time with their animals.

“She would go sit with them and hold them and lie with them, and just anything that most people wouldn’t dream of doing. It seemed to be so good for her and her mental health and well-being,” says MacDougall.

She adds that Arabelle was constantly taking photos of their animals: “One of our friends jokes that the animals we have were the most Snapchatted animals on earth.”

MacDougall and Hawkins believe Arabelle would have pursued a career in animals, whether that was as a biologist or a veterinarian — something that she talked about since she was a little girl.

“She wanted to help animals and help people that owned animals,” says MacDougall. She adds that the award is a great way to honour Arabelle, as “it’s about animals, and it’s about how animals make us feel and the importance of them in our lives.”

The award’s inaugural recipient is Jordan Laviolette, a second-year veterinary student from Eston, Sask., a small town about two hours southwest of Saskatoon. MacDougall and Hawkins were on hand to present the scholarship to Laviolette during the WCVM’s fall awards program in October 2025.

Before attending veterinary school, Laviolette earned two degrees from the University of Saskatchewan (USask): a Bachelor of Science in Animal Bioscience degree as well as a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Health Studies degree. She also completed the two-year veterinary technology diploma program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic.

“I want to become a veterinarian so I can be a voice for all of the creatures that don’t get to have one,” she says.

Laviolette remembers the exact moment she knew she wanted to pursue veterinary medicine as a career: it was a Saturday during calving season when she was in Grade 6 and volunteering at a local veterinary clinic. A cattle producer brought in a pregnant cow that was experiencing dystocia or a difficult birth. In response the veterinarian performed a fetotomy (a procedure to remove a deceased fetus from the uterus) and consequently saved the cow’s life.

“There was something about that procedure that just clicked,” says Laviolette. “I knew immediately that was what I wanted to do, and I have chased the dream of becoming a veterinarian ever since.”

Now, nearly halfway through the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at the WCVM, Laviolette is quick to point out the favourite part of her education: “I really enjoy any chance to get hands-on learning through labs, especially the surgery labs I started this year. The labs allow me to continue developing my practical skills.”

Laviolette acknowledges the generosity and “warm hearts” of MacDougall and Hawkins, adding she is “so thankful” for the award.

“Being the recipient of the Arabelle Gola Pursuit of Passion Award validated all the years of hard work and determination that have gotten me this far,” says Laviolette. “It reinforced my decision that veterinary medicine is the right career path for me.”