As the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) celebrates its 60th year in 2025, the regional veterinary college looks ahead to meet the changing needs of its provincial partners and stakeholders across Western Canada and the North.
By September 1965, the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) had its first class of veterinary students, its first faculty members and its first dean — but it was still waiting for its own permanent building at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).
The University of Saskatchewan (USask) officially became home to a college of veterinary medicine in August 1963 — but the university's close links with animal health and veterinary science began much earlier in its 108-year history.
When the Western College of Veterinary Medicine's first class of 33 students met for the first time in September 1965, it was the fulfilment of a dream that was decades in the making.
One year after the Western College of Veterinary Medicine's new building officially opened in 1969, veterinary students were eager to open the college's doors to the public and share information about their new profession.
While the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) is widely recognized for its role in educating veterinary students, the college has also played a part in ensuring that Western Canada's practicing veterinarians continue to enhance their training throughout their careers.
As Western Canada's new veterinary college came to life in the mid-1960s, a critical consideration was ensuring that future veterinary students had exposure to hands-on clinical experience with a diverse range of animals and cases.
Snarling, yelping and teeth gnashing was all I heard on one picturesque afternoon at my home First Nation in northern B.C. I was 13 years old, and my five-year-old sister and I were playing outside of my Nana’s house when Grizzly, our beloved family dog, was attacked by a pack of roaming dogs.
As a student at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), Yas Ranjbar knows how important diversity and inclusion is to the strength of a community.
Over the next four years, the Northern Engagement and Community Outreach (NECO) program at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) will receive $860,000 from PetSmart Charities of Canada in support of efforts addressing access to veterinary care in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia and Canada’s northern territories.
The Government of Saskatchewan is supporting veterinary programs at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) by providing $13.2 million to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) in 2024-25 — an increase of $667,000.
The Saskatoon philanthropist, who died on March 13, 2024, at the age of 91, was bestowed with an honorary degree in 2007 for his many contributions to the University of Saskatchewan and to organizations across the province.
A generous gift of $150,000 from K+S Potash Canada (KSPC) will allow SCI-FI Science Camps to continue to offer free programming to Saskatchewan youth interested in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Dr. Lorne Hepworth, a 1971 graduate of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the University of Saskatchewan, was named a member of the Order of Canada in recognition of his contributions to agriculture and research.
The College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (CGPS) in collaboration with the Office of Vice President Research (OVPR) hosted the USask Graduate Research Showcase on October 6th, 2023. The event welcomed distinguished guests and elected officials to network with some of CGPS’s top research talent to discuss how emerging research at USask works to advance Saskatchewan’s economic and social growth.
A new funding partnership with PetSmart Charities of Canada will help a University of Saskatchewan (USask) veterinary outreach program expand its impact in northern Saskatchewan communities where animal owners have little or no access to animal health services.
Animal owners and veterinary staff need to be aware that zinc phosphide, a highly toxic chemical compound, is now approved for use as a rodenticide in Saskatchewan.
Carolyn Cartwright of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) started her career in veterinary medicine with the intent of making a positive difference in the lives of patients and their families.
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) has recognized three veterinarians from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) for their exceptional achievements in improving health care for livestock and companion animals in Canada.
“With any good research project, you should come away from it with many more questions than you have solutions,” says Dr. Gregg Adams, a professor and researcher in the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s (WCVM) Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences.
Dr. Jordan Woodsworth, a veterinarian and alumna of the University of Saskatchewan (USask), has received the 2023 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) Humane Award for her dedication to animal welfare in Canada.
Bringing energy and positivity to the classroom, Dr. Al Chicoine strives to make his material engaging for students at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).
More than 250 people gathered at the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) for its 2023 Summer Field Day on June 20.
A group of graduate students from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) introduced their research to attendees at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) Summer Field Day on June 20.
Committed to a life of fighting crime, a group of dogs at the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) is anything but ordinary.
Over $149,000 in funding from the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) is helping University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers from multiple disciplines provide support to Saskatchewan communities that are experiencing challenges with dogs.
Working closely with students in animal anatomy courses at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), Dr. Brent Bobick (PhD) feels privileged to play a part in their academic growth and success.
This year, four Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) faculty and staff members received honours during the University of Saskatchewan (USask) Faculty and Staff Awards evening on June 14.
Recipients of the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) top honour of Distinguished Researchers for 2023 are Dr. Cheryl Waldner (DVM, PhD), and Dr. Wen Jun (Chris) Zhang (PhD), internationally recognized experts in their fields who have contributed their talents to USask for more than two decades.
Members of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s (WCVM) research community earned awards for their showings at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) 2023 Life and Health Sciences Research Expo on May 4.
The Vaccine Formulation Institute (VFI) and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) have signed a collaborative research agreement to help drive joint vaccine development.
It’s World Book Day on April 23, 2023, and if you’re on the hunt for a good book, here are some options that have been written by Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) alumni and faculty.
The Government of British Columbia is permanently doubling the number of subsidized seats for B.C. veterinary students attending the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).
One of Emmalyn Elgersma’s favourite memories of the 2023 Canadian Challenge International Sled Dog Race took place around midnight while she and other volunteers waited for the first sled dog teams to arrive at the checkpoint in Missinipe — more than 150 kilometres (km) north of Prince Albert, Sask.
A lifetime of working to enhance the health and welfare of horses across Canada has earned a place of honour in the Saskatchewan Horse Federation’s (SHF) Hall of Fame for University of Saskatchewan (USask) alumnus and professor emeritus Dr. Hugh Townsend.
Getting a diagnosis of pet cancer isn’t easy for pet owners, but an organization called Kali’s Wish Cancer Foundation is offering to help with something that no dog can resist: toys.
Six decades ago, the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) selection as the future home of a veterinary college serving Western Canada made the front page of The Saskatoon Star Phoenix — welcome news for a region suffering from a critical lack of veterinarians.
This week, Canadian Western Agnes — “Agnes” for short — and her team from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) will be back at the 2022 Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, Sask., following a two-year gap due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) has organized a third season of its very popular “EquineED Talks” series for horse owners across Western Canada and around the world.
If you own or enjoy horses, you'll want to check out the 10th edition of the Saskatchewan Equine Expo — an educational event that has been bringing together people from all equine disciplines and geographic locations since 2012.
The Government of Manitoba announced on Oct. 7 that the province’s five additional seats at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) will be aimed at students with rural backgrounds who plan on returning to rural veterinary practice and supporting livestock and poultry industries.
Dr. Steve O’Grady, who is internationally known for his dual expertise as a farrier and a veterinarian, is the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s featured “EquineED Talk” speaker at the 2022 Saskatchewan Equine Expo on Friday, Oct. 28.
If you call Bob Wood, you’ll likely hear birds singing in the background. Before his mare Jessie got sick, Wood could usually be found out in his pasture with his two horses, two dogs and one cat by his side.
Saskatchewan and Manitoba are addressing Western Canada’s urgent need for more veterinarians by increasing their funding to educate more students in the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s (WCVM) Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).
Veterinary medicine has always fascinated the public, says Dr. Chris Clark, associate dean academic of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).
Veterinary researcher Dr. Jordan Woodsworth (DVM) has taken a novel approach to presenting her research findings — engaging with the communities she’s working with through art.
Veterinarian Dr. Dayle Borchardt (DVM) has seen firsthand how pet ownership can change lives.
Dr. Chris Bell, a Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) graduate and adjunct professor at the veterinary college, is the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s (CVMA) 74th president.
Researchers’ aim of developing the world’s first bison genome biobank at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) received a critical boost on July 14 with Genome Canada’s funding announcement of $5.1 million for the Bison Integrated Genomics (BIG) project.
Dr. David Waltner-Toews, a graduate of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), was appointed as an officer of the Order of Canada – one of the country’s highest civilian honours.
Microbiologist, librarians and — YouTubers?
A new University of Saskatchewan (USask) research chair position at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) will focus on the health of pollinators that play an integral role in global food production and agricultural sustainability.
For Candace Lowe, DVM, MVetSci., Dipl. AVDC, hard work, determination, and a life-long adoration of animals were all essential to the foundation of her career in veterinary dentistry.
When Madlyn Lung sent an email message to the entire Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) community asking about interest in a Pride club, she was overwhelmed by the response.
No day is the same for veterinarian Dr. Megan Russnak.
The 78 veterinarians graduating from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) this year are facing an unprecedented number of career choices and graduating ready to fill a range of needs in the veterinary profession.
The University of Saskatchewan (USask) Wastewater Surveillance Team, which responded swiftly to the arrival of COVID-19 by developing a monitoring program that provides reliable forecasts of infection outbreaks in communities, is being recognized with USask’s 2022 Publicly Engaged Scholarship Team Award.
Two faculty members at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) have received international awards from the University of Saskatchewan (USask) in recognition of their exceptional efforts to improve the lives of people and animals around the world.
Without my training, I might have ended up another drowning statistic.
Members of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s (WCVM) community excelled at the 2022 Life and Health Sciences Research Expo — an annual event at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).
More B.C. veterinary students will attend the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) on the University of Saskatchewan (USask) campus this August, following an investment from the Province of B.C. to double its number of subsidized seats for the first time in more than a decade.
Dr. Karen Machin has studied stress and behaviour in wildlife for many years, but in her spare time, the veterinarian and researcher enjoys training and competing with her dog.
The Spring 2022 issue of Vet Topics, news publication for the veterinary college's Companion Animal Health Fund, is now available online.
As the only 24-hour veterinary hospital in Saskatoon and area, the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s (WCVM) Veterinary Medical Centre (VMC) is experiencing increased demand for its services.
From building dog houses to organizing anti-racism education for her peers, Charlie Wyatt-Swain has found many ways to serve her community during her time as a veterinary student at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).
Dr. Susan Detmer (DVM, PhD) came for the conference, and stayed for the career.
Horse health research is the focus of an upcoming virtual panel discussion that's asking for input from horse owners about current and future research studies at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).
Dr. Frederick (Ted) Leighton, a professor emeritus and graduate of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), was appointed officer of the Order of Canada — one of the country’s highest civilian honours.
As 2021 wraps up, the WCVM Today team has reviewed the past year’s content from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s news archives and selected a handful of favourite stories for our readers. Enjoy!
University of Saskatchewan (USask) researchers are recruiting participants for a text-based mental health support program.
When Dr. Monique Mayer (DVM) began studying the dog’s lymphatic system as part of her work as a cancer researcher, she relied on an unlikely assistant: her mother.
Dr. Lorne Hepworth, a Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) alumnus, has received Saskatchewan’s highest honour.
The University of Saskatchewan’s campus-wide events on Sept. 30 marking Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation inspired veterinary student Charlie Wyatt-Swain to plan an event at her own college.
Students and faculty from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), along with a team of veterinary volunteers, recently travelled to the northern village of Île-à-la-Crosse for a remote spay and neuter clinic.
A pair of Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) alumni learned they had been named to the Alberta Order of Excellence, the province’s highest award, while celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary.
The Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) is offering new equine education opportunities for both horse enthusiasts and veterinary professionals in 2021-22.
September 30 is the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Day, formerly Orange Shirt Day.
Life is coming up aces for a dog given a chance at a pain-free life thanks to support from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s (WCVM) Les and Irene Dubé Good Samaritan Fund.
Three University of Saskatchewan (USask) leaders and researchers — including two faculty members of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) — have been inducted as fellows into the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS).
An overgrowth of foxtail grasses can cause problems for pet owners during the summer months.
Despite some challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) successfully resumed its annual remote veterinary clinics for northern Saskatchewan communities this spring.
Planning for the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) Summer Field Day presented by Canadian Western Agribition on July 20 is in full swing.
More than three decades after graduating from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), Dr. Gillian Muir (DVM, PhD) is set to become the college’s dean on July 1.
As the only 24-hour veterinary emergency and critical care service available in Saskatoon, the clinical team at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Medical Centre (VMC) cares for some of the most ill or injured animals in the area.
Saskatchewan residents can give their input about the province’s public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic by using their smartphones to respond to a series of five-minute surveys.
A statement from Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement Dr. Jacqueline Ottmann.
As Dr. Dayle Poitras-Oster begins her first career job, the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) graduate is happy to return to the busy mixed animal practice in Drayton Valley, Alta., where she’d previously worked as a summer student.
Motivated by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, a group of students at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) have created a new college club.
Cats — or more precisely, homeless cats — helped me decide to change my career plans and go into veterinary medicine.
Scott Wright has been selected to lead the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) as director, effective May 19.
As of April 28, the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Medical Centre (VMC) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) is accepting emergency cases only for its small animal and large animal clinical services until further notice.
While human health workers are caring for people infected with the novel coronavirus, veterinary researchers are helping to protect the public from illnesses spread by another health threat: ticks.
The Government of Saskatchewan is introducing a number of initiatives to enhance the availability of veterinary services in rural Saskatchewan.
How do levels of insulin and other hormones in western Canadian horses compare to hormone levels measured in horses living in other parts of Canada and around the world?
Dr. Colton McAleer always wanted to follow in his family’s footsteps and have a career in the cattle industry. But after helping pull a calf during calving season one spring, he changed his mind and went to veterinary school.
Jumping into ownership wasn’t the original plan that Dr. Zachary (Zach) Johnson had in mind when he was initially accepted into the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).
Animals have many ways to communicate with humans, but it’s not always easy to understand what they are trying to say.
