Giving back in life and death

USask graduate and veterinary toxicologist Dr. Barry Blakley (BSc’70, Sc’71, DVM’75, MSc’77, PhD) made a big impact in his profession and in the classroom. After passing away in March from pancreatic cancer, his legacy continues through ocular donations and student scholarships.

USask mourns the passing of Dr. Leslie Dubé

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.

Funds fuel horse health

The Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) has invested over $140,000 in support of equine health-related research and graduate students for 2023.

Beloved cat inspires teen's pet health research gift

Percy Jackson was an affectionate, snuggly kitten who immediately bonded with his new owner Charlie Hoffman. The ragdoll cat was an important support for Hoffman, a 14-year-old high school student, who needed support to deal with anxiety and symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

WCVM hires pollinator health research chair

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.

A second chance for Zeke

Instead of celebrating his first birthday at home on July 2, 2020, Zeke was in Saskatoon receiving emergency care from veterinarians at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).

Autumn awards celebrate excellence

The Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) honoured outstanding students and faculty at its annual fall awards banquet on Sept. 20.

WCVM opens Canada’s first PET-CT unit for animals

Western Canada’s regional veterinary college, based on the University of Saskatchewan (USask) campus, is now home to Canada’s only PET-CT unit dedicated to clinical use in animals as well as for animal-human research studies.

Fund receives legacy gift from Saskatoon vet

The Companion Animal Health Fund (CAHF), a veterinary research fund at the University of Saskatchewan, has received a significant legacy gift from the estate of Dr. Michael Powell, a beloved small animal veterinarian who served the Saskatoon community for 35 years.

Feeding centre opens in WCVM Small Animal Clinic

When it’s feeding time in the Western College of Veterinary Medicine’s Small Animal Clinic, all food for hospitalized pets now comes from one spot: the new Nestlé Purina Inpatient Feeding Centre.

WCVM to operate Canada’s first PET-CT unit for animals

The Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the U of S will soon be home to Canada’s first PET-CT unit dedicated to animals—thanks to an Alberta donor whose $2.5-million gift is the largest private donation in WCVM’s history.

WCVM opens new equine ICU and foal centre

A new centre that will allow equine specialists to provide the best possible care for mares and foals and other sick horses is now open at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).

A life-saving gift

It was nearly 20 years ago when Murray and Shirley Popplewell visited the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) for the first time – but it's a story they still tell.

DuMonts double equine research dollars

Scientists' exciting progress toward solving two common equine health issues has inspired Pat and Mark DuMont to contribute another $300,000 toward equine research at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) over the next three years.

WCVM donor receives philanthropy award

As part of National Philanthropy Day celebrations, the Saskatoon chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals awarded Jacqui Shumiatcher for her decades of generosity to the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) and its students.

Fund helps to relieve therapy cat's pain

Since Clijsters and her feline partner Stosur have come to live at Mark and Karlinda Weiderick's home near Outlook, Sask., the two young cats have transformed the life of the couple's nine-year-old son Peyton.

Couple's fund relieves students' money stress

For many years of his veterinary career, Dr. Jim Smart travelled throughout rural Saskatchewan as a member of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine's (WCVM) Field Service team. As he chatted with the students who accompanied him on the calls, he discovered that many were stressed about money.

Couple donates $300,000 to equine research

A British Columbia couple is investing in the future of equine musculoskeletal research by donating $300,000 toward the establishment of the Mark and Pat DuMont Equine Orthopedics Research Fund at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S).

Comrades honour RCMP police service dog

"Rev" was an RCMP police service dog that spent most of his life protecting and helping people in Western Canada. The dedicated, hard-working German shepherd was close to retirement when tragedy struck last spring: Rev was involved in a car accident near Saskatoon, Sask., and died of his injuries on June 14, 2013.

Love of horses embedded in riding, teaching

Wendy Christoff of Delta, B.C., loves horses. She's been riding since she was eight years old, but the self-proclaimed "horse nut" found her true calling in 1979 when she watched a dressage demonstration by an acclaimed Canadian rider and Olympic competitor.

Group backs equine health at grassroots level

The Equine Foundation of Canada (EFC) may be small, but in the past four decades, this grassroots group has managed to accomplish great things in support of horse health care in Canada.

EFC’s $120,000 gift supports equine program

The Equine Foundation of Canada (EFC) gave another boost to horse health care in the country with its latest contribution of $120,000 to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine's equine health program.

New clinical tool helps vets save lives

A $20,000 gift from Dr. David Stark — a Saskatoon-based dental specialist in endodontics — has allowed the Western College of Veterinary Medicine's Veterinary Medical Centre (VMC) to purchase a clinical tool that provides critical data about blood coagulation.

Anka, the dog who never lost her smile

Anka bravely fought her cancer for over two years. She never lost her smile through the operations, tests and treatments. And she never lost her unique ability to make every adult and child she met feel special.

Equine health gifts set donors apart

Bob Brickley is an equine rancher who lives near the rural community of Kennedy in the southeast corner of Saskatchewan. Bob and his wife Lois both grew up in the same area, and for decades, their lives have revolved around raising cattle, horses and kids on their place — the Moose Mountain Ranch.

New award uplifting for mature students

The first recipient of the Dr. David Stark Mature Student Award was surprised and grateful to receive the $2,500 scholarship at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine's Fall Awards program on Friday, September 28.

Veterinarian's gift supports profession's future

When Dr. James (Jim) Mailer of Stettler, Alta., passed away on July 20, 2011, he left a generous gift of $200,000 to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM). The legacy was his way of giving back to the institution that had laid the foundation for his successful and rewarding career as a veterinarian.

Pets leave impression on Edmonton couple

Jim Dobie and his wife Terri Schindel first met while walking their dogs. "I had a golden retriever and Terri had two Welsh springer spaniels – it was kind of a Brady bunch as far as a fused household," Dobie recalls.

"Santa Paws for Pets" backs pet research

For one day every December, Winnipeg veterinarian Dr. Gord Goodridge (WCVM '75) trades in his stethoscope for a red velvet suit and plays Ol' St. Nick at the Centennial Animal Hospital's annual Christmas fundraiser.

Pfizer invests in future One Health leaders

Pfizer Animal Health has invested $20,000 in a new University of Saskatchewan program that will help to train the next generation of health professionals in the concept of One Health.

Making the world a better place

Another organization on her regular volunteer list is the University of British Columbia's Crane Library that records materials primarily for visually-impaired students as well as for others.

Equine gift to the WCVM doubles in value

A $20,000 donation from the Equine Foundation of Canada (EFC) to support horse health at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine on the University of Saskatchewan campus has helped to raise another $20,000 through a matching gift program.

Dr. Bernard Boisvert: helping future vets

Halina Boisvert wanted her late husband to be remembered for what he did during his life. "He had a tremendous thirst for knowledge, and he always wanted to make his little piece of the world a better place."

WCVM names centre after horse owners

Heather Ryan and her husband, L. David Dubé, contributed $1.2 million toward the expansion of the college's existing equine performance centre. The Government of Saskatchewan, Marg and Ron Southern of Calgary, Alta., and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) provided the remaining funding for the $2.8 million project.

Equine group's WCVM donation doubles

A $10,000 gift from the Equine Foundation of Canada to support vital horse health research at the University of Saskatchewan's Western College of Veterinary Medicine will double in value and impact through a unique matching gift program at the veterinary college.