Kyra Westman, a first-year student at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) from British Columbia, began riding lessons when she was four, and from that moment on, horses became a huge part of her life.
Hannah Hjorteland of Macoun, Sask., grew up on her family’s organic grain farm where she was surrounded by various livestock and pets — horses, goats, sheep, poultry, dogs, cats and parakeets.
Chad Steverding, a first-year veterinary student at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), was passionate about all kinds of animals while growing up in North Vancouver, B.C.
Jingfei Gu decided to make a substantial change in her career plans after a volunteer experience made her realize how much she enjoyed working with animals.
While growing up in Saskatoon, Sask., Russia Murphy loved spending time around animals. Whether they were pets in the city or livestock on farms owned by friends and family, she was always caring, talking or watching videos about animals.
Balancing a demanding academic program in veterinary medicine with high-performance athletic pursuits would seem nearly impossible for most university students. But for Allison Kuzub, discipline, time management and a driving passion for both animal health and team wrestling have helped her thrive as a student athlete.
When Matthew Wilson’s father took him kayaking along the coast of British Columbia, that holiday adventure ignited a new interest in his life — a fascination with the ocean and its unique ecology and biology.
