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By Regan Tate

Provincial government providing funding to train more vets in Alberta

May 10, 2022 | 1:13 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB -The provincial government is investing $8.4 million over three years to train more vets at the University of Calgary.

The funding will allow the faculty of veterinary medicine to double the number of seats in the program up to 50.

Labour forecasts show there is an emerging need for veterinary specialists in the coming years, especially when it comes to livestock and large animals.

Dr. Renate Weller says “increasing the number of seats in our Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program provides the only long-term sustainable way to ensure animal care in Alberta.”

In 2017, the provincial government decided not to renew its funding agreement with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatchewan. Instead a plan was approved to transition funding to the U of C beginning in 2020. This laid the groundwork for a strategy that will grow capacity within the province and make this career path more viable to students by offering it closer to home.

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