Latest news with #AtlanticVeterinaryCollege
CTV News
04-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Canada-wide veterinarian shortage raises concerns in the Maritimes
The Atlantic Veterinary College in P.E.I. says it's looking for ways to address a widespread veterinary shortage as increased demand causes strain on local clinics. Being a veterinarian is not just a job for Dr. Christina Chong – it's a passion. A vet since 1990, Chong owns Vet-Champlain in Dieppe, N.B. 'I am almost retired but have not been able to because there's still the demand for me to come in to help out,' she said. Over the last few years, Chong says there has been an increased demand for vet care at her clinic. 'We're struggling to schedule clients and we're struggling to find appointment slots for new clients, let alone our regular clients that we are struggling to see. So there is definitely an influx or higher demand,' she said. 'Unfortunately, we have turned away clients that require care, but thank goodness we have two urgent care facilities here that could accommodate.' The veterinary industry across Canada is currently facing a labour shortage. The Atlantic Veterinary College says there's a few reasons behind it, pointing at economic growth, an aging population, and the increase of pet ownership seen during the pandemic. 'The Canadian Vet Schools right now are graduating just enough veterinarians to replace the ones that are retiring, so any growth in the profession, any growth in the number of animals, then we don't have enough vets to service all the clients,' said Dr. Daniel Hurnik, a veterinarian and professor at the college. The college graduates around 70 students each year. While it's looking at ways to address the shortage, Hurnik says it's going to take time. 'To become a veterinarian in our program is four years and then students will study before that, so the process from when you start to when you become a licensed veterinarian is multiple years. So, it takes time to change that process. To build a new vet school is a major undertaking. To increase the class size, and that's one of the things that we're looking at, also takes some structural change,' he said. When students graduate they are able to work in Canada, the United States, Australia and the UK. While many graduates chose to travel, Hurnik says a lot end up coming back to the Maritimes as well. The school is also welcoming students who did their studies elsewhere to complete their clinical year in P.E.I. 'One success story is a recent student that was trained in the Caribbean did their final year with us and took a job in New Brunswick and it's a win-win situation,' he said. Overall, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association says the workforce shortage is an increasing concern. According to the Canadian Occupational Projection System, veterinarians are expected to face labour shortage conditions until 2031. Breaking it down even further, data points to there being 5,000 job openings and only 4,300 looking for a position. 'The workload is too much. Mental health issues, it is a demanding career, it's not for everyone, so it combines,' said Chong. 'It's not for the money. Definitely the money aspect of it could be a problem for some new vets coming out with the tremendous student debt loan that some of these new graduates are coming out with, which kind of falls back onto veterinarian hospitals. The private owners have to pay a lot, which again, that is a problem by itself, so it's a multi-factorial issue in terms of veterinary shortage in Canada. Not just one thing.' Looking at a solution, Chong says more seats at schools would be a start to fixing the problem. She'd also like to see students accepted in a more holistic approach as opposed to just on their grades, but for now, she'll keep managing the influx of clients the best she can. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CBC
04-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
More pets, fewer vets: N.B. struggles to keep up with animal care demand
Social Sharing New Brunswick is short of veterinarians, just as pets adopted in great numbers during the pandemic grow older and need more care — and the only Atlantic Canadian school training vets is at its enrolment limit. Dominique Griffon, dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island, said New Brunswick has only three-quarters of the veterinary professionals it needs. Before the pandemic, the shortage was primarily for vets treating farm animals, she said. Now, however, there's a shortage in the small-animal field because pet ownership grew so much during the pandemic. Griffon said vets have become more specialized, similar to what's happening in human health care. "Where we used to have maybe one veterinarian to do everything, now we may have 10 specialists, and then one generalist," she said. There are two main strategies to overcome this kind of shortage, she said. The first is to train more veterinarians in Canada, and the second is to hire more internationally trained vets. Until now, she said, about 75 per cent of Canada's vets are Canadian trained and 25 per cent have been trained outside the country. Mary-Ellen Thémens, registrar of the New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association, said while there's a shortage of vets in certain areas, the overall numbers are hard to determine. Thémens could not provide a total for the number of vets practising in New Brunswick now, but the most recent data collected by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association shows 355 vets working in the province in 2023. Thémens echoed Griffon's comment about a surge in pet adoptions during the pandemic being a contributing factor to the current situation. "People were isolated, so they took to having companion animals to fill the void of their social contacts," she said. Many of those animals are now getting health problems, she said, making the shortage of care even more acute. Griffon said the Atlantic Veterinary College is doing a feasibility study to find out how to increase the number of students it can train. Right now, the school can train 70 students a year but has reached its cap. "At the moment, there are not enough seats for all Canadian students who would be suitable candidates." That means vets are leaving Canada to be trained, she said.
CBC
19-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Veterinary college grad overcomes adversity on the road to new career
Switching careers after more than a decade was a daunting undertaking for Melissa Walsh. Her career change from social work to veterinary medicine involved four years of classes, labs, clinical rotations — and more. "As an older student, I was … basically everyone's mom, age-wise," Walsh told CBC Mainstreet host Steve Bruce. "There was a little hesitation, but at the same time it sounded like a great adventure and I wanted to try it." Jumping back into a rigorous educational environment after not being in school for many years was challenging, Walsh said. But academics weren't the only thing she had to overcome. Walsh faced a series of serious health issues that affected her life in significant ways. "There were definitely moments I wasn't sure I was going to be able to finish the program, but there [were] also moments I wasn't sure I was going to make it… to live," she said. Walsh graduated from the Atlantic Veterinary College earlier this month. Show of resilience During her second year in the program, Walsh broke her ankle and foot. She said she spent about nine months on a scooter trying to participate in anatomy labs and other classes. In her fourth year, Walsh developed an intestinal infection which led to other complications. "Because I got sick, I couldn't take my normal medications, and I ended up getting blood clots in my lungs," she said, adding that one of her lungs collapsed. Walsh said that resulted in her having to drop a rotation because she physically could not get out of bed. After meeting with the dean, Walsh said she was able to rebuild her schedule and take on rotations that were not as physically challenging. "I think I was more worried a lot of the time about school," she said. "But the school was like, 'No, your health is more important.'" 'I try and find the good' The experience of completing a challenging degree amid physical health issues took a mental toll, Walsh said. "It was hard. It was really hard," she said. "But I guess I would just say… it's kind of just my personality. I'm just a fighter, I guess." Even in moments where it wasn't easy, Walsh said she looked on the bright side. "I try and always have a positive outlook, so I try and find the good," she said. "It was kind of hard to find it at that point, but the school was amazing and my classmates were amazing and we persevered." With her background in social work, Walsh said she's learned how to take care of herself. "Having a healthy mindset is what can help you get through these things," she said, noting that she also has a good support system to lean on. Having now earned her degree, Walsh said she feels mostly joy. "I think over the last four years, I've definitely grown in confidence," she said. "I used to be a complete wallflower. Like, you wouldn't even know I was there. And now I'm … talking on the radio."
CBC
11-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
P.E.I. vet college admits mistake for asking artist to remove painting based on U.S. politics
Social Sharing The Atlantic Veterinary College has apologized to its former artist-in-residence who quit after being asked to take down a painting he says was censored by the Charlottetown institution due to its political message. In a statement, the college acknowledged that asking Christopher Griffin to choose between removing his painting, The Crossing, or leaving his residency "was a mistake." "The decision did not reflect our institutional values, and we regret the hurt and frustration it caused. Art plays an essential role in education and public life — it challenges us, encourages dialogue, and fosters understanding," the statement reads. "We fell short of our responsibility to protect that role." Painting received 3 complaints Griffin, who moved to Prince Edward Island from Ottawa in 2023, became the regional college's first-ever artist-in-residence last November. The unpaid position gave him the opportunity to brighten up some of the UPEI-based college's community spaces. While animals are a recurring theme in his work, Griffin said his focus shifted starting in January when Donald Trump was sworn in as U.S. president for the second time and launched a trade war with many countries, including Canada. 'Expressions of concern' lead Charlottetown college officials to tell artist his painting must go 1 day ago Duration 2:58 Christopher Griffin had been enjoying his stint as artist-in-residence at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown. Then a painting he created in reaction to Donald Trump's recent statements and actions about Canada caused a stir. Administration officials asked him to remove 'The Crossing' (detail shown) from the walls of the college, where about a third of faculty and students are American, because of three 'expressions of concern.' CBC's Wayne Thibodeau reports. One of his recent works, The Crossing, shows a boat full of lemmings carrying a crumpled and discoloured U.S. flag across an icy northern Canadian waterway. The college said it received three complaints about the painting, including two from American faculty members. The AVC's dean, Dominique Griffon, told CBC News on Wednesday that Griffin had recently started creating more "politically charged" art, which did not align with the original vision for the artist-in-residence program. So Griffin was asked to remove The Crossing immediately, according to a statement he posted on Facebook. He refused. Griffon said it was the artist's decision to instead leave the residency. Many students, faculty and Islanders turned to social media to express disappointment with the administration asking Griffin to remove the artwork. A thank-you card at the college signed by students and staff includes messages of support for the artist. Artist accepted apologies The college said it has offered a direct apology to Griffin and offered to reinstall the painting in a prominent campus location. The university has also invited Griffin to come and speak about his work. "We are also reviewing our internal processes to ensure future decisions uphold our commitments to free expression and inclusive discourse," the statement reads. "We remain committed to creating space for meaningful conversations — even, and especially, when they are uncomfortable." In an Instagram post, Griffin said he has accepted apologies from both AVC and UPEI, and agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion at the university where he will speak about his work. "A huge silver lining is that this event has revealed the deep passion Canadians feel for our country and the values we hold sacred, including the freedom of expression," Griffin wrote. "Canada finds herself in troubled times, but my faith in our people has never been greater. We are strong together."
CBC
10-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
'Expressions of concern' lead Charlottetown college officials to tell artist his painting must go
Christopher Griffin had been enjoying his stint as artist-in-residence at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown. Then a painting he created in reaction to Donald Trump's recent statements and actions about Canada caused a stir. Administration officials asked him to remove 'The Crossing' (detail shown) from the walls of the college, where about a third of faculty and students are American, because of three 'expressions of concern.' CBC's Wayne Thibodeau reports.
