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2005 News Releases

October 15, 2005

Multi-million dollar investment will give Alberta vet students another option

University of Calgary decides vet school will open in 2007

Calgary... The Alberta government has approved funding of $46.8 million over four years so that University of Calgary can open its doors in the fall of 2007 to its first class of students in the new Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

"The establishment of this world class program in our province will be an immense benefit to all Albertans and we're pleased our substantial funding commitment will now allow all the parties involved to move forward. The complex nature of this project required that the necessary time and due diligence be taken to ensure future success for the students, faculty and the university," said Dave Hancock, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology. "This new veterinary medical school will be leading-edge and it will put the province at the forefront of research into animal diseases and food supply safety."

The breakdown in government funding in support of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program includes:

  • $3 million in 2005-06
  • $5 million in 2006-07
  • $8.4 million in 2007-08
  • $12.4 million in 2008-09
  • $18 million over the next three years in one-time funding to support one-time start up costs for faculty and research

"We are at a critical juncture and I commend Minister Hancock for working with us to move the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine program forward," said Dr. Harvey Weingarten, President of the University of Calgary. "Opening a new program of this calibre is a significant undertaking, involving a number of key stakeholders and partners. It is critical that we launch a high-quality program that meets the needs of veterinarians, the community and our students. Given the complexity, we all agree that a September 2007 start makes sense, and we are working with the province on that commitment."

The new veterinary school will coordinate with other provincial animal-medicine programs in universities and colleges throughout Alberta in keeping with the province's Campus Alberta vision for a seamless learning system. The three-year program is expected to graduate 30 veterinarians each year and will be linked closely to the university's Faculty of Medicine. It will be the fifth veterinary school in Canada.

"I am pleased that the provincial government has taken the important step of confirming the financial support necessary to establish the U of C vet school. I also think that an opening date of 2007 provides us with the time necessary to complete facilities, develop curriculum and receive accreditation, and will allow us to pursue the opportunity for the development of a comprehensive animal health programme to serve the needs of all Albertans", said Ole Nielsen, Chair of Alberta Veterinary Medicine Steering Committee.

While the funding is now in place, the University of Calgary must also submit a proposal for accreditation with the American Veterinary Medicine Association.

Last month the Alberta government announced close to $16 million in capital funding to the University of Calgary to be used to develop the space needed for the new Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The university will expand its Life Sciences Research Station and, to accommodate the new school of veterinary medicine, will develop a portion of its Health Research Innovation Centre, which is currently under construction.

Backgrounder

Program Details

  • The three-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program will be modeled on the Doctor of Medicine program at the University of Calgary. Students study for three continuous years with short summer breaks, covering the same materials as a more standard four-year program. To be admitted, students will have completed at least two years of post-secondary study, or a pre-veterinary program, or a combination of an animal health technology program supplemented by additional university-level course work.
  • This unique veterinary school will also provide research into the detection, containment and eradication of diseases that can spread from species to species and affect humans, and prepare veterinary medical practitioners and researchers focused on food supply safety. The school will also specialize in producing large-animal veterinarians to address shortages of these types of specialists in the province.
  • Students who want to further specialize in animal disease research after graduation from this program may study at the University of Alberta, which currently houses Alberta's top schools in medical, animal health and food sciences research. Students may also take post-graduate studies in other areas of interest at the University of Calgary and the University of Saskatchewan.
  • A number of specializations for DVM graduates will also be created. One- or two-year post-graduate programs in food animal, equine, companion animal, research, wildlife, and food safety are envisioned. These graduate programs are expected to be established at the University of Calgary, University of Alberta, or at the University of Saskatchewan, based on their areas of expertise.