“Increasing access and affordability to veterinary medicine education helps us to address the shortage of veterinarians in BC and build a robust workforce,” said BC Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training Anne Kang.
“In followup to our government’s commitment to address BC’s labor market needs, we’re investing in seat expansions so that more students receive the quality training needed to support farmers, ranchers and families throughout the province.”
The Province of BC is investing nearly $10.7 million to double the number of provincially subsidized students from 20 to 40 in the WCVM’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program for the 2022/23 academic year.
“Veterinarians play a critical role in supporting BC farmers and food security,” said BC Minister of Agriculture and Food Lana Popham. “The additional seats at WCVM will support farmers’ businesses and the welfare of their animals as well as ensuring we have a resilient food supply and food economy for the years ahead.”
“The Government of BC has been one of the WCVM’s provincial partners for more than 55 years, and we are very excited to see that strong commitment grow,” said WCVM Dean Dr. Gillan Muir.
“This increased investment enables more BC residents to achieve their dreams of becoming veterinarians. It also allows the veterinary college to better serve the diverse needs of communities throughout BC, to support the health of companion animals and livestock, and to protect food safety and animal welfare.”
Further training opportunities for a career in animal care in BC include veterinary technology programs at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in Kamloops, BC, and Douglas College in Coquitlam, BC TRU also offers an online program to enable students currently employed in veterinary clinics to complete the veterinary technology program.
Click here to read Government of BC news release and backgrounder.