“The continued success of our veterinary program depends on the quality and dedication of our students, and I’m confident that the members of the Class of 2013 will meet our high expectations,” says WCVM Dean Dr. Charles Rhodes. “The students’ academic records as well as their scholastic, athletic and community achievements are very impressive. We’re very fortunate to attract these talented individuals to the WCVM and to the veterinary profession.”

During the veterinary college’s annual White Coat Ceremony, every first-year class member accepts a personalized lab coat from the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. Each student also receives a stethoscope from the provincial veterinary medical association in the student’s home province.

The Class of 2013 is the largest first-year class in the veterinary college’s 44-year history. WCVM’s newest students represent 48 communities in Western Canada and the North. Based on an interprovincial agreement with Canada’s four western provinces, WCVM accepts an allotted number of applicants from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba for its undergraduate veterinary program. The regional veterinary college also accepts applicants from the northern territories.

In preparation for their veterinary education, the majority of WCVM’s first-year students have already volunteered or worked at veterinary clinics, farms, humane societies, zoos, research centres and other animal-related organizations.

The Class of 2013 will have state-of-the-art facilities and a wide range of resources available during their DVM program at the WCVM. The veterinary college recently completed a series of expansion and renovation projects worth $71 million — including additions to its veterinary teaching hospital, diagnostics area and research laboratories.

The WCVM is now beginning renovations to its existing diagnostic laboratories and associated areas. Earlier this year, the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan invested $9.06 million in this final phase of the college’s infrastructure project through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP).

The WCVM (www.wcvm.com) is a Canadian centre of expertise for veterinary education, clinical services and research located on the U of S campus. Since 1969, more than 2,500 veterinarians have received their DVM degrees from the regional veterinary college. While most WCVM alumni live and work in Western Canada, former students can be found in more than 600 communities around the world.

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Media representatives are invited to attend the WCVM White Coat Ceremony that will take place at the following time and location:

9:00 p.m. (following the WCVM Fall Awards program)
Friday, September 25, 2009
Galaxy Ballroom, Travelodge Hotel, Saskatoon
106 Circle Drive West, Saskatoon

For more information, please contact:

Myrna MacDonald, Communications
Western College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Saskatchewan
Tel: 306-225-4479 • Cell: 306-291-9950
sm.ridley@sasktel.net
www.wcvm.com