Vet tech program sought for CNC

Feb 14, 2023 | 3:35 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The shortage of vets is no secret and there is a move afoot to create a veterinary school at the University of Northern BC. Currently, aspiring vets need to do the Saskatchewan for training. And during the most recent Council meeting, a resolution was passed to that effect. It outlines a letter from the Mayor’s Office supporting a vet school at UNBC and s review of the potential impact of vet retirements and changes to degree qualifications. And that resolution was amended to add a technician program at the College of New Caledonia.

“The veterinarian need is really well expressed, and that was brought forward to the regional district. In addition, the technicians that are needed to support it the college that we’re on right now has excellent expertise and in addition to UNBC being able to train veterinarians,” says City Councillor Garth Frizzell, who floated the idea of amending the original motion. “Wouldn’t it be great to have the technicians trained here in Prince George?”

The College of New Caledonia has a number of partnerships with UNBC in fields like health care. And, if there were another opportunity to do so, the college would welcome it.

“It’s a great potential partnership and it’s very early days right now, but we’re certainly interested in being part of any conversations,” says Dr. Dennis Johnson, President of CNC. “It’s clear there’s a need, but we also know that these programs are quite expensive and take quite a bit to get going. So we’re willing partners and we’ll see what happens.”

A Labour Market Study by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association predicts there will be a shortage of 100 vets per year in BC. For years, the Province of BC sponsored 20 students to attend the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatchewan and covers their tuition, save $11,000. Another twenty seats recently came available and, again, the Province is subsidizing those seats.

“And it seems like it’s a time when we can get things moving. We heard about the new nurses that were added to the program at UNBC. Fantastic,” says Frizzell. “You know, that’s that’s the thing is colleges and universities need to adapt to changes and need to adapt to shortages and needs in the community.”

Over the years, the College of New Caledonia and the University of Northern BC collaborate on a number of fronts. This would not be re-inventing the wheel.

“So we offer the first two years of university transfer courses. Many students decide to start up here and go up to you and B.C. And of course, many students started even B.C. right off the bat. But we also have other programs where they’ll do things collaboratively, like the nursing program. So it’s a good partnership.”

The Minister of Post-Secondary Education Selina Robinson says before such an expensive venture can be contemplated, a solid case needs to be made.

Click here to report an error or typo in this article