A new agreement between Lakehead University in Thunder Bay and the University of Guelph aims to address what has been termed a “critical shortage” of veterinarians in Northern Ontario.
The two universities have signed an agreement, begun recruiting students and are working on a request for proposal process to launch a new Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program.
“The innovative collaboration between the two institutions is designed to address the critical veterinarian shortage in northern Ontario, particularly in the growing agri-food sector,” a press release from Lakehead states. “Across the region, the shortage has also made it difficult for people to access medical care for their family’s pets.”
The universities said the program will combine the expertise at Guelph U’s Ontario Veterinary College with Lakehead’s history of supporting rural and Indigenous communities “by breaking down barriers to education.”
“People who live in northern Ontario deserve equal access to services found in the rest of the province, and that includes medical care for our pets and farm animals,” said Dr. Gillian Siddall, president and vice-chancellor of Lakehead University. “Solutions for the north need to be homegrown in the north to meet our unique needs.”
The news release states the partnership will recruit 20 northern students each year to enter the Ontario Veterinary College’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. Eligible students will draw students from the Districts of Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, and Timiskaming.
“Students will participate in experiential learning opportunities and work with local veterinarians in addition to completing core courses geared toward northern practice. Students will graduate with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Guelph.”
As part of the launch of the new program, Lakehead will begin construction of a large animal education facility on its Thunder Bay campus this summer.
“The first two cohorts of northern students (2025 and 2026) will complete the entire program at the University of Guelph’s campus,” the release states. “Beginning in 2027, the northern cohort of 20 students will complete their first two years at Lakehead University’s Thunder Bay campus, finishing their final two years of the program in Guelph.”
The province has provided $14.7 million toward the launch of the new program.
