Our WVA General Assembly took place on 3rd October where delegates had a unique opportunity to hear from the WVA Council members about large number of activities that the WVA delivered during the last year including collaboration plans with global partners, WVA projects and communication strategy. the full WVA Activities Report 2016 can be found HERE.
Health Canada is currently engaged in a public consultation on proposed changes to the Food and Drug Regulations aimed at improving the regulatory oversight of antimicrobials for veterinary use. The proposed changes are aimed at addressing the problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in both human and veterinary medicine.
For more infomation visit: http://www.canadianveterinarians.net/documents/new-reality-apis-oui
Each year, the BCVTA has the pleasure to present a student from the Distance Education AHT program at Thompson Rivers University with the BCVTA of the Year award. The recipient is someone that shows exceptional enthusiasm and dedication for the profession throughout his/her time in the program. Our Executive Director, Christine Watson was pleased to present this year’s award on behalf of the BCVTA to Malia Benmore Bourgeois in Kamloops this August.
L- R Malia Benmore, Christine Watson
Our BCVTA Awards of Distinction for graduating AHT/VT Program students were presented at graduation this 2016 spring. Victoria Dawe from Douglas College and Daniella Piper from Thompson Rivers University were the lucky recipients. Congratulations to both and good luck in your chosen careers.
Gayle Paquette BCVTA President presenting the BCVTA student award to Douglas College’s Victoria Dawe, Dr. Brian
Chapell, Douglas College Dean of Science and Technology, right.
BCVTA President’s Message:
I am excited to take on the role of President this year, fully realizing the size of the shoes I will need to fill. I would like to thank Lindsay Ramage for her lengthy time on the Board of Officers. She has been a role model for her fresh thinking, diplomacy and drive to get “stuff” done. Thank you, also to our other outgoing Board members, Donna Lasser and Jonessa Brown, as well as our new recruit Erica Gray, who will now be in the Treasurer role. Thank you all for your time.
2016 BCVTA Board Members
(L-R) Eric Gray, Christine Watson, Tina Douglas, Heather Shannon, Kirsten Wilson, Gayle Paquette, Jennifer Simmons
It was great to see everyone at this year’s BCVTA Spring Conference, at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops! The theme this year was Occupational Health and Safety, so we were treated to presentations from fellow technicians, Tara Evans and Tanya Robertson, about X-Ray Safety and Workplace Safety in Surgery (Anesthesia), respectively, as part of our Meet the Tech series. We had a review of our affiliation with the Registered Veterinary Technicians and Technologists of Canada, including our new health, disability, and life insurance program. Dr. Marie Holowaychuck, a specialist in emergency and critical care, spoke about caring for the emergency patient, and introduced her retreat that will focus on Wellness for the Veterinary Technician, in Kananaskis this summer. Dr. Amy Breton provided presentations on cat and dog Kidney function assessment, Urinary Catheterization, and troubleshooting difficult Venipuncture. She then switched gears for the afternoon session, and focused on lessons learned from coping with natural disasters, and learning from them to establish a workplace disaster plan for the future. Dr. Mike Higgins, from Canada West Veterinary Specialists, spoke about common Neurological cases in practice, and Sean Smith rounded out the conference with a discussion on the use Social Media, which can be directly applied to promote our practices and our Association.
At the ever popular tradeshow, among the vendors promoting pet health insurance; novel pharmaceuticals, and diets; even pet wheelchairs (!), St. John’s Ambulance promoted First Aid training, and brought their therapy dogs. For draw prize eligibility, participants were encouraged to complete a “Passport”, answering a series of questions from each booth. Thank you to all of the vendors who contributed this event, and Congratulations to those who received prizes!!
Looking ahead, our Association goals continue to be advancing our discussions with the College of Veterinarians of BC, promoting the Veterinary Technologist profession to the public, making our membership to the Registered Veterinary Technicians and Technologists of Canada more transparent, and working towards goals that you, our Members, suggest.
I welcome all input from our Members, and am looking forward to continuing working with you.
Gayle Paquette
Registered Veterinary Technologist of the Year Award
We would like to acknowledge one of our members for the outstanding contribution to their profession and association. The recipient is an active member of our association that has demonstrated outstanding support and has contributed to the increased awareness of the BC Veterinary Technologists Association and RVT’s role in the animal health community and general public.
Kirsten Wilson (left) was proud to present this year’s award to Cathy Hall-Patch (right).
Cathy has been an active member since the the 1980s. She was an instructor from 1990 at the Animal Health Technology Program at then, Cariboo College, later University College of the Cariboo and now Thompson Rivers University when she retired this year. Cathy constantly strives to increase her knowledge in all areas of veterinary medicine, through attending conferences, reading, taking courses, keeping current in this ever changing, evolving field, and being involved with organizations that promote the profession and support the profession. Cathy has participated in CAAT trips and she presented to our association regarding her experiences with Wildlife rehabilitation in Africa.
Thank you Cathy Hall-Patch for being a mentor and friend to our community!
©2019 British Columbia Veterinary Technologists Association
