Atlantic Veterinary College pilots first Indigenous Vet Camp
The Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is piloting an Indigenous vet camp from August 5–9, 2024, with the aim of expanding the College’s acclaimed Dr. Tim Ogilvie AVC Vet Camp program to include a week-long camp dedicated to Indigenous students.
AVC is offering this special pilot project, which is supported by VCA Canada, a network of over 150 veterinary hospitals in six Canadian provinces, and Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey in Nova Scotia, an organization that advocates for and represents the educational interests of 12 out of 13 Mi’kmaq communities in the Nova Scotian Mi’kma’ki territory. The week is open to Indigenous campers in the Maritimes by invitation through Mi’kmaw Kin’matnewy.
“These campers represent the future of veterinary medicine, and our goal is to inspire them early in their educational journey,” says AVC Dean Dominique Griffon. “We are committed to collaborating with these communities, and partners like VCA Canada, to create meaningful opportunities for Indigenous youth to learn and grow.”
During the camp, 40 Indigenous junior and high school students will participate in various activities such as equine physical examinations, surgical gowning and gloving, small animal hospital rounds, and wildlife conservation sessions. The students will spend the entire week at AVC, providing crucial feedback to shape the foundation of a new Indigenous vet camp program, which is set to launch in the summer of 2025 and will be open to Indigenous students across Canada.
Recognizing the importance of this initiative, VCA Canada is supporting the pilot project, hoping to establish the camp as a permanent fixture at AVC. This move comes in response to growing demand from Indigenous communities for a dedicated camp experience tailored to their students.
“Our commitment to the Indigenous vet camp reflects our dedication to supporting the next generation of veterinarians," said Aaron Frazier, Chief Operating Officer of VCA. "By championing initiatives that focus on fostering inclusion within our industry, we aim to create a future where veterinary medicine reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve.”
The Dr. Tim Ogilvie AVC Vet Camp, which started in 1999, has welcomed over 4,000 participants to date. In recent years, the camp has offered scholarships for Indigenous campers, but there has been increasing advocacy from Indigenous groups for an exclusive camp week of their own.
