CVMA Awards

Dr. Al Longair

Dr. Al Longair graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1977 and began his career in mixed animal practice in Duncan, B.C. By 1981, he shifted his focus exclusively to small animals.

He volunteered with the BC SPCA for more than two decades, serving 12 years as president of his local branch and 10 years on the provincial management committee, including four as president. In the early 1990s, he chaired the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s Animal Welfare Committee.

In 2001, Dr. Longair was one of six independent veterinarians selected by the International Fund for Animal Welfare to serve as a licensed observer of the Canadian seal hunt, offering recommendations and insights on animal welfare.

He fondly remembers two of his most unusual patients – a rattlesnake and a black moccasin – both of which he had to de-venomize.

Dr. Longair was instrumental in developing the Society of BC Veterinarians, serving three years as president during a pivotal time when the organization successfully advocated for a doubling of WCVM seats for B.C. students.

He lives on a small acreage with his wife, horses, dogs and cats. He has coached youth soccer for 25 years and has curled with the same team for the past 20 years.

Dr. Kelly Butler

After graduating in 1986, Dr. Kelly Butler began her career with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, ensuring the humane treatment and health of livestock in sales facilities. An opportunity to purchase a small animal practice led her to split her time between clinical work and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), where her research traced the source of pentachlorophenol in pork – preserving Canada’s export markets and enhancing food safety.

Following a cancer diagnosis, she transitioned to public health, where she led the successful implementation of an international quality management system at the public health lab in Winnipeg.

Dr. Butler was later hired by the World Health Organization to manage the polio and measles laboratory network in the Western Pacific Region. As a side project, she investigated a malfunctioning malaria antibody test and traced the issue to production and delivery problems – work that helped ensure its ongoing global use.

After returning to Canada, she began locum work and ultimately opened a small animal hospital in Vanier, Ont., with a strong focus on preventive care and support for the Community Veterinary Outreach program. Her wide-ranging career journey speaks to the depth and versatility of veterinary training.

Jamye MacWilliam

Jamye MacWilliam is a fourth year veterinary student at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC). Jamye has been heavily involved in student activities since her first year at AVC and is incredibly thankful to her classmates for selecting her for this award.

Jamye was born in Montreal, but has called Prince Edward Island home for the past 11 years. Jamye developed her strong work ethic and leadership skills at a non-profit organization called Parkside Ranch in Orford, Quebec where her love for horses and veterinary medicine grew. At Parkside Ranch, Jamye learned to lead with a strong heart and open mind and she has continued this in all her leadership roles.

Jamye completed a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology at the University of Prince Edward Island and her master's in Health Management at the Atlantic Veterinary College. After graduate school Jamye started her veterinary studies and has loved being a vet student. Jamye’s class, the Class of 2024, is filled with wonderful, kind, and knowledgeable people that Jamye is grateful know. She also has had the privilege of being involved in the close-knit community of the AVC through being President of the Society of Atlantic Veterinary Students, and being involved in her class executive and other clubs.

Jamye plans on practicing Large Animal Medicine after graduation and in her spare time she enjoys training her horse, hiking with her dog and baking.

Frédérique Massicotte

Frédérique Massicotte is an academic delegate and class representative for the students in their third year of the DVM program at the Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal (FMV), and feels honored to work with the students and the members of the student union!

Frédérique is always listening to her colleagues, who put their trust in her to put forward their opinions and ideas to the faculty and the student union.

She is also co-president of the Animal Welfare Student Committee (CEBA), in which she is fully devoted in the development of several projects since 2020 to revive this committee which is dear to her.

Frédérique has worked tirelessly on a project of sponsorship involving the veterinary students and the dogs from the colony of animals used in teaching activities, for the beagles to have more stimulations and she is currently working on a long-term activities program of enrichment for each animal species housed at the veterinary school.   

Her involvement demonstrates a lot of leadership, especially in her promotion and in the CEBA, where she can find new ideas and to make sure that everyone can share their opinion on each proposition. She is greatly involved in her promotion and in student life, allowing several hours per week throughout the school year, which according to her is worth it because the students appreciate it!

Frédérique wishes to thank the CVMA for this generous award. For Frédérique, the CVMA Student Leadership Award represents a real boost and gives her the motivation to continue her involvement in the student community!

Justin Peralta

Justin Peralta is a fourth year student at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) where he serves as Co-President of his class. Fellowship amongst his peers is a major priority for him. Justin’s main goals as Co-President has always been promoting inclusivity and being a voice for his classmates.

Over the past two years, he has volunteered with the Kim and Stu Lang Community Healthcare Partnership Program (CHPP) by attending clinics where they provide access to care in communities that are historically underrepresented. Justin is tremendously honoured to have been voted for by his peers for this award on the basis of his leadership.

During his time at OVC, he received the OVCAA Spirit Prize and the OVC 1996 Legacy Scholarship. Both awards are given based on a vote by his peers and recognize his leadership roles and involvement in his class.

Upon graduation in April, Justin plans to pursue a career in small animal medicine with a focus in primary care and community medicine. He looks forward to working on providing care to all members of his future community. He has a passion for representation and providing a spectrum of care.

Justin is eager to use what he has learned thus far to help bridge the gaps in access to veterinary medicine.

Katie Jones

Katie Jones is a third year veterinary student at the University of Calgary — Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM). She is passionate about leadership and being an active and positive part of her community.

Katie graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Calgary in 2021, wherein she completed a study abroad program associated with the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, and a research thesis in Coho Salmon genetics. Now in her DVM journey, she has been elected as the Class of 2025 President for the past three years and is an executive member of many clubs, including the Small Animal Club and the Ecosystem and Public Health Club.

Katie enjoys being involved in education and outreach events, including at the Calgary Stampede and University of Calgary Open Houses, where she can help foster early connections among individuals interested in veterinary medicine. She pursues opportunities to further her clinical learning, including working at a small animal emergency and referral center, volunteering at spay/neuter and wildlife clinics, and participating in externship programs within multiple specialties.

After graduation, she aims to pursue a small animal rotating internship and hopes her veterinary career will take her around the world helping communities, domestic animals, and local wildlife wherever she goes. Her interests are varied, and she is excited to explore the many diverse fields of veterinary medicine after graduation.

Outside of veterinary medicine, Katie enjoys traveling the world, horse riding, scuba diving, acting, and hiking in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Katie is grateful to her family and colleagues for supporting her in her pursuit of leadership and sincerely thanks her peers and the CVMA community for this award. 

Kiri Stephenson

Kiri Stephenson is a fourth year student at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) in Saskatoon. She is originally from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, but completed her Bachelor of Science at the University of British Columbia. Starting during her youth in the North, she has been involved in academic and extracurricular student representation in various organizations, and this has continued during her time at the WCVM.

Kiri finds she is best suited in liaison-type roles as a student representative. She is a Student-Teacher Educational Progress Committee Representative for the Class of 2024, and was the Curriculum Committee’s Student Representative in the past academic year. She is also one of the Sustainability Representatives for her Class, and was involved as an executive member and organizer in both the Western Canadian Veterinary Students’ Association and WCVM’s Vet-A-Vision open-house this past academic year. She has been an executive member for the Production Animal Club and the Wildlife Disease Association at WCVM across multiple years.

In time away from academics and representative roles, Kiri can be found between the posts as goaltender for the WCVM Women’s Recreational Hockey Team – two-time back-to-back champions of their division at the University of Saskatchewan. She also enjoys various other active pursuits like cycling and weightlifting, and rounds out her hobbies with knitting and podcast listening (avidly).

Kiri is excited to be starting her career as a large animal veterinarian in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia following graduation, and looks forward to continuing to represent the veterinary community wherever possible. She is grateful to her classmates for their selection of her for this CVMA Student Leadership Award at WCVM, and is always happy to represent and support them.

Dr. Sheri Ross

Dr. Sheri Ross is an associate professor at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) at the University of Prince Edward Island. She is a member of the Small Animal Internal Medicine team and teaches pre-clinical lectures and laboratories along with clinical rotations and post-graduate training.

Dr. Ross graduated from the Atlantic Veterinary College (‘96) and went on to complete her Internship, Internal Medicine Residency and PhD in Nephrology and Urology at the University of Minnesota. After serving as an Assistant Clinical Professor in MN, she moved to the University of California Veterinary Medical Center in San Diego in 2006 to complete a Fellowship in Renal Medicine/Hemodialysis. She remained with UC Davis as the coordinator of the Nephrology/Urology and Extracorporeal therapies program in San Diego. In 2022, she finally returned home to the Atlantic Veterinary College and is thankful for the opportunity to pursue her passion for teaching and clinical training. Dr. Ross is a founding member of the American College of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology, an IRIS Board Member, and a Faculty member of the Hemodialysis Academy. Her passions include teaching, cats and kidneys! 

 Dr. Ross’ advice to veterinary students and new graduates: “When faced with a clinical problem, ask why until you find an answer.”  And remember: "You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." (-Pooh)

Dr. Guillaume St-Jean

Dr. Guillaume St-Jean enrolled at la Faculté de médecine vétérinaire de l’Université de Montréal (FMV) in the veterinary medicine program in 2008. Throughout his DVM program, he developed a growing interest in veterinary pathology.

Following his graduation from the FMV in 2013, he immediately started a graduate program in veterinary pathology, also at FMV.

During this period, he realized that he enjoyed sharing his knowledge with the veterinary students and that he wanted to actively contribute to the training of future veterinarians and researchers.

To do so, at the same time he was doing his residency program in pathology he enrolled in a M.Sc. program. Upon completing his residency and successfully passing the certification exams of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, he switched to a Ph.D. program.

He had the occasion to acquire skills and knowledge in the field of animal reproduction by studying different transgenic mice models and the role of certain genes in the development of the uterus.

After completing his Ph.D., he spent a short period of time in a private company specializing in toxicopathology. In the Fall of 2020, Dr. St-Jean had the opportunity to come back to his alma mater as assistant-professor in veterinary pathology.

He felt a great satisfaction to be able to give back to an institution that brought him so much!

Since his return, he teaches veterinary pathology (THE most remarkable topic… in his opinion!) to veterinary students. He hopes that as his career evolves, that he will be able to transmit his passion to the students, with energy, pleasure, attention, availability, and humor. All the ingredients to help his students realize the importance of this subject.   

Dr. St-Jean’s advice to veterinary students and new graduates: “I wish you to retain, like a sponge, all the information that make you vibrate internally, and to rely on those vibrations to guide your professional path. Go for it! Try! Don’t be afraid of what’s ahead and of failure! There is no success without trying (just ask researchers who compete for grants…).”

Another piece of advice for his students:  “If you are doing pathological work and you can’t identify a structure… there is a good probability that it belongs to the reproductive system…”

Dr. Melissa MacIver

Dr. Melissa MacIver, Assistant Professor of Small Animal Surgery at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), obtained her DVM from OVC in 2013. She completed a small animal rotating internship at the 404 Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital followed by a small animal surgical internship at the University of Florida.

She then completed a residency in small animal surgery and a concurrent Master's of Science in stem cell therapy at Texas A&M University. She obtained her board certification from the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2020. Dr. MacIver was hired at OVC as an assistant professor in the fall of 2019. Her main interests include orthopaedic surgery, minimally invasive surgery, and stem cell therapy. Teaching has always been a passion for Dr. MacIver. One of the most rewarding experiences is watching students become more confident in their spay and neuter surgeries.

Dr. MacIver’s advice to veterinary students and new graduates: “Always continue learning and keep an open mind. Stay positive and remember that every time one door closes, another one opens.”

Dr. Søren Boysen

Dr. Søren Boysen graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) in 1996, completed an internship at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) in 1998, and did his residency training in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care (ECC) at Tufts University in Massachusetts, becoming a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2003.

The former Chief of Veterinary, ECC, at the University of Montreal is currently employed as a Full Professor in Small Animal ECC at the University of Calgary. Although he loves all things veterinary ECC, he is a true point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) aficionado, having introduced POCUS to the small animal veterinary profession in 1999!

Dr. Boysen’s advice to veterinary students and new graduates: "Becoming a successful vet is not a 4-year learning process, it's a lifelong journey. The journey is much easier if you find something you love and are passionate about; find something you love! I love veterinary emergency/critical care and point-of-care ultrasound, neither existed when I was a vet student, but somehow, we found each other, and I now travel the world teaching both. So be open to new ideas and challenges, they may open doors to a whole new world you never imagined. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Failure is not a letter grade; it is the first attempt in learning, and it is far better to fail and learn than to never try.  Finally, and most important of all, have fun – you only live once!"

Dr. Jen Loewen

Dr. Jen Loewen is the Assistant Professor of Small Animal Emergency Medicine and Critical Care at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM).

Dr. Loewen grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba prior to earning her DVM degree at the WCVM. Following graduation, she completed a small animal rotating internship at Iowa State University and a residency in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Loewen obtained her board certification from the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2018.

She is currently working on a Master’s of Education in Health Professional Education. As the sole emergency and critical care specialist at the WCVM’s Veterinary Medical Centre, Dr. Loewen supervises and supports senior veterinary students as they train in the hospital. She also teaches part of the third-year small animal medicine and surgery course, and to further develop the college’s emergency program, she created a third-year elective course on emergency medicine and critical care. In addition to teaching veterinary students, Dr. Loewen provides support for clinical interns and the team of registered veterinary technologists who work in the emergency service and ICU.

Dr. Loewen's advice to veterinary students and new graduates:  Continue to stay curious and ask "why". Look at ways that the information that you are learning in different courses can come together to form the bigger picture for the patients who you will be treating in your future if going into clinical medicine. Take advantage of the support built in while in vet school to take risks from experiences that are outside of your comfort zone to continue to grow!"