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The spring season marks a time of major transformation: from harsh winters to lush summers, from busy calving season into the more relaxed summer months, and for veterinary students across Canada, a jump forward into the next class year. For the Class of 2026, spring means graduation and moving on from the rigors of vet school to the exciting new challenge of navigating life as a full-fledged veterinarian. For the remainder of vet students, spring brings forth the freedom from exam stress, the chance to relax after a long eight months of learning, and an opportunity to reflect on the past year. Finally, for each of the five Canadian veterinary schools, the spring is a time to celebrate the success of their students, their excellence in education, and begin the process of welcoming in the next class of veterinarians.
Before classes began this past fall, students had the opportunity to attend the annual Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) Convention, which was held in Victoria, BC in June of 2025. Hundreds of students, veterinarians, technicians, and professionals gathered from across the country to celebrate the industry’s achievements, network, learn, and develop new skills. I was very fortunate to be an attendee of the convention and getting the opportunity to learn from industry professionals and discover new career paths helped me strengthen my passion for veterinary medicine, and it left me invigorated and ready to tackle my final year of classroom learning.
The school year began with a much-loved and time-honoured tradition: the White or Blue Coat Ceremonies for the incoming first-year classes at Canada’s five veterinary schools. These events mark the beginning of every veterinarian’s journey and are the culmination of the years of hard work and dedication that are required to be admitted into vet school, something which many students have pursued for their entire lives. Excitement, anticipation, and a passion for learning are always at an all-time high at the beginning of the school year, and this past year was no exception.
Outside of classroom learning, vet students received the opportunity to further develop their clinical and professional skills via discussions, dinners, and workshops. The SCVMA representatives for this year hosted a multitude of events aimed at enhancing the student experience and providing learning opportunities. A favourite event among students and faculty alike is the annual One Voice Presentation and Hot Topic Discussion, which focused on ‘Spectrum of Care’ this year and aimed to provide students with relevant and practical perspectives on how to address this challenging topic. As the UCVM representative, I can say that our event was a widely attended question-and-answer discussion where a panel of five faculty members, specializing in a wide range of species, answered dozens of in-depth questions from the student body on this year’s topic. Food and prizes were offered to attendees of this event thanks to sponsorship from the CVMA, and these are some of the most anticipated events of the school year.
Another highlight of this year was the 2026 SCVMA Symposium, which took place in Guelph, Ontario in January of this calendar year. Students received the opportunity to travel to the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) and explore their stunning campus while engaging in valuable learning experiences throughout the weekend. The conference was run by Cassandra Stewart, the OVC Senior Representative, and Emma Jessop, the OVC Junior Representative, and it was an incredible success due to their hard work and dedication. Students from all five Canadian schools came together to learn, network, and grow as professionals in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Despite the snowy conditions, students got to explore a wide range of lectures, wet labs, and tours in the Guelph area. Combining these learning opportunities with the exciting social events hosted throughout the weekend made this year’s symposium one to remember!
Looking back on this year, it is evident that the 2025-2026 school year offered some incredible opportunities to the current crop of veterinary students. In turn, the engagement, enthusiasm, and passion for veterinary medicine that was displayed across Canada for the extracurricular events, conferences, symposiums, and workshops shows that the next generation of veterinarians is focused, hard-working, and will strive to sustain and advance the industry.
As my time with the SCVMA draws to a close, and I finish out my final article as the SCVMA Editorial Coordinator, I am deeply thankful for all of the opportunities this position has given me the chance to explore. I have gotten the opportunity to meet and work with some truly incredible people. To my fellow SCVMA representatives - Kasey Keohane (WCVM), Sara Puligandla (FMV), Cassandra Stewart (OVC), and Katelyn Visser (AVC) - thank you for your support over this past year and all the best with your final year in school. A special shoutout and thank you to Janie Racette, we truly could not do this without you and we appreciate all of your efforts to help us tackle the challenges that arose over this past year. Finally, thank you to all of our junior representatives as well and I hope that your year as senior representative is as enjoyable as ours was.
While I am incredibly excited to embark on my final, clinical year of vet school and move on from classroom learning, this transition feels bittersweet, as I will also be moving on from my role with the SCVMA. I am honoured to have been able to represent the CVMA and work with this incredible association over the past few years. This concludes my final article as the Senior SCVMA Representative for the University of Calgary, and serving on this committee has been a great honour and one of the highlights of my vet school journey.
Thank you,
Shelby Jennings
Senior Representative, SCVMA, UCVM Class of 2027