The College: History

August 23, 1963

• Representatives from the four western provinces, the Government of Canada and western universities agree to build a regional college of veterinary medicine on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Sask.

December 10, 1963

• The U of S Board of Governors confirms the appointment of Dr. David Lawrence (Larry) T. Smith as the college's first dean.

September 10, 1965

• The university's new college is named the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) during the first meeting of the WCVM's Advisory Board (renamed the WCVM Advisory Council in 1966).

Fall 1965

• WCVM's first class of 33 veterinary students begin their studies at the University of Saskatchewan. By the fall of 1968, more than 130 students were enrolled in the four-year program.  

March 1967

• The American College of Veterinary Medicine (AVMA), the licensing body for veterinary colleges in North America, recommends provisional accreditation for the WCVM. Two years later, the college receives "confidential probation" status - allowing the first class of students to graduate from an accredited veterinary college. The WCVM received full AVMA accreditation in 1974.

1967

• Drs. Margaret Benson and Don MacDonald become the first two students to complete and receive graduate degrees from the WCVM. Both received their Master of Science degrees.

May 1969

• The 27 members of the WCVM Class of 1969 - the veterinary college's first class - receive their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degrees from U of S Chancellor John Diefenbaker (former Prime Minister of Canada) during the university's Spring Convocation exercises.

July 2, 1969

• More than 500 people gather for the official opening of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. The opening is held in conjunction with the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association's annual conference.

November 12-14, 1970

• WCVM students organize and host the first Vetavision at the veterinary college. The College's public open house continues to be held every three years.

1974

• Dr. N. Ole Nielsen, one of the first WCVM faculty members hired in 1964, becomes the veterinary college's second dean after Dr. Larry Smith completes 10 years of leadership at the WCVM.

1981

• Crews complete the second phase of construction at the WCVM. The Veterinary Teaching Hospital is expanded to accommodate the growing number of small animal and large animal patients. 

1982

• Dr. Gavin Hamilton, who joined the WCVM faculty in 1966, assumes the role of the WCVM's third dean.

1992

• Dr. Alex Livingston, a professor of pharmacology with the University of Bristol's School of Veterinary Sciences, becomes the WCVM's fourth dean.

2002

• Dr. Charles Rhodes, who joined the WCVM faculty in 1971, becomes acting dean for the WCVM. One year later, Dr. Rhodes becomes the fifth dean of the veterinary college.

December 2002

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) announces a $113-million investment in infrastructure upgrades for Canada's four veterinary colleges. WCVM's share is $22.24 million. In November 2004, the Government of Saskatchewan commits $15 million to the veterinary college's infrastructure project.

2004

• The WCVM begins a multi-phase expansion and renovation of its facilities. The $37-million project is slated for completion in 2008.

2007

• The WCVM implements a revised curriculum for its undergraduate veterinary students. The revised program includes more streamlined, co-ordinated courses in the students' first two years, a range of third-year elective courses, and "free time" every Wednesday afternoon.

2008

• Four years after construction began at the WCVM, the veterinary college has a new research wing, a two-storey addition to its Veterinary Teaching Hospital, a renovated small animal clinical services area, a food animal teaching centre and a renovated Animal Care Unit. A diagnostics addition and renovations to the large animal clinical services area are still in construction. High costs for construction materials and labour have increased the total project cost to $71 million. 

April 2009

• Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) invests $2.77 million in the construction of the College's new diagnostics addition and the Veterinary Teaching Hospital's large animal clinical services area.

June 2009

• The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan announce a $9.06-million investment in the WCVM's infrastructure project. The additional funding allows the college to begin the final stage of construction: renovations to the existing diagnostic laboratories and the development of a multi-use diagnostics laboratory complex.