Federal investment bolsters new veterinary training program in Northern Ontario
A $1.5 million federal investment will help Lakehead University launch a collaborative veterinary program aimed at addressing workforce shortages and expanding access to livestock and rural animal care across the region.

The Government of Canada has announced a $1.5 million investment to support veterinary training capacity in Northern Ontario, with funding directed to Lakehead University to help establish a new Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program (CDVMP).
The initiative, supported through FedNor, will fund specialized laboratory and research equipment and is being developed in partnership with University of Guelph (U of G). The program is intended to address ongoing shortages of veterinary professionals in rural and northern regions, where access to care for livestock and food-producing animals remains limited.
Beginning in 2027, students will start their training at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay before completing their studies at the Ontario Veterinary College at the U of G, earning a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.
The program is designed to strengthen regional veterinary capacity, with a focus on herd health, biosecurity and disease response. It also includes collaboration with Indigenous communities to support culturally relevant approaches to animal health, food security and agricultural development.
To read the full announcement, visit the Government of Canada website.

