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CVMA Vacancy: WIDEA Committee

March 17, 2025

The Wellness and Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (WIDEA) Committee is seeking two trail-blazing and dedicated volunteers to join the team.

We invite you to be part of something transformative for yourself and our profession!  Join a volunteer team of innovative, problem-solving, and caring veterinary professionals to help shape the future of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s (CVMA) National Wellness and Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (WIDEA) Program.

Here’s your chance to:

Amplify Your Voice: Share your perspectives, experience, and guidance to bring your voice and your colleagues' voices to the table.

Drive Change and Leave a Legacy: Help shape and advance the WIDEA program, tools, and resources that address the needs of Canadian veterinary medicine at the individual, team, workplace, and system levels. 

Build Connections While Growing Personally and Professionally: Collaborate with like-minded professionals who share your commitment to improving wellness, inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility in veterinary medicine. Get involved in piloting and testing resources, training, and tools first-hand, building your skills while assessing their value for Canadian veterinary professionals.

This is more than a committee—it’s a movement for positive change in our profession. Your voice matters and we are eager to hear it!

Mandate

The WIDEA Committee functions under the guidance of, and is responsible to, CVMA Council and will actively participate in the key activities outlined below:

  1. Supporting the development, launch, and ongoing improvement of the National WIDEA Program, along with its associated resources, tools, and initiatives.
  2. Creating, developing, and recommending WIDEA guidance documents and position statements, when required, on behalf of the national veterinary profession for adoption by the CVMA.
  3. Liaising and collaborating with other committees and working groups within the CVMA governance framework to contribute and incorporate the WIDEA’s perspective.   
  4. Helping ensure the sharing of these perspectives to the appropriate channels which may include: internally within the CVMA, with all members of the association, the profession at large, with the general public, with government at all levels, and with other organizations that have shared concerns.

Relevant Experience and Skills:

The ideal candidate must be a CVMA member who brings the following skills, experience, and interests:

Passion for Change and Innovation: A strong commitment to breaking down barriers and advancing mental health, well-being, psychological safety, inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility in Canadian veterinary medicine.

Open and Critical Thinking: A willingness to critically evaluate tools and resources while openly sharing perspectives and advice, even if it challenges the norm. This approach ensures diverse, inclusive, and meaningful input, helping us make thoughtful decisions on resources, courses, and tools that are truly relevant for members.

Diligence: A blend of thoroughness and timeliness—ensuring accuracy, attention to detail, and momentum to drive successful outcomes.

Commitment to Belonging: A belief in fostering a sense of belonging and a desire to engage with members to understand their wellness, inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility needs from individual, team, workplace, and system levels.

Curiosity and Initiative: A willingness to research courses, resources, and tools and provide feedback to help advance and refine the Wellness, Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Program.

In the spirit of belonging, community, and open accessibility, we warmly invite and strongly encourage individuals from equity-deserving groups to apply. These groups may include, but are not limited to:

  • BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color),
  • Individuals with disabilities,
  • Individuals identifying as neurodivergent (diagnosed or self-identified),
  • LGBTQ2S+ individuals,
  • Internationally trained veterinarians, and
  • Others who face systemic barriers to equity.

Your individual and unique lived experience and insights are invaluable in creating meaningful change. We aim to foster wellness and build an equitable, inclusive, accessible, and impactful national program for all members.

Time Commitment/Working Relationship/Term of Office

The time commitment of 20-30 hours per year to serve on the WIDEA committee includes:

  • Preparation and participation in one annual face-to-face meeting (usually held in Ottawa over two days in the spring) and two to three virtual meetings.
  • Contributing to email discussions between meetings (for decision-making and offering advice, guidance, and direction).
  • Optional participation in working groups on timely and specific projects.

The CVMA Director of Wellness, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, as delegated by the Chief Executive Officer, facilitates the ongoing operations of the WIDEA Committee.

Appointments are made annually for a one-year term (renewable). It is recommended that members be ready to serve one to two three-year terms. 

Want to Get Involved?

Those interested in contributing to this important work, and wish to let their name stand for nomination, are invited to submit a Join a CVMA Committee Form by April 14, 2025. Please also email Dr. Kathy Keil, Director of Wellness and DEI at kkeil@cvma-acmv.org to indicate your interest or to inquire about this role.