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Volunteers Make Waves: National Volunteer Week – April 27 to May 3, 2025
April 1, 2025
National Volunteer Week provides the perfect opportunity to recognize and celebrate the invaluable contributions of veterinarians, veterinary technicians/technologists, students, and all other dedicated volunteers who generously share their time and expertise to support the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s (CVMA) diverse initiatives. Their efforts strengthen the veterinary profession and create lasting ripples of positive change across Canada.
This 2025 National Volunteer Week theme, Volunteers Make Waves, highlights the power, impact, and momentum of volunteerism. Like waves in constant motion – flowing, shifting, and transforming – our volunteers create meaningful change, whether through quiet ripples of influence or powerful surges of advocacy and leadership. Each act of service, no matter how big or small, contributes to a broader movement that enhances the well-being of animals, veterinary professionals, and communities.
From coast to coast to coast, CVMA volunteers bring passion, commitment, and expertise to our Executive, Council, standing committees, advisory groups, and task forces. Approximately 550 volunteers support our work, lending their voices to media interviews, shaping veterinary policy, reviewing journal articles, and representing the CVMA on 30 external boards, associations, and legislative groups in Canada and internationally. Their collective efforts build a stronger, more resilient veterinary profession – one that adapts, evolves, and continues to make waves for future generations.
During National Volunteer Week, we honour the incredible individuals who drive positive change and strengthen the veterinary profession. The CVMA’s success is made possible by the dedication of our many volunteers, whose time, expertise, and passion create lasting impact. We sincerely thank you for your commitment and contributions. Together, we create ripples of change.
Some of the many examples of how volunteers contribute to the CVMA’s efforts are listed below:
The Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) reviews and responds to animal welfare issues of national and international concern, advocating for and promoting animal welfare through a veterinary lens to veterinary professionals, various animal industries, government, and the public. The AWC produces evidence-based position statements, supports lobbyists, and actively participates in national and international animal welfare focused committees, boards, and working groups, prioritizing issues according to a harm and risk-based analysis. AWC activities reflect the interests of the CVMA membership by responding to Council and Executive direction and aligning with the association’s member-informed Strategic Priorities.
Members of the National Issues Committee (NIC) work together to provide leadership on identifying and addressing national issues affecting the veterinary profession. The NIC supports the interests of veterinary professionals through a variety of activities including developing position and policy statements, contributing to dialog between the CVMA and regulatory authorities, working with CVMA Executive and Council to develop organizational priorities and implement associated strategies, and advocating for the profession by engaging with a range of parties across government, industry, and academia.
The Communications Advisory Group (CAG) guides the CVMA on internal and external communications initiatives. Volunteers lend their expertise to various campaigns including National Tick Awareness Month, Animal Health Week, the CVMA Awards Program, and many other initiatives. The CAG also provides expertise and insight into our annual social media awareness campaign which the CVMA has executed since 2015. Each month, the CVMA shares various social media messages and graphics intended to raise awareness about animal health and welfare issues and actions their owners can take to help maintain health and prevent illness.
The Professional Development Committee (PDC) helps advance the continuous, professional growth of its members and veterinary teams through continuing education events and workshops. The CVMA annual convention’s scientific program allows veterinarians and other members of the practice team to enhance professional practice and connect with peers from across Canada.
National Examining Board volunteers help Canada’s veterinary licensing examinations, participate in the veterinary college accreditation process, and make recommendations to CVMA Council on all matters involving the assessment and enhancement of veterinarians in Canada.
Animal Health Technology/Veterinary Technician Program Accreditation Committee (AHTVTPAC) volunteers recommend accreditation standards for animal health technologist/veterinary technician education, respond to requests for CVMA accreditation of AHT/VT programs, participate in accreditation site visits, and review and propose amendments to standards for education and training of qualified animal health technologists/veterinary technicians.
Editorial Committee volunteers oversee the operation and editorial content of The Canadian Veterinary Journal and the Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research. These two publications could not exist without the volunteer contribution of the dedicated editors and numerous peer reviewers.
The Students of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (SCVMA) was established to provide a student forum in veterinary medicine and allow students to exchange ideas and information with the profession, the CVMA, and other relevant organizations. The SCVMA facilitates communication between CVMA Council and students at the five Canadian veterinary colleges and is supported by a faculty member who sits on the CVMA Student Liaison Advisory Group. The SCVMA may present recommendations to CVMA Council regarding matters concerning the association and particularly matters of interest to students.
The Wellness, Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Committee develops and promotes national initiatives that support veterinary professionals’ well-being and foster inclusive, diverse, and accessible workplaces. Formed by merging the Wellness Committee and DEI Working Group, it complements provincial programs with resources such as the Togetherall platform, The Working Mind courses, Time to Talk mental health webinars, and an expanded online resource hub. In 2024, the committee introduced new initiatives, including efforts to improve accessibility in veterinary spaces, advocacy programs for equity-deserving youth, a dedicated Wellness Zone at the CVMA convention, and plans for a cyberbullying and crisis communication hotline in 2025.