A new program aims to encourage veterinary students to work in rural Alberta and build long-term careers in those communities.
The Veterinary Student Recruitment and Retention Pilot Grant Program provides $250,000 over two years to support rural veterinary clinics that hire summer veterinary students. The program focuses on clinics that provide livestock services and expect a veterinarian vacancy.
Eligible clinics can receive up to $10,000 to help cover wages for one veterinary student. Students must work at the clinic between May 1 and August 31.
Applications are now open for the pilot program. Meanwhile, a second intake for 2027 positions will open next year.
Addressing Veterinary Shortages
Many rural communities continue to face limited access to veterinary services. Veterinarians play a critical role in livestock health and farm productivity.
“Alberta’s ranchers and producers take the health and well-being of their livestock seriously, and veterinarians in rural communities are an essential part of their operations,” said Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
RJ Sigurdson, Alberta’s Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, said the province must continue to invest in future veterinarians.
“Rural and mixed-practice veterinarians are essential to the well-being of our livestock and the sustainability of our farms,” Sigurdson said. “By investing in veterinary students, we are investing in Alberta’s future vets.”
Building the Future Workforce
Veterinary leaders say hands-on rural experience can help students explore long-term career opportunities.
Renate Weller, dean of the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, said practical experience helps students form lasting connections with rural clinics.
Likewise, Dr. Jami Frederick, president of the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association, said the initiative supports efforts to strengthen the rural veterinary workforce.
Workforce Shortages Remain a Concern
A 2021 report from the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association and the Alberta Veterinary Technologist Association highlighted significant workforce shortages.
The overall provincial job vacancy rate sits near 3%. However, veterinarian vacancies reached almost 17% across Alberta and nearly 19% in rural communities.
Looking ahead, the report estimates that Alberta will need more than 1,600 new veterinarians by 2035 to meet demand.
Funding Through Sustainable CAP
The program operates through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).
Sustainable CAP is a five-year, $3.5-billion investment (2023–2028) by federal, provincial, and territorial governments. The initiative supports innovation, competitiveness, and resilience across Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector.
Programs like this pilot initiative aim to improve veterinary access while supporting livestock producers in rural communities.
