Rural Alberta has a veterinarian workforce shortage. Through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the Government of Alberta and Government of Canada announced the $250,000 Veterinary Student Recruitment and Retention Pilot Program. The program will provide a rural summer work experience for veterinary students with the aim to encourage students to pursue work in rural Alberta.
The two-year pilot program will provide a maximum of $10,000 to eligible applicants. Eligible applicants are:
- A registered veterinarian or permit holder as defined in the Veterinary Profession Act
- Own and operate a veterinary clinic outside of Edmonton and Calgary
- The clinic must include a Food Production Animal veterinary practice
- Have an unfillable vacancy, be seeking to fill a vacancy in the next two years, or have plans to fill a future vacancy resulting from clinic expansion
The application form specifies that applying clinics must have student information, suggesting that the student must be selected prior to receiving grant funding. Employment from May – August is eligible. Applications remain open until all funds are allocated.
More information and the application is available here.
Kallie Wischoff
Policy Advisor
825.319.2245
kallie@rmalberta.com
Warren Noga
Manager of Policy and Research
825.319.2245
warren@rmalberta.com