Milk Producer April 2016 | Page 13

ONTARIO VETERINARY COLLEGE GIVEN $23 MILLION BOOST O ntario is investing $23 million in a state-of-the-art clinical learning building at the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College to support highly specialized and in-demand jobs across Ontario. The province’s investment will help build a new learning space with modern and flexible classrooms that will use computer-based case studies, patient simulators and medical communications labs to give students hands-on, interactive learning experiences. In addition, the college will renovate its existing veterinary hospital to provide new space for advanced surgery and anesthesia. A one-of-a-kind Ontario institution, the Ontario Veterinary College provides highly specialized training in veterinary medicine and makes a unique contribution to research in areas such as animal and human health and food security. Ontario’s investment will leverage technology to improve training, safety and biosecurity for tomorrow’s veterinarians and researchers, and help the college maintain its status as a recognized global leader in its field. The funding was announced Friday by Reza Moridi, minister of training, colleges and universities, and Liz Sandals, minister of education and MPP for Guelph. “This investment will give students access to the state-of-the-art facilities they need to prepare for successful careers as practitioners and researchers,” Moridi says. Sandals says the funding will allow the college to continue “providing students with hands-on, interactive learning experiences and research opportunities that improve our quality of life.” OVC is ranked fourth in the world among veterinary schools, and first in Canada, by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in its annual global survey of nearly 900 universities. The university had asked the government for $23 million toward a $33-million plan to address infrastructure deficiencies at the veterinary college. OVC plans to raise the additional $10 million, with $6.5 million already committed. “We are extremely grateful to the Ontario government for this strategic investment in the future of health and veterinary medicine,” says president Franco Vaccarino. “OVC is the province’s only veterinary medical college. This critical funding will support our continued accreditation. It will also help us maintain our leadership position in innovative education and research, and in understanding the powerful connection between animal and human health.” QUICK FACTS • Ontario’s investment will provide Ontario Veterinary College students with access to almost 70,000 square feet of new and renovated space. • This project is part of Ontario’s plan to provide $3 billion in capital grants to postsecondary institutions over 10 years. • The Ontario Veterinary College was founded in 1862 to train the people needed to care for horses in the colony of Upper Canada. • In addition to teaching and research, the Ontario Veterinary College cares for more than 16,000 companion animals, equine, domestic, farm animal and exotic species annually. Get r Done! Products for: production health water  manure treatment  crops and more Ontario Farmers Contact: Tom Diemand Absolute Results - Penergetic cell: 519-577-0187 toll-free: 855-595-4117 [email protected] For Distributors elsewhere in Canada: 1-888-737-0907 [email protected] OW? DID YOU KN store ing an online DFO is launch ter efficiency to provide grea nal DFO promotio and access to airy educators, products for d d the general producers an ore to the online st public. A link . ’s new website will be on DFO WWW.MILKPRODUCER.CA MILKPRODUCER | APRIL 2016 13