The federal government is investing $1.5 million into Lakehead University in Thunder Bay to help launch a new veterinary training program aimed at addressing the shortage of animal healthcare professionals in Northern Ontario.
Announced on March 31, 2026, the funding from FedNor will be used to purchase specialized laboratory and research equipment. This equipment is essential for the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program, a partnership between Lakehead University and the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph.
The region is currently facing a critical lack of veterinary services, with only one clinic in Thunder Bay available to serve nearly 100 large animal farms. By training students in the North, the program aims to graduate veterinarians who are more likely to stay and practice in rural and Northern communities. Starting in 2027, students will begin their studies in Thunder Bay before completing their training in Guelph.
The initiative intends to train 20 northern students annually, with a goal of adding 80 new veterinarians to the region by 2028. To support this work, Dr. Terri O’Sullivan was appointed as the program and operations advisor for the initiative on April 2, 2026.
Construction is currently underway on the new Gakina Awesiinyag animal education facility on the Lakehead University campus. The building, which received $10 million in support from Kim and Stu Lang through the Angel Gabriel Foundation, is expected to be finished in the summer of 2026.
The program is supported by multiple levels of government and private donors, with the provincial government having committed $16.78 million to the partnership. While the first two cohorts are completing their training in Guelph while local facilities are being finalized, the new equipment and building will prepare the campus for students to begin their veterinary studies locally by 2027.
