What a privilege to support our Christian Veterinary Fellowship (CVF) groups at veterinary colleges across the country. In April, we visited the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown for a lunch and missions challenge (photo below), as well as the group’s year-end potluck. It’s exciting to see the interest in the fellowships continue to grow across the board– we had 30 students join this event at AVC, when just a few years ago I remember having 6 students at my first lunch visit there in 2022.
Some of the students who attended our AVC lunch event!
One of the great strengths of CVM’s work is the way the CVF connections help create lifelong professional friendships and opportunities for ministry. The Maskwacis First Nations clinic held May 2-3 near Edmonton, Alberta, saw a team of 25 current students, professionals (aka former students!), and other volunteers come together to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the community. The team served nearly 80 small animals with wellness checks and vaccines, and 47 horses with vaccines and floats. We visited, listened, and offered prayer and Bibles to any animal owners who wanted them. It was a rich time.
Organizer and new DVM Dr. Jana Benade, from the UCVM Class of 2026, shares some powerful reflections from the Maskwacis weekend in our feature story below. You’ll want to take it in!
Finally, let’s remember to pray for our new grads as they move into practice and, for many, new communities at the same time. Congratulations to the Class of 2026 on your outstanding achievement!!
Serving together,
Lisa Balzer
CVM Canada Executive Director
Missions Impact: Learning Patience, Planting Seeds
By Dr. Jana Benade
UCVM Class of 2026
This was my third year participating in the Maskwacis outreach clinic, and every year the Lord has encouraged me in different ways through this mission. I first took part as a second-year student in 2024, and it was my very first missions trip. That weekend ended up being one of the highlights of vet school for me. It was so encouraging to see how the skills I was learning could be used to share the love of Christ in real, practical ways.