New community care clinic to provide subsidized veterinary services for Calgarians

The University of Calgary's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) will launch the UCVM Community Care Clinic in order to help address gaps in the access to veterinary care in Calgary. 

At the same time, it will advance UCVM’s mission to train compassionate, practice-ready veterinarians.

Starting this fall, the clinic will provide affordable, subsidized primary care services for pet owners facing financial barriers. It will work in partnership with local shelters, rescues, veterinary clinics and Indigenous community organizations. Clients must be referred through these partners to ensure services reach those most in need.

“Veterinary care is often financially out of reach for many pet owners, and we’re seeing that challenge grow,” says clinic manager Janine Simpson, a Registered Veterinary Technician. 

“This clinic responds to that need and creates an opportunity to mentor students and give them the opportunities to grow as compassionate professionals through real-world, community-centred learning.”

The UCVM Community Care Clinic will offer a range of services, including:

• Wellness and medical exams
• Vaccinations and parasite prevention
• Spay/neuter surgeries and general surgical procedures
• Dental care (coming soon) and diagnostic testing
• Nutritional guidance and client education

The clinic will also provide care for stable, but urgent conditions, such as wound management or foreign-body removal.

A unique educational opportunity

The clinic will serve as a hands-on learning environment for students in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program. 

Integrated into the curriculum, it will provide peer-to-peer learning across all four years of study and include a clinical rotation for final-year students.

Students will gain experience in:

• Clinical reasoning and case management
• Communication and building trust with clients
• Delivering care with cultural humility and empathy

“This clinic is more than a place for treatment, it’s where students learn to connect with clients from diverse backgrounds and navigate the complex realities of veterinary practice,” says Simpson. 

“They’ll graduate with both strong clinical skills and a foundation in community-focused care.”

Alumni will also have opportunities to volunteer and support students. Volunteer programs are being organized through Better Impact. More details will be provided in late spring of 2026.  

The UCVM Community Care Clinic will open with a soft launch in the coming month.