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STUDENTCHAPTERPROGRESSREPORTChapterName:WildlifeDiseaseAssociation-UniversityofSaskatchewanStudentChapterEstablishedin(ifknown):
FacultyAdvisorName:CraigStephenEmail:[email protected] Name:AmberBackwell(WCVMClassof2018)Email:[email protected]:ClaireJansevanRensburg(WCVMClassof2019)Emailaddress:[email protected],nameandemailaddressSecretary:KarissaMitchell([email protected])Treasurer:MandyWong([email protected])JuniorTreasurer:KiraCrooks([email protected])PublicRelations:GwenRoy([email protected])Fundraising:ConnieTuck([email protected]),RichelleEger([email protected])SocialCommittee:TimDonihee([email protected])Seminar/WorkshopCommittee:ChloeRollack([email protected]),KarissaMitchell([email protected]),CassyAndrew([email protected]),KeatonSchmidt([email protected])IncomingExecutive(VotedinonApril.3,2017atAnnualGeneralMeeting):President:CassyAndrew([email protected])VicePresidents:AliceLiboiron([email protected])andChristinaMeschkat([email protected])Secretary:NicolaSchaefer([email protected])
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Treasurer:KiraCrooks([email protected])PublicRelations:ClaireJansevanRensburg([email protected])Fundraising:KeatonSchmidt([email protected]),AlyssaWalthers([email protected])SocialCommittee:AlyssaWalthers([email protected]),TessaMaysenholder([email protected]),BhaveshTailor([email protected])Seminar/WorkshopCommittee:PaigeBorrett([email protected])Numberofchaptermembers:48NumberofchaptermembersthatareWDAmembers:12(executivemembers)Pleaselistanddescribeindetailtheactivitiesof this student chapter over the past year.Photos are welcomed and encouraged. Include specifically how this chapter workedtowardstheWDA Student Chapter objectives:
1. Educate students about career opportunities, job qualifications and education,externships, volunteer, and researchopportunities inwildlife health fields.
2. Enhance skills of students through lectures,workshops, conferences, field trips.3. Connectstudents tomentors inWDAandwildlifehealthprofessions through
the faculty advisor and guest lecturers.
1.Educatestudentsaboutcareeropportunities,jobqualificationsandeducation,externships,volunteer,andresearchopportunitiesinwildlifehealthfields.
WDAOnlinePresence!Regardingcommunicationandmediarelations,wehaveanactivewebsite(uofswda.wordpress.com)andaFacebookgroup.Throughouttheyear,thesewereregularlyupdatedwithwildlife-relatedseminars,opportunities,andeventsonandoffcampus(boththroughtheUofSWDAandthroughotherdepartmentsoncampus).
Wealsoencourageourmemberstoreachouttowildlifeprofessionalsatourschoolforadviceorinformationonopportunities.Ourseminarseriesandworkshopsisanothergreatwaytogetourmembersexposedtoprofessionals.
2.Enhanceskillsofstudentsthroughlectures,workshops,conferences,fieldtrips.
WILDSEMINARSERIES/WORKSHOPS:TheWildlifeDiseaseAssociation's(WDA)seminarcommitteestartedtheyearoffwithalunchtalkbyDr.GreggAdamstitled"Bisongermplasmbiobank:Maybethebuffalocanroam…”Manystudentsandprofessorsattendedandlearnedmoreaboutbisonhealth,reproductionandconservationthroughoutNorthAmerica.LaterintheyearwepresentedaseminaronsleddoghealthbyDr.KateRobinson,whichwaspairedwithourannualdogsleddingtripinWaskesiu,Saskatchewan.Thistalkgarneredalotofinterest,andDr.RobinsondiscussedherexperiencesworkingonvarioussleddogracesthroughoutCanadaandtheinjuriesandillnessesthatveterinariansneedtomonitorforwhenworkingwiththesedogs.TheWDAalsoorganizedaWildlifeImmobilizationworkshopthisyear,ledbyDr.MurrayWoodburyandDr.ToddShury,wherebystudentsweretaughtallaboutimmobilizationmedicationsandwereabletotrytheirhandsatassemblingandusingdartguns.Toendtheschoolyear,seminarcommitteememberCassyAndreworganizedapaneldiscussiononVeterinariansandClimateChangeatthecampuspubinwhichwegotthreeexpertsinthearea(Dr.ClaireCard,Dr.EmilyJenkins,Dr.CraigStephen)todiscussandanswerquestionsrelatingtoourroleasveterinariansinmitigatingtheeffectsofclimatechangeandlivingsustainability.Thiseventwasverywellreceivedandthepanelmembersandstudentswereengaged
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inveryinterestingandinformativedialogueonimportantmattersrelatingtotheveterinaryprofession.Overall,theWDAseminarcommitteehadafantasticyearandwouldliketothankalltheindividualsthathelpedwithourseminarsandworkshops!FIELDTRIPS:TheWDAstartedofftheyearwithacampingtripinLacLaRongeProvincialPark.SevenWDAmembers(and2dogs!)hiked15kmtotheNutpointCampgroundinthepark,learningaboutandsamplingthewildberriesalongtheway,andspentthenightbesidethebeautifullakebeforehikingbackthenextday.OursecondfieldtripinvolvedorganizingforWDAmemberstoassistwithowlbanding(saw-whetowls)withalocalowlexpertinSaskatoon!Finally,ourannualdogsleddingtripwithSundogsExcursionsinWaskesiu(northernSaskatchewan)tookplaceinJanuary.TwelveWDAmembershadtheopportunitytoattendandenjoyadayofdogsleddingandwildlifetour.Thedaytripwasorganizedbytheclubexecutive(specificallyTimDonihee)andalargeportionofthetripwassubsidizedbyourclubaswellasagenerousgrantfromtheSaskOutdoorsorganization.Participantshadtopayaminimalfeetopartiallycovercosts.Theexcursionwasledbyabiologist,dogsledexpert,andlong-timeresidentofthearea.Thedaybeganwithanorientationwithtouroperatorsregardingsafetywithdogsandwildlife.Thenstudentswentonbothasnowshoetourwithvegetationidentificationandbirdwatchingandadogsledtripoutintotheforestwheretheygottoexperiencethethrillofridingwithdogsaswellasbeinandlearningaboutthesurroundingecosystem.Havingtheopportunitytogetoutside,learnaboutecosystems,andseewildlifewasahighlightformanyclubmembers.Inaddition,thetripincreasedclubmembershipsignificantlyandthosestudentsplantocarryonwiththeclubinfutureyears.Thisisnowanannualeventinourchapter–togetoutinthewildernessandenjoyexperientiallearning.WILDKARAOKENIGHT:
Thisisasocialfundraisingeventthatwehavedoneannually.Itisagreatnightformembersandnon-membersaliketogettogether,havefun,andsupporttheWDAclub.Thereareprofessorsthatalsocomeouteveryyear,fosteringthetieswithwildlifefacultythatourclubhascultivated.TheeventwasheldatthecampuspubLouis.Wecharged$10admissiontotheeventandpaid$5ofeachticketsaletoLouis,andLouisrana“dollardraft”night,sellingpintsofdraftbeerfor$2each.AllWDAmembersweregiven$2atthebeginningofthenighttocoverthecostoftheirfirstdrink.Theweekbeforetheevent,weadvertizedtheeventonFacebookandintheveterinaryschoolandsoldadvanceticketsintheveterinaryschool.Wealsoallowedeveryonetoputtheirnameintoadraweachtimetheysangandgaveawayadogsleddingtripaswellasotherprizesattheendofthenight.Allinall,asuccessfulnight!
3.ConnectstudentstomentorsinWDAandwildlifehealthprofessionsthroughthefacultyadvisorandguestlecturers.
Therearealwaysopportunitiesforclubmemberstospeakwithguestlecturersaftertheirlecture.Thisisaverypopulartimeforstudentstoapproachprofessionalswithquestions,inquiriesintoopportunities,etc.Also,ourkaraokenightisanothergreatnighttoconnectprofessionalsandstudentsaswehavededicatedfacultywhocomeouteveryyear.
