1963: Western College of Veterinary Medicine
Although the University had articulated its aim to have a College of
Veterinary Science in 1908, a final decision on the matter was not made until
1963 when an agreement was reached between the federal government and the four
western provinces to establish a joint facility on the University of
Saskatchewan campus.
Instruction in veterinary science was offered through the College of
Agriculture as early as 1913, and an animal diseases laboratory established in 1924. Public support for a college in 1930 could
not overcome the devastating effect of the depression; but by 1944, realizing
the only existing veterinary colleges in Ontario and Quebec were not supplying
graduates to the west, an inter-provincial meeting was held to discuss
options. Even then, the University of
Saskatchewan appeared to be the favoured site, but provincial coffers were
limited and “a medical school, an arts building and an adequate library had higher
priorities.”1
Undertaking a survey of current and anticipated needs in 1957,
Professor V.E. Graham determined the average values of livestock in the western
provinces over the previous 7 years amounted to $679.5 million; 350
veterinarians were needed.
Saskatchewan, he calculated, then had 50 veterinarians in private
practice. Nevertheless, each provincial
government seemed determined to let another absorb the capital and maintenance
costs.
When a joint statement from all four western ministers of agriculture
was released, stating no college would be built in the west, it raised a storm
of protest. Finally, in 1963 the
federal government promised capital funding support of 25%; and the province of
Saskatchewan offered to commit $1 million if the other provinces would agree to
share the operating costs. After years
of discussion and reviews, the University was authorized to begin recruiting
staff for the Western College of Veterinary Medicine on 29 August 1963. The first classes were held in 1965.
| Related Collections |  |
College of Veterinary Medicine fonds, RG 2097.
Department of Veterinary Physiological Sciences fonds, RG 2099.
| Images | |
1963a: college crest. Miscellaneous collection, file 40.
1963b: Faculty and students in the teaching hospital. Photograph Collection A-4886.
1963c: Dr. Hillary Clayton, department of veterinary anatomy. Photograph Collection A-8588.
| Sources | |
1. Bigland, 42.
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