SUDBURY, Ontario, Oct. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Collège Boréal and the Ontario SPCA signed a milestone 10-year agreement today to renew a partnership that has given students an opportunity for hands-on animal wellness learning and provided a home base for the Ontario SPCA Sudbury & District Animal Centre.
The agreement marks the first time Collège Boréal has made a commitment for a period of 10 years. In support of future generations of animal wellness advocates, the Ontario SPCA also announced its intent to provide funding support to benefit a Francophone Indigenous student accepted into Collège Boréal’s two-year accredited Veterinary Technician Program.
The signing and announcement took place this afternoon at Collège Boréal during the first Northern Animal Summit, a two-day event bringing together thought leaders and influencers to share collaborative solutions to the unique challenges facing Northern communities and to create healthy communities for people and pets.
As part of the official opening of the new veterinary wing of Collège Boréal’s Sudbury campus in 2013, the Ontario SPCA and Collège Boréal forged an innovative partnership to facilitate the sharing of resources and knowledge between the two institutions. Most notably, the five-year agreement resulted in Collège Boréal becoming the first Canadian college to teach shelter medicine, the creation of a new Ontario SPCA Sudbury & District Animal Centre and the joint use of Collège Boréal’s then new veterinary wing.
“Today, Collège Boréal and the Ontario SPCA are signing a 10-year lease agreement, the first of its kind!” says Daniel Giroux, President, Collège Boréal. “The last five years have proven that sharing complementary resources to offer excellent college-level training in veterinary care is a success. In addition, the generous offer of a bursary for a Francophone Indigenous student to study in our Veterinary Technician Program at our Sudbury campus just goes to show what an incredible partner and friend the Ontario SPCA is to Boréal.”
“The benefits for the program and our students of this innovative partnership with the Ontario SPCA have surpassed expectations: sharing of certifications, courses and manuals, student bursaries, provincial conference participation, networking opportunities, access to a multitude of placements throughout Ontario, week-long internships at the Ontario SPCA’s provincial office in Stouffville, employment across the province if not the country,” says Kim Morris, Dean, Collège Boréal. “Merci, Ontario SPCA!”
“We have forged a strong relationship with Collège Boréal that will help shape the future of animal wellness,” says Kate MacDonald, Chief Executive Officer, Ontario SPCA and Humane Society. “Animals in the local community, as well as remote Northern communities served through our Animal North Network, also benefit from this unique partnership. We look forward the next 10 years and beyond.”
For more information on the Animal North Network, visit northerndog.com.
Media Contacts:
Melissa Kosowan
Ontario SPCA
mkosowan@ospca.on.ca
289-383-5968
Marc Despatie
Collège Boréal
marc.despatie@collegeboreal.ca
705-665-2662
Collège Boréal offers a wide variety of programs and services at seven campus locations and 38 access centres in 28 communities across the province. Since 1995, approximately 120,000 clients across Ontario have benefited from College Boréal’s expertise relating to post-secondary education, training programs, immigration and settlement services, as well as employment services. Furthermore, Collège Boréal has developed and implemented over 70 articulation agreements with other post-secondary institutions.
According to the Key Performance Indicators recognized by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development, Collège Boréal now holds the top-ranking position in three out of the five areas surveyed! Out of 24 Ontario colleges, Boréal has the highest student satisfaction rate, graduation rate, and graduate satisfaction rate in the province. Moreover, with 96%, Boréal ranks 3rd out of all 24 colleges in employer satisfaction!
Ontario SPCA and Humane Society:
Protecting animals since 1873, Ontario SPCA is Ontario's animal welfare organization. A registered charity comprised of close to 50 communities.
Since 1919, when Ontario's first animal welfare legislation was proclaimed, the Ontario SPCA, with the help of its Communities, has been entrusted to maintain and enforce animal welfare legislation. The Act provides Ontario SPCA Agents and Inspectors with police powers to do so.
Ontario SPCA provides leadership in animal welfare innovations including introducing high-volume spay/neuter services to Ontario and opening the Provincial Education & Animal Centre.
OntarioSPCA.ca
Adopt • Learn • Volunteer • Donate
Charitable Business Number 88969 1044 RR0002
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e7c1882a-2df0-4373-9ddd-8438b402a453