Editorial: The Robson Valley’s sole veterinarian has retired…what now?
By Spencer Hall
With the retirement of long-time local veterinarian Dr. Vogel and the closure of the Valemount Vet Clinic in fall 2024, the Robson Valley finds itself without a practitioner to provide veterinary care to pets and livestock.
Robson Valley residents aren’t the only people coping with a lack of veterinary care.. The entire province is facing a long-standing vet shortage, which has only worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic, due to people welcoming more pets into their homes during the days of physical distancing.
According to a 2023 study commissioned by the BC Cattlemen’s Association, the shortage of veterinarians disproportionately impacts large animals, as well as animals in rural and northern areas in the province.
The study found that of the 1800 veterinarians estimated to be working in B.C., just between 250 and 300 provide care to large animals.
Many residents of the Robson Valley raise livestock – either to sell, for our own food, or for enjoyment. Veterinarians are crucial to the agricultural industry and provide critical medical care and consultation with farmers in order to prevent disease and further treatment. Without a vet in our area, our agricultural sector and our food security will suffer.
Many of us in the area also own pets and are concerned for their wellbeing now that our only vet has entered into a well-deserved retirement. The closest veterinary clinic is located in Jasper and has a limited capacity for patients and services due to the damage the clinic sustained during the Jasper wildfires this summer.
It simply isn’t feasible for pet owners to drive over three hours to Prince George or Kamloops to receive veterinary care, if those clinics even have the capacity to accommodate us.
This dire situation will require collaboration from multiple levels of government in order to find a solution that works for our region.
In December, the Province announced a $1.4 million program — known as the Regional Recruitment and Retention of Veterinary Service Delivery for Food Animals program — which is aimed at recruiting veterinarians to B.C., with a focus of bringing more vets to northern and rural areas.
While local governments can’t access the funding themselves, the Province encourages them to partner with veterinarians so they can access the funding to ensure the area has adequate veterinary services.
How can we attract a vet to move here?
The Robson Valley is a beautiful area that offers many outdoor recreation opportunities, but is arguably one of the best kept secrets of the province. Staff and councillors should (quickly) establish a task force aimed at recruiting a veterinarian to our region. The task force could include local residents and could explore the possibility of attending veterinary conferences to promote the area to veterinarians looking to start or move their practices.
The Villages of McBride and Valemount could also look at partnering with a veterinary practice in either Prince George or Kamloops to access funding from the Regional Recruitment and Retention of Veterinary Service Delivery for Food Animals program to build that clinic’s capacity to serve the Robson Valley.
Staff should also evaluate recruitment methods used in other communities with a higher number of practicing veterinarians to see if some of these methods could work here.
If a vet were to come to the Robson Valley, they would likely need to establish their own practice. Staff should proactively evaluate if there are any current barriers to vets looking to establish a clinic in either community. They could also look at providing housing, similar to what the Village of Valemount did last year in an attempt to attract healthcare workers.
It is up to us, our local governments, our Regional District and our MLA to collaborate and put the work in now to attract a veterinarian to our area to provide the medical care our pets and livestock desperately need.
