An exciting year in Newfoundland and Labrador!

What an extraordinary year in which to be a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Veterinary Medical Association (NALVMA)! As Canada's most easterly province undergoes many positive changes, keeping pace is its small but resilient veterinary community. As president, I had the opportunity to step outside the realm of medical practice and enter a role of supporting and developing our profession. It is at this level that we, as veterinarians, can fulfill our professional obligation to a medical science that has given us so much.

In early spring, it was confirmed through the provincial laboratory and the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) that French heartworm (Angiostrongylus vasorum) had spread to the canine and feline populations. Although discovered in the fox population on the island in the early 70's, it was not until this year that this parasite was found to inflict often serious illness on mainly hunting dogs. To our knowledge, our province is presently the only place in North America where French heartworm is endemic.

Spring was also the time when I had the opportunity to meet with all the Atlantic provinces' veterinary medical association presidents, along with the dean of the AVC, to discuss issues that affect all of the associations on a regional basis. The meeting, although in its infancy, has the potential to develop into an Atlantic Provinces Veterinary Coalition, which could support our interests more efficiently on a broader level.

The NALVMA entered into a partnership with the province's SPCA for the purpose of initiating a public education and public relations campaign. The pilot project focussed on responsible pet care and was aimed at the upcoming generation of pet owners, namely, students. A blitz of slide presentations in schools, radio and newspaper advertisements, publications, and group discussions were all used in the project to deliver our message. The project met with overwhelming success not only in the schools, but also with NALVMA members and the SPCA. Phase II is already in the works with the hope of expanding the campaign to all corners of the province. One foreseeable goal is to provide the basis of educational media that, one day, can be incorporated into the educational curriculum. I would like to extend the thanks of the NALVMA to our industry sponsors Veterinary Medical Diets and Novartis, who also saw the value in such a program.

The province's new Veterinary Medical Act is almost complete. The Association's “Act Committee,” our registrar and the licensing board, are continuing to add to and digest its contents. The Act is designed to bring our profession into the new millennium and keep pace with the changing times.

The Association's AGM was quite successful! A great turnout by veterinarians, who travelled from all corners of the province, made for an energetic meeting that built on positive attitudes and a genuine desire to participate in our province's veterinary affairs. The meeting laid the general groundwork for 2002 and, I think, set an exciting tone for things to come from the NALVMA.

I thank all council members who have worked with and supported me this year. I also thank all NALVMA members for giving me the opportunity to represent their interests and this province. The Association's small size provides an interesting opportunity for members to know and develop friendships with all who are part of it. This, combined with breathtaking scenery and the hospitality of the Newfoundland people, makes for a wonderful place in which to work and live!

(by Dr. Dan Quinlan, President, Newfoundland and Labrador Veterinary Medical Association, Bay Roberts, Newfoundland)

Dr./D^r Dan Quinlan