Other CPD Events

Oct

Fri

CanWest Pre-Conference Wet Labs for RVTs

This is not an EASAV event, please follow the links to register!

CanWest Pre-Conference Wet Labs for RVTs

Friday, October 16, 2026
UCVM Spy Hill Campus, Calgary, AB
Host Partners: University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) and the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA)

Enhance your skills and gain hands-on experience before CanWest 2026 with a series of practical wet labs designed for veterinary technologists. Even if you aren’t attending CanWest, you can still take part in a wet lab. Registration includes continental breakfast morning labs, and lunch.

Registration: for complete program details and registration information, visit: www.canwestconference.ca

Spaces are limited. Register early to secure your spot in these highly interactive hands-on learning opportunities.

9 a.m.-12 p.m. Emergency Procedures for New RVTs Cadaver and Simulator Wet Lab Instructor: Jessica Johnson, RVT, VTS (ECC) Registration: $395	Designed for early-career RVTs in emergency and critical care, this hands-on cadaver-based lab provides practical training in essential and advanced emergency procedures. Participants will practice NG/NE tube placement, PICC and central line insertion, intraosseous (EZ-IO) access, surgical venous cutdowns, and urinary catheterization techniques. Build confidence, strengthen anatomical knowledge, and gain experience with current emergency technologies in a realistic training environment.
1-4 p.m. Large Animal Nerve Blocks for RVTs Instructors: Kate Armstrong, RVT, and Peggy Mountjoy, RVT Registration: $395	Designed for equine and bovine RVTs, this cadaver-based regional anesthesia lab combines a practical review of key anatomy with hands-on nerve block training. Participants will identify anatomical landmarks, perform diagnostic and regional nerve blocks, and confirm placement through guided dissection. Develop valuable skills to support procedures such as lameness evaluations, dental extractions, cesarian sections, LDA/RDA surgeries, and prolapse repairs.
1-5 p.m. (plus 3 hours pre-course work online) Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) for RVTs Instructors: Dr. Soren Boysen and Dr. Serge Chalhoub Registration: $625	This blended learning program combines online coursework with hands-on training in veterinary point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS). Participants will complete prerequisite modules covering abdominal, pleural, lung, and cardiovascular POCUS before attending the in-person lab. Using live dogs and phantom models, attendees will practice common POCUS techniques, ultrasound-guided vascular access, and essential ultrasound skills for everyday clinical practice.
1-4 p.m. ECG Interpretation for Veterinarians and Veterinary Technologists Instructors: Dr. Jesse Pawlak and Dr. Lyndsay Kong Registration: $395	Do ECGs still feel intimidating? You're not alone. This practical, back-to-basics session helps veterinary professionals build confidence in ECG interpretation and cardiac assessment. Through lectures and case-based learning, participants will explore cardiac conduction, systematic ECG interpretation, common arrhythmias, and the role of Holter monitoring. Develop a structured approach to ECG analysis and strengthen your diagnostic skills for everyday practice.

Commerce South Office Park, Building E, Suite 300, 4803-87 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 0V3
P: 780-489-5007 | F: 780-484-8311 | W: abvma.ca

Nov

Thu

Edmonton - Busting the BS: Honest Conversations in the Veterinary Practice

Details ▾

This is not an EASAV event. Please follow the links below to register!

"Busting the BS: Honest Conversations in the Veterinary Practice"
A full-day HR & team culture workshop in Edmonton, November 19, 2026, ABVMA-approved for 6.5 credit hours.

Overview: Aimed at veterinary practice owners, managers, and team members, combining HR, communications, and business operations expertise to help teams manage performance, build culture, and handle difficult conversations (with staff and clients).

Session 1 (9:00 AM–12:00 PM) — Wilson Wong, CPHR, RPR, PI Practitioner (Founder of Modern People Solutions)

Building team culture that drives performance, retention, and wellness — trust, psychological safety, leadership's role
A system for performance management and discipline — early warning signs, escalation steps, setting expectations
Aligning employee and organizational goals

Session 2 (12:30–3:30 PM) — Becky Taylor, MA, RVT (BS Communication Strategies Inc.)

Communication skills that support patient care and client-perceived value
Talking treatment plans/costs with clients to build compliance and trust
"Taming the Drama Llama" — conflict resolution using the "5 Whys," building a team "Charter of Conflict"

3:30–4:00 PM: Joint panel discussion with both presenters.

Learning objectives: practical performance management for culture-building, more confident/structured difficult conversations, and better client cost/treatment communication to improve case acceptance and revenue.

Wilson Wong, CPHR, RPR, PI Practitioner

Founder & Principal Consultant, Modern People Solutions

Wilson Wong is the founder of Modern People Solutions (MPS), a Calgary-based fractional HR and recruitment consulting firm. He works directly with veterinary and dental practice owners across Alberta on the people side of running a clinic — hiring, retention, team culture, and building HR systems that hold up as a practice grows across one or multiple locations.

Wilson holds his CPHR, RPR, and PI Practitioner designations, and brings a practical, systems-based approach to the human side of clinical practice management. He has developed HR workshop content specifically for veterinary and dental audiences, translating broader HR and organizational psychology principles into strategies that fit the realities of a busy clinic; high-stress environments, tight staffing markets, and the need for teams to collaborate seamlessly under pressure.

Wilson has previously delivered ABVMA-certified events, and through MPS, continues to support practice owners in building the culture, performance management systems, and leadership capacity needed to attract and retain skilled staff in a competitive market.

Becky Taylor, MA, RVT- BS Communications Strategies Inc.

Becky Taylor is a Registered Veterinary Technologist with over 30 years in the veterinary profession and the founder of BS Communication Strategies, where she helps veterinary teams build stronger communication, culture, and conflict management skills. Her career spans 19 years teaching in college-level animal health and communication programs, 7 years in private veterinary practice, and 5 years coaching professional skills directly to veterinary students, giving her a rare, ground-level understanding of the pressures veterinary teams face every day.

Becky holds a Master of Arts in Professional Communication from Royal Roads University, along with certifications in Leadership and Development and Veterinary Hospital Management. She is active on the committee for the International Conference for Communication in Veterinary Medicine and has served on the council and committees of the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association, the Alberta Veterinary Technologist Association, and the Board of Directors of the Registered Veterinary Technologists and Technicians of Canada.

Through her signature programs including Building Better Leaders, Clinically Clear, and Mobilizing RVTs, Becky equips veterinary leaders and teams with practical, skills-based tools to navigate difficult conversations, build trust, and create workplace cultures where people want to stay.

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/busting-the-bs-honest-conversations-in-the-veterinary-practice-edmonton-tickets-1996484711516

Nov

Tue

Calgary - Busting the BS: Honest Conversations in the Veterinary Practice

Details ▾

This is not an EASAV event. Please follow the links below to register!

Busting the BS: Honest Conversations in the Veterinary Practice

HR & Team Culture Workshop | Calgary | November 24, 2026 | 8AM–4PM
ABVMA approved — 6.5 credit hours

Veterinary teams work under real pressure — high stakes, tight staffing, and the need for seamless collaboration when things get busy. This full-day workshop brings together HR, communication, and operations expertise to help practice owners, managers, and teams build stronger cultures and navigate the conversations that matter most.

You'll leave with practical tools to manage performance, foster a healthy team culture, and handle difficult conversations with confidence — whether that's addressing chronic lateness, a performance issue, or talking to clients about cost.

What You'll Learn

Session 1 — Performance & Culture, with Wilson Wong
A framework for building trust, psychological safety, and accountability — plus a proven system for managing performance and discipline before small issues become big ones.

Session 2 — Difficult Conversations & Talking Money, with Becky Taylor
Practical, case-based strategies for client communication, cost conversations, and turning conflict into something your team can handle productively — including tools like the "5 Whys" and building a team Charter of Conflict.

By the End, You'll Be Able To:

Apply performance management techniques that strengthen team culture and clinic operations
Approach difficult workplace conversations with more confidence and structure
Communicate more effectively with clients about cost and treatment decisions

Agenda

8:30 AM — Doors Open & Networking
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM — Session with Wilson
12:00 – 12:30 PM — Lunch
12:30 – 3:30 PM — Session with Becky
3:30 – 4:00 PM — Panel Discussion

Your Presenters

Wilson Wong, CPHR, RPR, PI Practitioner — Founder of Modern People Solutions, working directly with veterinary and dental practice owners across Alberta on hiring, retention, and building HR systems that scale.

Becky Taylor, MA, RVT — 30+ years in veterinary practice and founder of BS Communication Strategies, helping veterinary teams build stronger communication, culture, and conflict management skills.

Purchase Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/busting-the-bs-honest-conversations-in-the-veterinary-practice-calgary-tickets-1999178532808

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