AVC hosts reception to thank VTH clients
AVC’s first annual Client Appreciation Reception, held earlier this month, was a resounding success! About 85 clients of the College’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) attended as well as AVC faculty, staff, and students.
The reception was jointly organized by the UPEI Department of Development and Alumni Engagement and the AVC Dean’s Office, with support from the VTH and Donna Hassard, a long-time client and vice-chair of the veterinary medicine priority in UPEI’s current INSPIRE! fundraising campaign.
The clients enjoyed “behind the scenes” tours of the VTH provided by veterinary students, meeting each other, and chatting with clinicians, staff, and students.
Donna Hassard spoke about her experiences as a client at the VTH and supporter of AVC. Donna and her husband, Richard, became clients in 2004 when they moved to PEI with their two Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Ozzie and Zoë. She thanked the VTH staff for the love, care, and compassion they gave to Ozzie and Zoë and now to their current dogs, Tully and Digby.
She stressed the important role that clients play in the education of veterinary students by allowing them to work with their animals. Donna and her dogs volunteer in the cardiology and communications sections of the students’ learning program and at AVC’s annual summer vet camp.
“I am very proud to be a small part of AVC and the Veterinary Teaching Hospital,” said Donna, thanking those present for their support of the College. “You [clients] can be very proud of all you do to help this wonderful institution maintain its excellent reputation.”
The evening also included a special presentation by Kirsten, Sophie, and Lexi Gallant, children of Chris and Dawn Gallant, of Mermaid, PEI. In lieu of birthday gifts this year, they collected over $300 in donations for AVC from their classmates at Glen Stewart Primary School and Stratford Elementary School in appreciation for the care their dogs, Molly and Macy, have received at the VTH over the past 13 years.
The event concluded with a ceremony to open the Donna and Richard Hassard Student Lounge, named in recognition of the long-standing commitment they have had to the College.
