As we look back on FY25 through the IVC Evidensia Positive Pawprint Report, we are proud to reflect on the meaningful progress made across our Canadian network—progress driven by the dedication, compassion, and innovation of our colleagues.

Across the IVC Evidensia network, colleagues worldwide continue to drive our shared purpose—Healthy Animals, Happy Owners—and we are proud to highlight the incredible progress made during our 2025 fiscal year (October 2024 – September 2025). From coast to coast, our practices have each played a role in making a difference, and we are honoured to celebrate these achievements in this year’s Positive Pawprint Report from IVC Evidensia.

At VetStrategy, we bring our purpose to life through three promises: our people promise to be a great place to work; our customer promise of world-class veterinary care, delivered locally; and our sustainability promise to be a force for good through our Positive Pawprint strategy.

This year, IVC Evidensia released its fifth annual Positive Pawprint Sustainability Report, uniting our global vision to be a Force for Good. The report highlights our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives across three pillars (People, Patients, and Planet), reflecting the meaningful impact we continue to make together.

In Canada, several notable achievements and initiatives marked FY25:

People pillar:

Community initiatives:

Together, our teams are building a stronger network and stronger communities. Many of our practices are supporting organizations working to improve the lives of people from coast to coast.

One meaningful example comes from December 2024, when the team at Albert North Veterinary Clinic (Regina, SK) collected Christmas meal supplies (including turkeys!) and winter clothing in support of SOFIA House, a charity providing long-term housing for women and children fleeing domestic violence.

As a network, over 120 colleagues from Support Office contributed over 400 volunteer hours to local food banks and social service organizations supporting food security programs during our third annual Give Back Days.

Diversity, equity & inclusion:

At VetStrategy, we are dedicated to making our network a great place to work, where colleagues are encouraged to be themselves, and flourish as individuals. We believe it’s essential to continue nurturing diversity and inclusion in our workplaces to better reflect and understand the world around us.

This commitment came to life in several meaningful ways in FY25. For the first time, five practices received a Pride Fund grant: 4 Paws Veterinary Hospital, Hillside Veterinary Hospital, North Oakville Animal Hospital, Wellesley Animal Hospital and Riverview Animal Health Centre (in collaboration with Moncton Animal Hospital, Mountain Road Animal Hospital, and Acadia Veterinary Hospital). As part of their grant, many incredible team members from our local practices and Support Office in New Brunswick proudly joined the Greater Moncton Pride Parade in August, celebrating love, diversity, and inclusion.

We also celebrated the achievements of women across our network. In March, four inspiring women were spotlighted across VetStrategy’s social media channels for International Women’s Day. As part of the fifth annual Claws for a Cause campaign, practices from coast to coast were invited to host nail trim fundraisers, raising more than $5,000 for local charities supporting women and girls.

Mental health and professional wellbeing:

As part of our year-long commitment to improving mental health and professional wellbeing across our network, we are working to better equip our teams with the knowledge, confidence, and compassion needed to support one another.

These efforts came to life through several key initiatives this year. In May, we launched a year-long commitment to mental health and professional wellbeing in Canada, featuring a six-part webinar series led by two Veterinary Social Workers, Angie Arora and Dr. Karine Maillette. Our Wellbeing Champions program, launched in April, contributes to promoting a culture of care across our network. To further strengthen support for our teams, 20 additional leaders were trained in Mental Health First Aid in July.

Patients pillar:

Driving innovation in patient care:

At VetStrategy and across IVC Evidensia, innovation starts within our practices. Veterinary teams across the Group are continually working to advance patient care, and research plays a key role in that mission. In 2024, Dr. Marie-Christine Morin and Dr. Jérôme D’Astous from Centre vétérinaire Daubigny (Québec City, QC) published an innovative study in Frontiers in Veterinary Science: A micro-CT study of the pulp cavity morphology of maxillary fourth premolar teeth in dogs Their work provides new insights into veterinary dentistry and marks the first time the internal morphology of a dog premolar has been revealed in 3D.

Supporting animals in our community and local animal health initiatives:

Our practices support animals and animal welfare charities in many unique and impactful ways. Throughout the year, teams across our network contributed to local animal health initiatives and community programs that make a real difference for pets and the people who care for them. Here are a few examples:

• Steinbach and Area Animal Rescue (SAAR), a non-profit providing care, comfort, and compassion to homeless and abandoned companion animals, received a total of $1,927.50 in support from Clearspring Animal Hospital (Blumenort, MB). This includes a $1,500 Q4 Community Grant and $427.50 raised through a fall nail trim fundraiser at the practice.
• In July, Avon Animal Hospital (Windsor, NS) hosted a Canine Blood Donation Day, and it was a heartwarming success. Thanks to the dedication of volunteers and eight sweet pups, the team helped make a lifesaving difference for pets in their community.
• To enhance patient wellbeing, Royal York Animal Hospital (Etobicoke, ON) introduced perches, hiding spots, and cozy cat houses to create a calmer experience for feline patients, helping them feel safe and comfortable during their visits.
• In February, practices from coast to coast came together to celebrate National Cupcake Day by baking treats and raising funds for local SPCAs and animal welfare charities. Thanks to the creativity and generosity of our teams, nearly $9,000 was raised to support animals in need.
• Our veterinarians also continue to use the Care Fund to help clients and patients experiencing financial hardship. This year, approximately 1,000 patients with acute, treatable conditions, where cost was a barrier, received support through the Care Fund. This support can be life-changing, just as it was for Halo, who arrived at Ritson Veterinary Clinic after a week of lethargy and refusing to eat. She was diagnosed with pyometra, and the team was determined to do everything possible to help. Thanks to the Care Fund and the dedicated veterinarian team, sweet Halo underwent the procedure successfully and made a beautiful recovery back at home.

Planet pillar:

As part of the IVC Evidensia network, which is committed to transitioning toward a net-zero climate impact, we are dedicated to playing our part in addressing the climate crisis. Our focus includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency in our practices, and minimizing our waste footprint.

LED lighting modernization:

In British Columbia and Nova Scotia, 46 practices were upgraded with modern, energy-efficient LED lighting in FY25. These updates reduce energy use, lower maintenance costs, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and create brighter, more welcoming spaces for colleagues and clients. This initiative is expected to generate annual savings of 588,666 kWh of electricity, equivalent to a reduction of 143 tonnes of CO₂e emissions*.

*Based on emission factors from Annex 13 Electricity intensity, Environment and Climate Change Canada Data Catalogue.External link.

Supporting green initiatives:

To celebrate Earth Day, practices were invited to share a sustainability commitment. The team at Hôpital vétérinaire des Prairies (Notre-Dame-des-Prairies, QC) pledged to continue their batteries collection for proper recycling and to recycle cans and bottles to raise funds for team treats.

Reducing the environmental impact of deliveries:

As of September 2025, all Canadian practices, except those recently acquired, are on a fixed delivery schedule with CDMV, our preferred distributor for food, pharmaceuticals, and medical supplies. On average, practices now receive 2.4 deliveries per week, with ongoing efforts to reduce this even further. To improve efficiency, CDMV also groups nearby practices for same-day deliveries whenever possible, helping reduce courier travel time and emissions.

Multi-pillar:

Our commitment to the community extends far beyond patient care. Together, alongside our colleagues across IVC Evidensia, we share a unified goal: to become not only the best veterinary group in the world, but also the best veterinary group for the world. Through initiatives like our Holiday Donation Drive and Community Grants program, we work collaboratively to support local organizations and make a meaningful difference in the lives of people, pets, and communities across Canada.

Community initiatives:

In December 2024, 150 practices joined forces for our Holiday Donation Drive, collecting more than 20,000 lbs of non-perishable food, personal hygiene items, and pet supplies for community organizations nationwide.

Community Grant program:

Our teams continue to demonstrate that compassion reaches far beyond the clinic walls. Through the Community Grants program, practices across our network supported a wide range of local organizations including a volunteer-run food bank, a camp for children recovering from burns, a centre for injured and orphaned wildlife, programs dedicated to supporting the 2SLGBTQIA community, and various other grassroots organizations—each making a significant impact on their community.

Thank you to every team member across our practices and our Support Offices from coast to coast for helping bring the Positive Pawprint to life. Together, we are creating meaningful changes for people, patients, and the planet. Your passion and collaboration make this possible, and we look forward to building on these efforts to archive even greater impact in the year ahead.

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