Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians - OAVT

02/28/2026

🚨The 2026 OAVT Conference continues!🚨

We had a fabulous day of learning, networking and recognizing members celebrating anniversaries in 2025 yesterday! We've got lots more planned for today, with a full slate of sessions and lots of opportunities to check out the trade show hall.

Stop by the OAVT booth with your questions and pick up some swag!

You belong here!

02/27/2026

Thanks for your support!

Proud to kick things off at as the Gold Sponsor of the Kick-Off Event! 💚

Our team showed up in VP tote green for an evening of mingling, reconnecting with RVT alum (with maybe a few dance moves or two), and we’re just getting started!

We’d love to see you at our booth over the next few days 👋

02/27/2026

🚨Get your swag!🚨

Stop by the OAVT booth in the York Ballroom lobby. We've got great swag, a prize draw, and you can get your picture taken in front of our adorable backdrop. Visit us today!

02/27/2026

🚨The 2026 OAVT Conference kicked off last night with an amazing party!!🚨

Thank you to everyone who attended and made the night extra special. We are very grateful to Veterinary Purchasing for sponsoring the event and providing games and door prizes! It was a great night!

Don't forget about tonight's Nibbles and Networking at 5 p.m. in the trade show hall/York Ballroom.

Are you at our conference? Let us know on socials with the hashtag

02/26/2026

🚨We're kicking off the 2026 OAVT Conference with a HOMECOMING to remember!🚨

Join us tonight for our kick-off event and show your school spirit! This year's theme is HOMECOMING NIGHT, and we want to see your school spirit. Got a t-shirt, sweatshirt, or baseball cap? Show your alma mater some love and wear it tonight with pride!

Connect with us on social media by using the hashtag -
We'll show the love right back!

Whether it's your first time at our conference or your 15th, YOU BELONG HERE.

02/26/2026

🚨The 2026 OAVT Conference starts tonight!🚨

Didn't register? There's still time! You can register online or when you arrive!

We've got a massive line-up of amazing speakers like Tabitha Kucera, RVT, VTS (Behaviour), CCBC, KPA-CTP. She's the founder and owner of Chirrups and Chatter.

Tabitha is an Elite Fear Free and Low-Stress Handling Certified Registered Veterinary Technician, a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Behaviour, a Certified Cat Behaviour Consultant, and a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner. She is the founder of Chirrups and Chatter Cat and Dog Behaviour Consulting and Training and serves as the animal behaviour technician at The Gentle Vet in Ohio.

An award-winning educator and international speaker, Tabitha lectures at regional, national, and international conferences, helping animal care professionals and pet caregivers deepen their understanding of animal behavior and strengthen the human-animal bond. She is a Fear Free Certified Speaker, a Fear Free Practice Certification Consultant, and the host of the podcast Tails from a Vet Tech.

Tabitha has held leadership positions with the Society of Veterinary Behaviour Technicians, the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants, and the Pet Professional Guild’s Cat Committee, and she currently serves as President-Elect for the Academy of Veterinary Behaviour Technicians. She also spent six years as a behaviour consultant and mentor for Cat Pawsitive Pro.

Click below to learn more!
https://oavt.org/2026-oavt-conference/

02/26/2026

🚨Help your clients improve their pets' health with proper nutrition!🚨

Shoshana Verton-Shaw, RVT, VTS (Nutrition), RLAT, Pet Weight Care Coordinator, Part-Time Professor at Ontario Veterinary College and Fanshawe College, is bringing her expertise to the 2026 OAVT Conference!

There's still time to register by clicking the link in our bio! You can also register on-site!

02/25/2026

🚨The final countdown to the 2026 OAVT Conference is ON!🚨

We have over two dozen incredible speakers, like Shelley Shopsowitz, BA (Hon), RVT.

Shelley has been a veterinary technician for over 40 years. She has worked in general practice, a dermatology referral practice, and ER, as well as taught numerous courses both in the classroom and online to veterinary technicians. Currently, she works in a 24/7 veterinary emergency clinic where her main job is as the lab technician. She has even published a book called "A Practical Guide to Microscope Skills for Veterinary Technicians."

Check out Shelley's session and more at the 2026 OAVT Conference. You can click below to register online or register on-site.

https://oavt.org/2026-oavt-conference/

02/24/2026

🚨Speaker highlight🚨

Rebecca Negretti, LVT, CVT, VTS (ECC), Veterinary Emergency Group!

Rebecca has been working in veterinary medicine since 2007 and holds credentials as a Licensed Veterinary Technician, Certified Veterinary Technician, and Veterinary Technician Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care. She began her career in a small animal practice in St. Louis, where she gained broad experience in general practice, exotics, and emergency medicine. After earning her bachelor’s degree in 2002, she returned to school and obtained her AAS in Veterinary Technology in 2010. Following graduation, she moved back to Chicago, working in several specialty hospitals, primarily in emergency and critical care, but also in internal medicine and neurology.

In 2015, she joined the University of Florida’s emergency and ICU department, and in 2017, achieved her VTS in ECC. She later became a Clinical Instructor at City College’s Veterinary Technician Program, where she taught and mentored future veterinary technicians. She also served as an advisor for the college's SCNAVTA chapter and was honoured as “Most Valuable Technician” by the veterinary students at UF. In April 2023, she relocated to Washington to help open a new emergency and specialty hospital as its ECC Director of Nursing. In January 2024, she joined Veterinary Emergency Group as Nursing Manager, where she focuses on coaching teams to uphold high standards of medical quality and nursing care. In 2025, she was elected as Membership Chair to the Washington State Association of Veterinary Technicians and is an active member of the organization.

There's still time to register for the 2026 OAVT Conference!

Click the link below to learn more!

https://oavt.org/2026-oavt-conference/

02/23/2026

🚨The 2026 OAVT Conference is just DAYS AWAY!🚨

There's still time to register and attend our amazing sessions with fantastic speakers like Rebecca Talbott, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia)! She's the
Training Coordinator at Lakefield Veterinary Group.

Rebecca graduated from the Mercy College Veterinary Technology program, has been working in the veterinary field for 25 years and is a VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia) for 12 years. She has a passion for teaching and training assistants, new and experienced CVT and VTS candidates with the goal of advancing the profession of veterinary technician by maximizing skills and knowledge in a fun way. She is currently the Regional Training Coordinator for Lakefield Veterinary Group.

Click the link below to learn more!

https://oavt.org/2026-oavt-conference/

02/23/2026

🚨Speaker highlight! 🚨

Pamela Baker, BSc, DVM, Graduate Diploma (Clin Path)

Dr. Pam Baker graduated from Ontario Veterinary College in 1986. She then entered private clinical small animal practice for six years. In 1992, Dr. Baker joined the faculty of the Veterinary Technology Program at Seneca College, where she taught several courses, including clinical pathology, until 2020. In 2007, Dr. Baker took a sabbatical from teaching to return to OVC for a year to complete the Graduate Diploma program in Clinical Pathology.

Known for her energetic, clinically-relevant presentations, her previous speaking engagements include VIN, VSPN, AAHA, Western Veterinary Conference, Michigan Veterinary Conference, Central Veterinary Alliance, Lifelearn, Atlantic Provinces Veterinary Conference and numerous provincial veterinary technician conferences, including OAVT. Although she has now retired from clinical practice, she still remains involved in the clinical path world through online CE courses and social media.

Register now by clicking below!

https://oavt.org/2026-oavt-conference/

02/22/2026

🚨Speaker highlight!🚨

Pam Kirby, RVT, VTS (Ophthalmology), Past President of AVOT, ophthalmology consultant for Aventix, the Academy of Veterinary Ophthalmologic Technicians, and Aventix Animal Health.

Pam Kirby, RVT, VTS (Ophthalmology), graduated from Purdue University’s veterinary technology program in 1997 and was employed by the university until she left on July 1, 2025. She dedicated 23 of those years to working in the ophthalmology department. Pam has special interests in large animal ophthalmology and surgery. Pam most recently joined the Aventix Animal Health team as an ophthalmology consultant.

Throughout her career, she has taught veterinary and veterinary nursing students in various settings, including the clinic floor, classroom, labs, and online formats. Additionally, Pam has presented at local, regional, and national conferences. She has also contributed articles to publications such as Today’s Veterinary Nurse and Veterinary Team Brief and co-authored the ophthalmology chapter of *Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care for Veterinary Technicians*.

In 2025, Pam was honoured as one of three recipients of the Dr. Earl H. Rippie Veterinary Nurse Leadership Scholarship. She has served on the executive board of the Veterinary Ophthalmic Technician Society and is currently a charter member and president of the Academy of Veterinary Ophthalmic Technicians.

There's still time to register for the 2026 OAVT Conference! Click the link below, or you can register on-site!

https://oavt.org/2026-oavt-conference/