Vet Alliance, 7000 Pine Valley Drive Suite 201, Woodbridge, ON (2026)

03/26/2026

Back by popular demand.
As a continuation of our Office Hours Financial Series in 2025, David McCormick and Dr. Elizabeth Bellavance are back to take us through two more topics. As independent practice owners, you need to know what your practice is worth well before you decide to sell or take on partners. How can you know where you are, what changes might be necessary, how to affect change, and what impact your actions and inaction have, when you don't have the data or understanding?

Whether you are in the midst of succession planning, or focused on being a proactive and well-versed business owner, we invite you to join us.

UPCOMING DATES
Practice Value – What Is Your Practice Really Worth?
April 1st, 2026 | 7-8pm ET

Exit Planning - Start Now!
April 15th, 2026 | 7-8pm ET

Attend these last two sessions in our Office Hours Financial Series to
maximize your learning and engage with the experts!

Excited to attend?
Vet Alliance Members can register for this series through their Vet Alliance March Newsletter, or by contacting andrea.adshade@vetalliance.ca. Our Members can also access the recordings and review the first 3 sessions in Octopoda by visiting the Office Hours Collection.

Not a member, but interested?
Great news - we are allowing a limited number of special invitations for people interested in accessing the live sessions. Special invitations can be obtained by contacting Andrea Adshade, or speaking to your Boehringer Ingelheim representative.

03/10/2026

Do you feel confident that you know the definition of "workplace bullying"? As a leader, do you know your obligations when it comes to bullying in the workplace? While we can all agree that bullying is bad, how people - both employers and employees - define bullying doesn't always align with provincial and federal legislation.
It's often tough to know where to start, but increasing your awareness around what it is, what it isn't, and what you need to do to ensure you are addressing things appropriately, are important first steps. Sometimes things like teasing, gossiping, offside humour, or cliques get written off as challenges in workplace culture, or the quirks of team dynamics. Sometimes we make light of a team member's challenging communication style or behaviour by concluding, 'that's just how they are.'
Ultimately, it's about impact - regardless of intent. As leaders we are responsible for ensuring a safe work environment that promotes healthy team dynamics, team member retention, balanced power dynamics, and positive workplace culture for all. Join us to unpack bullying basics with Vet Alliance National Director, Engagement & Practice Services, Senani Ratnayake.

Vet Alliance Members can register through the February Noteworthy Newsletter.

02/28/2026

A selfie worth celebrating. 📸
Our National Director, Engagement & Practice Services (and proud RVT), Senani Ratnayake, is getting to spend some time with someone we've supported and admired for years — Angie Arora.

We're proud to sponsor Angie's Saturday session at the OAVT Conference: "Reading the Room Differently: How to Understand Behaviour Without Taking It Personally."

Because healthy veterinary practice [really] is about more than just the medicine.

As an organization with a strong focus on non-clinical education for veterinary professionals, we believe the skills that shape how we communicate, lead, and support one another are just as critical as clinical expertise. Supporting educators like Angie — who help our profession build resilience, empathy, and stronger team dynamics — is part of our commitment to strengthening and elevating veterinary practice.

For ourselves.
For our pet parents.
For our patients.
Every. Day.

Join Senani and Angie in the Aurora Room on Saturday February 28th from 10:15-11:15am!

02/05/2026

Are there any conversations you've been avoiding? Your perception of situations and people always plays a role in whether you take on conversations in the first place, and how they go when you do.
Many of us feel uncomfortable with challenging conversations—especially when emotions, assumptions, or uncertainty are involved. It's easy to overthink what to say, worry about how it will land, or decide that staying quiet feels safer in the moment. Avoiding conversations that need to happen won't make the issue go away. Over time, unspoken concerns can lead to frustration, strained working relationships, breakdowns in communication, and tension that impacts both team dynamics and overall well-being.

EVERY team member will benefit from joining this session and learning
-How to reframe challenging conversations so they feel more manageable
-Practical, step-by-step strategies for approaching difficult interactions
-A framework for understanding different conflict management styles—your own and others'
This session is designed to help teams move from avoidance to productive conversation, strengthening trust, collaboration, and communication along the way.Vet Alliance Members can register through the January Noteworthy Newsletter.

01/31/2026

KEYNOTE SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT:
Jordan Woodsworth, BSc DVM PhD

Session: Beyond the Exam Room: Centering Equity and Justice in Veterinary Medicine

Equity, justice are foundational to the future of veterinary medicine. Join Dr. Jordan Woodsworth as she explores how systemic inequities impact our profession—and how every team member can play a meaningful role in creating a more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable profession in Canada.

Her keynote blends evidence, storytelling, and practical insight into an inspiring call to action.

🔍 What your team will walk away with:
• A deeper understanding of structural inequities in veterinary medicine
• Reflection on our shared responsibility in building equitable workplaces
• Practical strategies to support inclusion, wellbeing, and community impact

Register your practice for one registration fee and join us at unitED 2026: https://na.eventscloud.com/website/62045/topics/

01/30/2026

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT:
Ron Sosa, CVPM CCFP PgD-CLD

Session: Different Brains, Same Standards: How Veterinary Teams Build Accountability Together

Veterinary teams are filled with smart, passionate individuals who think, process, and communicate in different ways.
Ron Sosa brings an authentic, human-centered approach to understanding behaviour, neurodivergence, and team accountability—without sorting people into "good" or "toxic."

This session is transformative for teams that want less friction, more clarity, and systems that support everyone.

🔍 What your team will walk away with:
• Clarity on processing differences vs. truly problematic behaviours
• Insight into common neurodivergent traits often misinterpreted in practice
• A shared-responsibility model that builds accountability and reduces avoidable conflict

Register your practice for one registration fee and join us at unitED 2026: https://na.eventscloud.com/website/62045/topics/

01/30/2026

📍 OVMA Attendees — Don't Miss Out!
We're live at the OVMA Conference — Booth #715 in the Harbour Ballroom Foyer and would love to connect.

The start of the year is an important time to set intentions for personal development, professional growth ,and business goals — and to explore the partnerships, tools, and learning that can help move your practice forward in 2026.

Stop by to:

✨ Get the inside scoop on our newest pre-negotiated industry partnerships and savings — they're better than ever in 2026
✨ Discover upcoming CE topics and how to access our ever-expanding learning library in Octopoda
✨ Explore our employee benefits program, practice support offerings, and the guidED Leadership Conference this fall
✨ Learn why our upcoming virtual team event (unitED) is the most affordable and valuable CE around - there's still time to register
✨ Meet the team that works for your practice — directly with you

Bonus: Nominate your team at the booth for a chance to win a unitED registration. Nominations close Saturday and are open to all practices participating in OVMA.

Whether you're a member or just getting to know us, come say hello, and get the inside scoop on what's ahead. You'll be the first to know!

01/29/2026

Do you ever find yourself overthinking the conversations you know you need to have—worrying about how they might go or what the other person might say?
Do you avoid speaking up because it feels safer… or easier?

You know that biting your tongue or sweeping concerns under the rug often makes things worse – but you tell yourself that avoiding the risk of drama or discomfort is more important.

Here’s the thing. Avoidance doesn’t protect us. Confident conversations do. Building that confidence, or checking to make sure the confidence you do have, is warranted, requires skill. That’s why this session is so important.

There are things you can do to ensure challenging interactions don’t feel so overwhelming. With the right tools and actionable step-by-step strategies focused on mindset and approach, you can address concerns with more clarity and intention – preventing issues from escalating. This allows all of us to move from avoidance to productive conversation; strengthening trust, collaboration and communication. Join our National Director Engagement and Practice Services, Senani Ratnayake, for this session.

Vet Alliance Members can register through the January Noteworthy Newsletter.

01/29/2026

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT:
Sonja Olson, DVM C-MMT C-NeuroTransformational Coach

Session: The Power of Collective Intelligence: Strengthening Veterinary Wellbeing Through Community, Capacity, and Culture

Veterinary professionals are whole humans working in complex systems where individual resilience is not enough.
Dr. Sonja Olson brings a neuro-informed, compassionate lens to understanding stress, burnout, team capacity, and the power of community care.

This session is empowers you with an actionable roadmap for teams seeking more sustainable energy, connection, and collaboration.

🔍 What your team will walk away with:
• Insight into stress physiology and the "window of tolerance"
• Tools for building collective intelligence and shared resilience
• Practical strategies using the wellness wheel, Stress First Aid, and team-based planning

Register your practice for one registration fee and join us at unitED 2026: https://na.eventscloud.com/website/62045/topics/

01/28/2026

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT:
Caitlin DeWilde, DVM

Session: "Can I Afford This?" – How Teams Build Trust, Visibility, and Access to Care

"Can I afford this?" is one of the most common—and often unspoken—questions clients face.
Dr. Caitlin DeWilde helps veterinary teams bring confidence, trust, and clarity to conversations about cost, insurance, and payment options, long before urgent decisions need to be made. There are ways to provide access, without cost being prohibitive, or medicine being compromised - facilitating care patients deserve, and teams take pride in.

Her strategies are practical, proactive, and accessible for every role—from the front desk, to the exam room, to the digital channels clients rely on.

🔍 What your team will walk away with: •
How to normalize cost conversations at every touchpoint
• Tools to share affordability solutions with clients proactively
• Strategies for building trust and improving access to care by driving awareness around what's possible

Register your practice for one registration fee and join us at unitED 2026: https://na.eventscloud.com/website/62045/topics/
The Social DVM

01/27/2026

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT:
Heather Gunn McQuillan, DVM MBTL RYT

Session: WTF!? – Mindful Conflict Management: Moving from Reacting to Responding

Conflict is inevitable in veterinary practice—but it doesn't have to be destructive.
Dr. Heather Gunn McQuillan will show us how to approach conflict with curiosity rather than judgment, using mindful tools that build confidence, preserve trust, and protect psychological safety.

Expect a session that is practical, grounding, and empowering for every role on your team.

🔍 What your team will walk away with:

• Awareness of the personal and systemic roots of conflict
• Mindful communication tools that de-escalate rather than inflame
• Strategies for sustainable team harmony and healthier workplace culture

Register for one registration fee, bring your team, and join us at unitED 2026: https://na.eventscloud.com/website/62045/topics/

01/26/2026

Are you worried that participating in unitED and investing in yourselves means you will be letting your clients and patients down? Don't worry – we have a solution for that!

Thanks to the generosity of our Silver Education Partner VetWise (formerly SmartVet) – all practices registered for unitED will be receiving a very special offer.

Whether closing for the day, or running short-staffed, your unitED attendance doesn't have to mean a lapse in support for those we serve.

With only a few hours from your first email to everything being set up – VetWise can triage and support your clients with expertise and empathy at the forefront.
You and your team get to invest in yourselves, without compromising your relationships, patient care or business.

Already using VetWise? Your unitED registration entitles you to a special offer also! In true unitED fashion…nobody will be left behind.
Talk about huge wins all around.

https://na.eventscloud.com/website/62045/home/

[Connect with VetWise via email at am@getvetwise.com]

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