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

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]

01/21/2026

Veterinary medicine works best when everyone is supported. ✨
That's why unitED 2026 brings entire practice teams together for a full day of learning that's practical, inclusive, and truly transformative—no matter your role, title, or tenure.

On February 11th, 2026, we're diving into:
🧩 Understanding different brains & building shared accountability
💬 Trust-based affordability conversations
🧭 Mindful conflict management for effective communication
🧠 Collective intelligence & wellbeing for team cohesion
⚖️ Equity & justice in veterinary practice

unitED is more than CE—it's a national moment of connection and shared purpose.
Register once. Bring your whole team. Watch live or on-demand. Let's uplift our profession, together.

👉 Save your team's spot today: https://na.eventscloud.com/website/62045/speakers/

01/14/2026

Registration for unitED 2026 is officially open!
🎉 Wednesday, February 11th, 2026 | 11am–5pm ET

💻 One day. One price. Your entire team.
This year's virtual conference brings together five exceptional, and relatable, experts to tackle real challenges facing veterinary teams today—conflict, equity, wellbeing, neuro-inclusion, and client affordability.

Our sessions are designed to apply to all roles in the practice. Why? Because veterinary medicine relies on how our teams interact—how we communicate, how we care for each other, and how we grow, together.

✔️ Attend live with as many team members as you like
✔️ Access all recordings on-demand
✔️ One practice fee = every team member included
✔️ Vet Alliance members save $100

Join us as we unite veterinary professionals across Canada for a day of learning designed to elevate confidence, collaboration, and everyday practice life.

👉 Register your practice now: https://na.eventscloud.com/website/62045/speakers/

01/08/2026

We've all done it—sent an email when we really should've had a conversation, or called a meeting that should've been a memo. Maybe we've presented information only to be met with unsolicited feedback, or asked for input and received nothing but silence. Sound familiar?
Effective communication is the backbone of every well-functioning veterinary practice—shaping team cohesion, supporting patient safety, improving workflow efficiency, and strengthening the client experience. Yet even within the most dedicated teams, communication often happens on autopilot: we default to whatever method is fastest, most familiar or readily available. The result? Messages get lost, expectations become unclear, tone is misinterpreted, and both team dynamics and patient care can suffer.
In our January Collaborative Empowerment session, "Intentional Communication: Choosing the right method for the message." Lucie Langevin-Neil, Strategic Advisor at Vet Alliance, will break down a clear and practical framework to ensure communication occurs with intention, and not through default habits. You'll learn how to mindfully choose how you communicate—not just what you communicate—using a 3P Model (Purpose, Participation, and Process) to ensure clarity, alignment, and consistent outcomes. We'll also explore practical tools to help you confidently select the right method every time, whether you're sharing updates, delivering instructions, or gathering feedback.
Join us on January 14th, 2026 at 2pm ET, and walk away with clear, actionable strategies you can put to work in your practice the very next day.

This session is open to all Vet Alliance member practices at no charge. You can register through the December Noteworthy Newsletter, or by contacting us directly at Jen.Heron@vetalliance.ca.

Vet Alliance

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