AC vet tech students fundraise for Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

Algonquin College’s Level 3 veterinary technician students are turning their passion for animal care into community action this October.

The class selected Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary as this year’s charity for its annual Project Awareness Assignment (PAA). Through events ranging from a paint and snack, a movie night and pet photo booths, students hope to raise funds for the sanctuary’s work caring for injured and displaced wildlife.

“A lot of us are really interested in wildlife,” said Samantha Hebert, a Level 3 veterinary technician student who helped organize the paint and snack event. “It’s something you don’t see every day, so a lot of people want to provide that extra support.”

The class chose the sanctuary through a group vote, said student Tianna Kedrosky, who is helping organize a trivia night.

“We like that they would help the wildlife and that it’s more than just pets,” Kedrosky said.

“We wanted it to just be something really chill, really relaxed that is welcoming to people of all ages, all backgrounds,” said Hebert.

PAA also offers an opportunity to educate people about animal welfare and veterinary care.

Mallory Dignam, a Level 3 veterinary technician student who is organizing the movie night, said the sanctuary supports animals that can sometimes receive less attention than domestic creatures.

“They do a lot of really great work with a category of animal that can kind of sometimes get forgotten within the veterinary field,” said Dignam.

The movie night will also highlight pet safety leading up to Halloween, connecting the fundraising effort with practical information about animal care.

Instructor Sylvia Stanton, who is a registered veterinary technician, said the initiative gives students an opportunity to support their community while they are still in school. She emphasized the importance of giving back.

“This is something that students can do without spending any money…to raise awareness and to raise funds and give of themselves and a little bit of their time,” said Stanton.

PAA also helps students develop teamwork and event-planning skills while putting their efforts into practice.

Stanton said wildlife in the Ottawa Valley need help after encounters with people, including vehicle collisions. The incidents may leave orphaned young animals, such as fawns or chipmunks.

“If we’re able to help a few get rehabilitated back into the wild, we’ve done a good job,” she said.

PAA has run each fall since 2006, when students supported the VLCC Pet Enrichment Fund. Since then, the initiative has helped various not-for-profit organizations through fundraising, donating supplies and awareness campaigns.

For this year’s organizers, the impact is more about the creatures than the overall fundraising total.

“The most rewarding part I feel is going to be the end when we can finally tally how much we raise and also the awareness we’re spreading for a great charity,” said Kedrosky.

Hebert underscored the importance of wildlife conservation.

“How can I not only better myself but make a viable change, especially in animal care, when world issues like pollution and deforestation are so prevalent, so protecting these species…is really vital,” said Hebert.

Students and staff can find event information through campus posters, QR codes and student social media accounts.

“I would really encourage everyone to come in and support at least one of the events,” said Kedrosky.