Ottawa, ON – On November 28, 2021, the Registered Veterinary Technologists and Technicians of Canada (RVTTC) Board of Directors unanimously voted to become a signatory for the Gender Identity Bill of Rights for the Veterinary Profession developed by PrideVMC.

PrideVMC created the Gender Identity Bill of Rights as part of a focused effort to address how the veterinary profession should conduct itself in regards to gender diversity. The Bill outlines a minimum foundation to identify and eliminate discriminatory practices against transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals in the veterinary profession including educational and employment environments.

“RVVTC continuously strives to unite, advance and strengthen the Registered Veterinary Technologist/Technician profession across Canada,” says RVTTC President, Heather Shannon, RVT. “By signing the Gender Identity Bill of Rights for the Veterinary Profession we are committed to our role in fostering acceptance and inclusivity in the veterinary profession.”

RVTTC has joined a growing number of organizational and individual signatories to the Bill, which are listed on the PrideVMC website.

“It is so wonderful to see that the RVTTC Board has elected to become a signatory for the Gender Identity Bill of Rights,” says Dane Whitaker, DVM, MPVM, PrideVMC President. “Support for this important step in the recognition of basic human rights for trans and gender diverse folks in veterinary medicine is essential. With the participation from international collaborators such as RVTTC we can keep the momentum moving forward and hopefully push the GIBOR to all corners of the veterinary world.”

RVTTC is comprised of provincial associations members: L’association des techniciens en santé animale du Québec (Quebec), British Columbia Veterinary Technologists Association (British Columbia), Alberta Veterinary Technologist Association (Alberta), Saskatchewan Association of Veterinary Technologists (Saskatchewan), Manitoba Veterinary Technologists Association (Manitoba), Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians (Ontario) and Eastern Veterinary Technicians Association (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland/Labrador).

 

Media Contact:
Shannon T. Thompson (Brownrigg) RVT (she/her)
CEO/Executive Director, RVTTC
1.613.215.0619
sthompson@rvttcanada.ca