Listowel veterinarian leads College

December 12, 2024

Dr. Jessica Retterath, of Listowel, Ontario, is the 2025 President of the College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO), the province’s regulatory and licensing body for Ontario’s 5,700 veterinarians.

“It is a privilege to represent and support the College as we evolve into the College of Veterinary Professionals of Ontario. As we move through this historic and significant time for our College, I am excited for the opportunity to serve as President.” 

Dr. Jessica Retterath, President of the College

Dr. Retterath graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College in 2011 and has practised with dairy and beef cattle in southwestern Ontario. She currently works for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Dr. Retterath joined the College Council in 2019 and was elected to the Executive Committee in 2023.

“This is such an interesting time for the College and certainly for the profession as a whole. On Council, we continue the work of the College under our current legislation, while the Transition Council is working on policies for the next version of the College. While our roles are distinct, we share our commitment to supporting the delivery of safe, quality veterinary medicine in Ontario. We are both centred and focused on the public interest.”

Dr. Retterath.

In addition to facilitating the move towards the College of Veterinary Professionals of Ontario, in the coming year the College’s Council will continue to work on improved access to veterinary services through a limited licensure project and a focus on team-based care. The College also supports the advancement of innovation and technology in veterinary medicine, with exciting projects identified for regulatory sandbox initiatives. As well, the College will be looking to provide education on the role of veterinary teams in antimicrobial stewardship. With its focus on people, the College is also advancing initiatives which support veterinary well-being, compassion and inclusivity.

Joining Dr. Retterath on the College’s Executive Committee are: Dr. Louise Kelly, First Vice-President; Dr. Lena Levison, Second Vice-President; Dr. Wade Wright, Past President and Cathy Hecimovich, Member at Large. Appointments were also made to the College’s statutory committees and details can be found on the College’s website at www.cvo.org.

The College is committed to managing the risks involved in the practice of veterinary medicine in Ontario and working to reduce any potential for harm to animals and to people. The Council is comprised of 13 elected veterinarians and five public members, appointed by the provincial government. All members of the CVO Council and three Registered Veterinary Technicians serve on the Transition Council which is preparing for the College’s evolution to the College of Veterinary Professionals of Ontario.