Celebrating VWB's 20th Anniversary:
20 Moments in 20 Years

A tribute to the people, places, and programs that shaped VWB from 2005 to 2025
— and the future we’re building together.

A Phone Call That Sparked a Movement (2004)

The story begins in November 2004 with a surprising inquiry: Aeroplan was launching its new “Beyond Miles” program and wanted to know if a Veterinarians Without Borders existed in Canada. It didn’t — yet. Within 48 hours, a group of Canadian veterinarians had assembled by email and phone to make it happen. Founding members included Drs. David Waltner-Toews, Erin Fraser, Enid Stiles, and John VanLeeuwen — all of whom would go on to shape the organization’s early direction.

🔗 Read: Personal reflections on VWB's birth and earliest days by Dr. David Waltner-Toews.

Becoming VWB/VSF (2005)

On May 5, 2005, Vétérinaires Sans Frontières – Canada was officially registered as a charity. The office was a borrowed desk at the University of Guelph. The first website was built by an IT staffer at the Ontario Veterinary College and the legal paperwork was filed pro bono. With no funding and no staff, the founders launched an organization rooted in One Health values — committed to improving lives by improving animal health.

“No” to Helicopter Medicine (2006–2007)

Early on, the team faced a critical question: Would this be a fly-in, fly-out charity delivering vet care in brief bursts? Or something more lasting? They chose the harder path — building long-term, community-led programs that prioritized local ownership. This approach set VWB apart and led to early collaborations with researchers, universities, and local partners who shared a vision of integrated, sustainable change.

From Mongolia to Malawi: Our First Programs Abroad (2005–2010)

In our earliest years, VWB supported a patchwork of global projects — from reindeer health in Mongolia to backyard pig farming in Kenya, from aquaculture training in Sri Lanka to canine population management in Guatemala. These pilot initiatives were driven by volunteer interest and carried out in partnership with universities and local organizations. They didn’t follow a single model — but together, they helped us define our mission: integrated animal, human, and environmental health for sustainable development.

Putting EcoHealth into Practice (2010)

As global interest in “One Health” began to grow, VWB was already on the ground piloting its principles. In Laos and Cambodia, we partnered with universities and communities to develop and deliver EcoHealth training programs — tackling rabies prevention, livestock care, and nutrition all in one. These initiatives helped shape regional EcoHealth networks and produced open-source manuals still in use today.

Dairy, Biogas, and Women's Leadership in Kenya (2012)

With support from Farmers Helping Farmers and the University of Prince Edward Island, we began long-term work in Mukurweini, Kenya. Local farmers — many of them women — received training in cattle health, nutrition, and milk quality. Biogas digesters helped reduce firewood use, while improved animal care led to a dramatic rise in milk production: from 18,000 to over 30,000 litres per day. These early successes helped solidify our community-based model in East Africa.

🎥 Watch: A brief word from Gerald Kariuki, a founding member of the Wakulima Dairy in Mukurweini.

Building Resilience in South Sudan (2013–2015)

Following the country’s independence, VWB partnered with VSF-Germany to support communities affected by conflict and displacement in South Sudan. Together, we trained 43 Community Animal Health Workers, built three animal health centres, vaccinated 167,000 animals, and helped 243 women-headed households start poultry businesses. The work offered more than veterinary care — it gave families tools to rebuild their livelihoods and communities a path to recovery.

From Student Interns to Global Stewards (2005–2018)

Throughout our first decade, we sent over 100 Canadian veterinary students abroad through programs like Global Vets and our own Global Internship initiative. These placements weren’t just learning opportunities — they sparked long-term commitments, and they laid the groundwork for continued student engagement in our programs today. Many alumni went on to shape veterinary public health, food systems, and international development across Canada and beyond.

🎥 Watch: Two-time VWB volunteer, Nikky Sheedy, shares her passion for farming in Uganda.
🎥 Watch: Olivia Mazurek's reflects on her VWB volunteer experience in Uganda.

Launching the NAHI Program (2019)

Rooted in a 2018 pilot led by Dr. Michelle Tuma and the NWT SPCA, the Northern Animal Health Initiative (NAHI) was formally established in 2019 to respond to growing needs in Canada’s North. The program delivers culturally relevant animal health services in partnership with Indigenous communities, prioritizing respect, relationships, and long-term collaboration. Today, NAHI supports companion animal health in remote regions of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and Northern Manitoba — while building pathways for Indigenous-led veterinary care.

🎥 Watch: A brief word by Dr. Tuma from the early days of NAHI.

Launching the VETS Program (2020)

In 2020, with funding from Global Affairs Canada, we launched Volunteers Engaged in Gender-Responsive Technical Solutions (VETS) — an ambitious eight-year initiative to improve the well-being of marginalized people through One Health. Working in Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, the program will reach more than 689,000 people through integrated support for animal health, nutrition, gender equality, and sustainable agriculture. At its heart is a team of 190 Canadian and national volunteers — veterinarians, gender specialists, rural development advisors, and more — working alongside local partners to build systems that last.

🎥 Watch: Three VETS volunteers in Ghana share their experiences working in One Health.
🎥 Watch: Meet Nancy Kiambi, a VETS-trained Community One Health Champion in Kenya.
🔗 Read: A growing collection of VETS volunteer stories.

Adapting in a Time of Crisis (2020–2021)

Just months after the launch of our flagship VETS program, the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. International volunteers were unable to travel for a time — but our work didn’t stop. Local partners and national volunteers carried programs forward, while VWB pivoted to remote support, digital training, and telehealth pilots. The crisis reinforced what we already knew: lasting change depends on strong local leadership.

🔗 Read: Explore our "Program Report 2020–2021" to learn how we adapted and innovated.

Responding in Ukraine (2022–present)

As war erupted in Ukraine, our partners and staff mobilized quickly. Through grassroots networks, we delivered emergency animal feed, vaccines, and veterinary supplies — including over 75 tonnes of aid in the first months. In hard-hit areas like Kharkiv and Chernihiv, we supported poultry and livestock farmers, launched mobile vet clinics, and helped communities care for their animals in the midst of crisis. We didn’t just respond — we stayed.

🎥 Watch: VWB and partners discuss our Ukraine program, impacts and priorities, 2 years in.

Climate-Smart Farming in Cambodia (2022)

As climate shocks intensified across Southeast Asia, our Agriculture-based Growth and Resilience Opportunities for Women (AGROW) program in Cambodia offered a new kind of resilience. Women farmers led One Health demonstration sites, grew drought-resistant crops, raised edible crickets, and adopted sustainable farming techniques. These weren’t pilot plots — they were full-scale transformations that helped families stay together, adapt to climate risks, and lead community change.

🎥 Watch: Meet San Davy, an AGROW cricket and vegetable farmer in Banan District, Battambang.
🎥 Watch: Chhun Ly has emerged as a model of success in cricket farming through AGROW.
🔗 Read: Learn about AGROW’s lasting impact on women and One Health in Cambodia.

Indigenous-Led Animal Health (2023)

Building on years of partnership, we began shifting from service delivery to Indigenous-led models in Canada’s North. With communities in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, we co-developed training tools and care protocols rooted in both veterinary science and traditional knowledge. This work laid the groundwork for deeper reconciliation — and for a new generation of northern animal health leaders.

🎥 Watch:  VWB's Community Animal Health Worker (CAHW) training program is helping improve access to animal care in Gjoa Haven, Nunavut.

Bridging Distance with Digital Tools (2023)

Technology isn’t a silver bullet — but in the right hands, it can close enormous gaps. In 2023, we expanded our use of telehealth, mobile data collection, and remote learning tools like Digi Green. These platforms helped connect Community Animal Health Workers in Ghana, support disease surveillance in Laos, and offer real-time guidance to remote farmers and paravets from veterinary experts across continents.

🔗 Read: Learn about the use of a mobile app by Community Animal Health Workers in Ghana.
🔗 Read: Learn about the launch of our first ever veterinary telehealth program in Northern Canada.

Becoming "VWB North America" (2023)

After nearly two decades as a Canadian charity, we formally expanded into the United States and rebranded as Veterinarians Without Borders North America. This change wasn’t just about geography — it reflected a broader vision: to lead One Health efforts across the continent while staying rooted in equity, collaboration, and local leadership.

🔗 Read: The official press release on PR Newswire, published November 29, 2023.

Responding to Crisis, Building for the Future (2023–2024)

These were years of both urgency and evolution. As wildfires swept through Northern Canada and parts of the United States, we supported evacuation shelters, delivered animal health services, and helped communities prepare for future climate shocks. Meanwhile in Ukraine, our humanitarian response expanded beyond emergency care: we began supporting smallholder farmers — many of them women — with poultry, feed, training, and microgrants to rebuild their livelihoods amidst ongoing war.

🎥 Watch: Responding to the earthquake in Turkey with our partner, HAYTAP.
🎥 Watch: Responding to wildfires in Maui with our partner, Maui Humane Society.
🎥 Watch: Responding to wildfires in Yellowknife, NWT.
🔗 Read: Learn about our goat farming initiative in Perechepyne, Ukraine.

Our Theory of Change (2024)

After years of learning, refining, and listening, we captured the heart of our work in a single framework. Our Theory of Change links prevention, equity, capacity, and systems — showing how healthy animals can drive resilient communities, gender equality, and sustainable livelihoods across the globe.

📷 View: A visual snapshot of our Theory of Change.

A Bold New Strategy (2025)

In 2025, we launched our most ambitious strategic plan yet — with goals to reach five core countries, deepen local ownership, and integrate One Health across humanitarian response, food systems, and public health. With a clear direction and the right partnerships, we set our sights on long-term change, not short-term wins.

🔗 Read: Explore VWB's Strategic Plan, 2025-2030.

The Next Chapter Starts Here (2025+)

With two decades behind us, we’re entering a new phase — one defined by deeper partnerships, greater local leadership, and bold ideas. Today, VWB supports over 180,000 animals and 1 million people each year, building resilience in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. From gender equity and climate adaptation to Indigenous-led models and digital transformation, we’re shaping the future of One Health in real time. The journey isn’t finished — but thanks to the communities, volunteers, and supporters walking with us, the path forward has never been clearer.