Dr. Dave Wilson Memorial Student Award
Our friend and colleague Dr. Dave Wilson, passed away unexpectedly in 2021. He was a true champion for animal well-being. In an effort to honour his legacy, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is pleased to share the Dr. Dave Wilson Memorial Award at the University of Guelph has been created in his honour.
A commitment to life-long learning
Dr. Dave Wilson graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and MSc. in Clinical Toxicology. He started his career working in small animal/mixed private practice before joining the Ontario SPCA where he spent the last 18 years of his career. He’d worked through the ranks within the Society, managing an animal centre before eventually becoming the Senior Director of Shelter Health & Wellness.
Watch a video about Dave’s commitment to animal welfare.
A pioneer in shelter medicine, Dave was committed to life-long learning; he set out to create a humane and healthy environment for animals in shelters and beyond. Dave co-authored one of the first manuals of its kind on infectious disease prevention in shelter environments. He was a mentor, leader and true champion for the animals. He made it his mission to inspire others to make a difference in animal welfare. It was a passion he passed on to countless animal care staff and veterinary students who were fortunate enough to have Dave mentor them during their clinical rotations.
Honouring Dave Wilson
The new award in memory of Dave Wilson will be presented to an Ontario student who has successfully completed Phase 3 of the D.V.M. program at the Ontario Veterinary College and has been selected by classmates as showing exceptional compassion toward, and interest, in animals.
“We are grateful to have this award dedicated in honour of the late Dr. Dave Wilson. It will always be a reminder of his hard work and achievements for animal welfare and his time with the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society. It is our hope that this award will motivate veterinary students to advocate for animal welfare for generations to come,” says Doug Brooks, Chief Executive Officer, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society.