Great Ideas Conference
After a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, OVMA is excited to announce that the Great Ideas Conference is returning for another great event at Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood, Ont.!
The Great Ideas Conference will be held June 28-30 and features top-notch practice management and wellness seminars presented by industry-leading speakers. The whole clinic team, including veterinarians, practice managers and frontline staff, can benefit from this popular practice management and life skills-focused event. Enjoy a wide array of topics, including:
- Leadership and resilience.
- Finance and economics.
- Managing toxic people.
- Personal and team wellness.
Early Bird registration is now open! Register by May 12 to save up to $40 on your conference ticket - register online today!
To learn more about the 2023 Great Ideas Conference, or to complete a registration form to mail, view the event registration program.
Blue Mountain has so much to explore and take advantage of, such as dining and nightlife, shopping, spas, golf and tennis, hiking, swimming and so much more. To learn more about everything that Blue Mountain has in store, visit the Blue Mountain website.
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Speakers and Proceedings
Angie Arora, MSW, RSW
Veterinary Wellbeing Coach & Educator
Angie Arora is a Social Worker who has worked at the cross-section of human-animal relationships for over 18 years, specializing in veterinary wellbeing, end-of-life and pet loss support, and equity issues within the profession. As a Wellbeing Coach and Certified Compassion Fatigue Specialist, Angie uses a trauma-informed approach to help animal-care professionals foster self and community connection they can reconnect to their work in new and improved ways.
She served on the inaugural Board of Directors for the International Association of Veterinary Social Work, volunteers with organizations including the Canadian Collective for Equity in Veterinary Medicine and Pawsibilities Vet Med, and is actively involved in other relevant veterinary medicine initiatives including BLEND, a DEIB certification for veterinary teams.
Angie is a Professor with Seneca College’s School of Community Services where she developed and teaches a micro-credential aimed at improving the stress response for those working within veterinary and shelter medicine. She speaks at conferences across North America advocating for trauma-informed responses, to foster deeper wellbeing across the profession. She completed her Bachelor of Social Work with the Toronto Metropolitan University, Master of Social Work with York University and is deeply committed to her personal and professional growth. She is certified in Emotional CPR with the National Empowerment Centre, completed her Compassion Fatigue Specialist certification with the Traumatology Institute and is currently completing her International Coaching Federation training with the Mind Rebel Academy.
PROCEEDINGS
Personal and Team Wellness
Caroline Brookfield, DVM, Cert Prof Mgt
Locum Veterinarian, Speaker, Artful Science
Dr. Caroline Brookfield is a Reluctant Creative. She is a veterinarian, author, speaker, stand-up comic, and mom. Faced with a false ultimatum of art of science, she chose science. Does that sound familiar? If you’re a “left brainer” like Caroline, you might share the belief that creativity is for artists, kids and grandmas, and somewhat ancillary to more important goals. Feeling snubbed, eventually Caroline’s creativity demanded attention like a cat at dinnertime. She learned how to integrate her creative and scientific sides, realizing the importance of both, and that you don’t have to choose. Caroline is passionate about helping you to identify your own barriers to individual, everyday creativity, so that you can speak up, stand out, and build a unique satisfying future for yourself.
Caroline received honours for her veterinary degree from Ontario Veterinary College, is a certified level 2 Creative Problem-Solving facilitator, and holds an Certificate of Professional Management from the University of Calgary. She is always up for a challenge, like learning guitar, rock climbing, getting her kids to eat vegetables, surfing, meditation retreats with sniper rifles. You know, the usual stuff. Caroline lives in Calgary, Alberta, where her lectures go unheeded by her family. The dog listens…sometimes!
PROCEEDINGS
Leadership and Resilience
Cynthia Courtney, DVM
Founder & Associate Veterinarian, The Jerk Researcher, Grandview Animal Hospital
Dr. Cyndie Courtney is both a practicing small animal veterinarian and founder of The Jerk Researcher®, a workplace conflict consultancy. Her work combines real-life experiences with evidence-based approaches that offer practical solutions to workplace conflict. She is certified in Stakeholder Centered Coaching® and has additional training in non-violent communication, conflict mediation, workplace wellbeing, and workplace violence prevention. She has been recognized as a future leader by the AVMA, was WSAVA’s 2019 Next Generation Award winner, and was Virginia Maryland’s 2021 Outstanding Recent Alumnus.
PROCEEDINGS
Managing Toxic People
Charlotte Lacroix, DVM, JD
CEO, Veterinary Business Advisors Inc.
Dr. Charlotte Lacroix owns Veterinary Business Advisors, Inc., a national consulting firm advising on veterinary business and legal issues. Beginning her career as an equine veterinarian, she transitioned to law to advocate for veterinarians. With over 20 years of experience assisting veterinarians in all areas, her expertise is companion and large animal and multi-specialty practices.
Dr. Lacroix lectures extensively on business and legal issues and facilitates continuing education seminars nationwide. Topics include succession planning, practices sales, employment and other contract negotiations, malpractice, medical records/informed consents, ethics, animal welfare, drugs and biologics, and human resources.
Dr. Lacroix volunteers for organizations including AVMA, AAHA, AAEP, NJVMA and PVMA. She was the 2014-2015 President of NAVC and is currently involved with the Veterinary Virtual Care Association.
PROCEEDINGS
Practice Management
Darren Osborne, MA
Director of Economic Research, Ontario Veterinary Medical Association
Darren Osborne is the Director of Economic Research for the Ontario VMA and Economic Consultant for the Canadian VMA, Veterinary Hospital Managers Association, several State VMAs and veterinary study groups across North America. Darren attended York University and completed his Master's Degree in Economics in 1992. When he is not crunching numbers, you can find Darren playing a guitar, running, swimming or cycling.
PROCEEDINGS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC LECTURES
Greg Toner, CPA, CA, TEP, CLU
Owner, Vet CPA Professional Corporation
A well-rounded CPA, CA with over a decade of experience working with proprietorships, partnerships, owner-managed corporations, and high net worth individuals to build tax-efficient financial advisory solutions leveraging technology.
Vet CPA Professional Corporation focuses exclusively on serving the needs of the veterinary community, from new grads to established practices. We support veterinarians with everything accounting – from cloud-based bookkeeping to high-level tax planning. Our experience helping locum vets, startups, established practices, and exiting owners, is our foundation to support practicing veterinarians through the lifecycle of their careers.
PROCEEDINGS
Financial Practice Management