THE IMPORTANCE OF AGILITY AS A MAINSTAY FOR THE FUTURE
Dr . Tyrrel de Langley President
Jan Robinson Registrar and CEO
The concept of change in any environment is not new . The phrase “ change is the new normal ” was really coined in the late 1990s as we approached the perceived apocalypse of Y2K and the technological disasters it was forecast to bring . With time , change has become an overused word and an expected part of daily living . That is until the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the word pivot was added . We respond to a fastpaced society that demands our response and our effectiveness at adaptation . This is really all about our “ agility ”— our ability to observe and respond , repeatedly , to a growing number of issues facing us daily . Agility is also linked to our resilience , which is a constant to survival and to shaping a future .
Agility is a key consideration in the world of regulation . Council ’ s ability to maintain the relevance of its work , within the broader spectrum of acting in the public interest , is a persistent focus . The College is relentlessly attentive to the current and emerging trends within veterinary medicine in Ontario , and in the broad , profession-based regulatory community , that can strengthen the profession ’ s overarching commitment to animal health and welfare . We consider and seek solutions to the risks in veterinary practice that are important to the public good .
This past year the work of Council and staff has focused on our agility in :
• Maintaining a responsive virtual environment as an organization
The College is relentlessly attentive to current and emerging trends within veterinary medicine in Ontario
• Securing office space that will address the challenges of our operations for the future
• Seeking ways to introduce compassion to our regulatory work that can be reflected in processes and policies
• Turning a spotlight on diversity and inclusion and creating opportunities to assure equity of voice and access to service
4 College of Veterinarians of Ontario Annual Report 2021