The Equine Foundation of Canada (EFC) has donated $127,000 to the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown, PEI, toward the purchase of 10 pieces of veterinary equipment including an equine overground endoscope, wireless EKG, portable digital radiology system, portable shockwave system, therapeutic laser and an equine surgical table.
This is the most recent such gift by the EFC, which provides funding to the five Canadian veterinary colleges on a yearly rotating basis. The other schools are: the University of Guelph, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary, Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Université de Montréal.
Thirty-five years ago, George Wade of Nova Scotia, supported by the Canadian Morgan Horse Association board of directors, envisioned a charitable organization to support equine health initiatives in Canada. The vision evolved into the EFC, the country’s first registered charity devoted to horses.
The EFC has received donations totalling $1,422,020 since its inception as a charitable foundation. Funds are, in turn, granted to various horse health and education projects, including funding research, equipment and scholarships.
Still operated entirely by volunteers, the current president of the EFC is Alberta’s Bob Watson. He succeeded Eldon Bienert, also from Alberta, in March 2015, who took over as president after Wade’s death in 1997. Watson credits Bienert, and his wife Peggy, with keeping the organization going through some lean times for the past 18 years. Watson, and a board of directors from across Canada, including Bienert, collect private donations in order to fulfil the group’s mission to “raise funds to support equine health through science, and direct action, as well as to inspire others to do the same.” The mission statement is very succinctly supported by the tag line ‘People, Helping People, Helping Horses.’
The EFC encourages individuals and organizations to hold fundraisers including hosting trail rides, auctions or raffles, or to make a memorial donation in honour of a loved one. To learn more visit www.equinefoundation.ca.
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