Alberta's Top Employers (2026) Magazine - Magazine - Page 68
68
ALBERTA’S TOP EMPLOYERS
Career flexibility is a key strength at VCA Canada
S
ix years ago, Brea Cribb
applied for a receptionist
position at VCA Canada
Ltd., but her career
journey soon turned into
much more. Headquartered in
Calgary, the company is a network
of over 150 animal veterinary
hospitals across six Canadian
provinces. Right in the initial
interview, when Cribb asked
the panel about her potential to
become a registered veterinary
technologist (RVT) one day, they
immediately brought up the
scholarships VCA Canada offers
for training.
“VCA’s attitude towards career
growth and development was
really what attracted me,” says
Cribb, who quickly moved
from receptionist to client care
coordinator. “I was amazed that
they would support my ambition
right off the get-go.”
Career mobility is encouraged at VCA Canada, with employees receiving support to take the training required
to advance within the organization.
The biggest thing that
speaks to me is that I’ve
always been given the
opportunity to grow.
— Brea Cribb
Registered Veterinary
Technologist
Cribb’s ambition became reality
when she was awarded a company
scholarship to qualify as an RVT.
“It honestly was a game changer
for me,” says Cribb. “It meant I
could work full time and do school
without the financial burden, so
I could just focus on my studies.
It felt like the company was very
much encouraging me to go down
this path.”
Mentorship also played a big
role in her progression. Because
the program is online, employees
are required to have a mentor,
Cribb explains. That was easy as
she found her colleagues were very
excited to support her.
“I had one of our critical care
technologists, who I had worked
with long term, as well as a doctor
of veterinary medicine become
my mentors, saying yes without
hesitation as soon as I asked,”
says Cribb. “They are honestly
one of the reasons why I am the
technician I am today.”
Cribb is currently the specialty
RVT team lead at the VCA
Canada CARE Centre in Calgary,
where she manages the specialty
technologists in areas such as
ophthalmology, dentistry and
dermatology — a job she loves
as every day presents different
challenges.
“The biggest thing that speaks to
me is that I’ve always been given
the opportunity to grow,” says
Cribb. “We’re encouraged to do
continuous learning and go out
to conferences where we network
with specialists and technologists
from across Canada and the world.
“Whenever someone is learning
new skills, we’re always backing
them. It’s a very collaborative
culture.”
Christine Michalko, vicepresident people and organization,
says VCA Canada offers significant
career flexibility through multiple
pathways. The organization offers
a mentorship program for new
graduates, onboarding programs
and continuing education through
WOOF University and scholarships
for technician and technologist
programs.
Like Cribb, a person can come
in as a receptionist or client care
associate and study to become a
technologist or other specialized
role with VCA Canada’s support.
“Individuals can work while
studying for their RVT certification
and get on-site experience to
complete their program,” says
Michalko. “We also have internal
job boards as well as a network
called Pet Care Pathways where
employees can grow their career
