Lindsey Fenez: Best vet tech in the west

Lindsey Fenez was born knowing what she wanted to be when she grew up.

She spent her childhood on a grain farm outside Pennant, Sask., surrounded by every small animal species she could imagine. There were cats, dogs, birds, bunnies, lizards -- a little bit of everything. Animal care was always her passion, and it only made sense to pursue a career working in veterinary medicine.

The Class of 1998 animal health technology* alumna started her studies early, volunteering at veterinary clinics in the Swift Current, Sask., area. When it came time to choose a post-secondary institution to study at, Lakeland College was her first choice.

“The animal health technology program was very hands-on,” she recalls. “The college had its own clinic and its own farm. I knew I was going to get a lot of hands-on experience and I absolutely loved it.”

From the hands-on opportunities in the clinic to spending nights on lambing rotations bonding with her classmates, Fenez took those memories with her after she graduated.

After leaving Lakeland, Fenez spent some time as a registered veterinary technologist (RVT) at a zoo in B.C., fondly recalling the baby camels and cougars she got to work with. She worked at small animal clinics in Burnaby, Calgary and Canmore. Eventually, she returned home to Saskatchewan to pursue a dream of working at the University of Saskatchewan. There, she started as a registered vet tech (RVT) in the pharmacy before moving on to the ICU in the veterinary emergency department. She moved to the anesthesia department, eventually being promoted to supervisor and then manager, the position she holds now.

“I’m the manager of health services at the University of Saskatchewan Veterinary Medicine Centre,” Fenez explains. “I support the RVTs and focus on maintaining the gold standard teaching hospital for our doctor of veterinary medicine program. I also organize a lot of the practicum labs and rotations for RVT students from Saskatchewan Polytechnic and other RVT schools across Canada.”

Fenez was awarded the 2024 Technologist of the Year award from the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association, an honour she claims she was shocked to receive.

“It was an incredible feeling,” she says. “I was honoured just to be nominated and to actually receive the award was an achievement that I will always cherish.”

In her time as an RVT, Fenez says she has watched the role of the vet tech expand and evolve in the veterinary setting, and she’s proud to have been a part of that.

“We work as a big team in the practice,” she says. “The RVTs form a connection between the animals and the doctors of veterinary medicine (DVMs), and ensure they receive the care and attention they need,” she explains. “The DVMs need to move from patient to patient, and it’s the RVTs that stay with the patients on an hourly, minute-by-minute timeframe. They get to know those patients and can see if there are changes. The RVTs are the nurses for the animals. They speak for the animals.”

According to Fenez, a good RVT has compassion, critical thinking skills and the ability to multitask. They also manage the difficult parts inherent in veterinary medicine.

“I think every tech will agree that the challenging part is when you have to say goodbye to your patients. We can’t save them all, even though we want to. We just have to know that we’re doing our absolutely best and that we are giving them the comfort that they need.”

As for her on-going connection to Lakeland, Fenez returns as often as she can.

“Lakeland will always be a special place in my heart,” she says. “The new on-site clinic, the animals there -- it just gives that hands-on, individual experience for the students. I still go back there for the job fairs and because I think the graduates that come from Lakeland College are some of the best that are out there.”

*The Animal health technology program is now called the veterinary technology program.