A retired Ontario veterinarian specializing in dairy, beef and swine health management has been named to lead Canada's national veterinarians' association.
Dr. Jim Fairles of Mount Forest, Ont. has been named president of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, replacing Dr. Lloyd Keddie, of Fairview, Alta., whose term ended last week.
Fairles graduated in 1980 from the University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College and earned an MBA from Guelph in 1999. For 25 years he managed a mixed practice at Mount Forest, about 60 km northwest of Guelph, and has since retired from active service.
From April 2002 to December 2003, he gained international experience working with CIDA on a two-year animal health initiative in China. He has made several trips back to China since then. Since October 2004, he has been the Client Services Veterinarian at the Animal Health Laboratory, Laboratory Services Division, University of Guelph.
Fairles also worked on a two-year animal health initiative (2002-03) in China through the Canadian International Development Agency and has made several trips back to China since then, the CVMA noted in a release Wednesday.
Since October 2004, Fairles has also been the client services veterinarian for the Animal Health Laboratory in the laboratory services division at the U of Guelph.
Leading up to his appointment as CVMA president, Fairles has been the Ontario representative on the association's council for the past six years and has been on the CVMA executive for three years. He has also been the CVMA's representative -- and past chair -- to the Canadian Animal Health Coalition.
Fairles is a member of the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, Grey Bruce Veterinary Association, Ontario and American Association of Bovine Practitioners and Ontario and American Association of Swine Veterinarians.
