Originally designed to meet the needs of the animal health specialization stream of the Natural Environment Techniques program, the Cégep de Saint-Félicien animal health pavilion, built in 1996, included an 18-seat multipurpose laboratory, accommodation spaces for the various animal species and premises housing examination equipment. The site was located halfway between a veterinary clinic and a research centre designed to accommodate some 40 students.
The need to repair and expand the animal health pavilion has been apparent for several years. In fact, since the closure in 2000 of the animal health specialization track of the Natural Environment Techniques program in order to obtain authorization from the Animal Health Techniques program, the number of students had more than tripled.
The space modernization project, worth more than $2.5 million, was made possible thanks to the financial support of $899,185 from the Government of Canada's Post Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund and a contribution of $750,000 from the Government of Quebec. These investments have led to an expansion of 252 m2, bringing the total area of the pavilion to 658 m2.
The refit of the pavilion has significantly improved the spaces dedicated to greeting the public and caring for the animals, while meeting the needs created by the increase in student attendance. The work took place over a period of less than one year, allowing the college to quickly relocate all animal species under one roof and add a second scientific teaching laboratory.
Students taking part in the program now recognize that this work significantly contributes to the quality of their learning. On the training team's side, the nine veterinarians and four technicians believe that the new animal health pavilion is an outstanding improvement in the conditions of their teaching and professional practice.