Vet Med volunteers give helping hand at Calgary Pop-Up Care Village

The annual Calgary Pop-Up Care Village (C-PUCV) took over Olympic Plaza on Aug. 21, providing support and free resources for many of the city’s unhoused and vulnerable populations. 

Established by a University of Calgary nursing student two years ago, the event included volunteers from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) among 40 booths offering free resources such as haircuts, food, medical checks, dental and clothing.  

In addition to offering pet-care advice, the UCVM students handed out pet food, treats, collars and Vet Med-themed colouring books for kids. 

For many pet owners, veterinary services aren’t always accessible due to cost, so events like these are important, Angelina Ta, a third-year Vet Med student and volunteer, said at the C-PUCV. 

“I would just like to be helpful in any way that I can be to ensure that the pets and pet owners of Calgary have what they need, regardless of where they are coming from,” said Ta. “We have a lot of resources that we hope to share with anyone who attends this festival. I think they would be helpful to refer back to time and time again.”

Ta added there are several organizations across Calgary dedicated to helping people get their pets what they need in times of need. “It would be nice to share those resources with as many people as we can, so those who need them can utilize the services offered,” Ta said.

In addition to resources, the C-PUCV offered a festival-like environment, with entertainment including music and a magic show.

Events like these are important for helping people to feel part of the community, said third-year Faculty of Nursing student Bill Zheng, C-PUCV’s co-founder and senior events manager. 

“We are a festival that invites people who are traditionally excluded from public spaces like Olympic Plaza and it actually intentionally invites them to be here,” Zheng said at the event. “We have tons of vendors here today and a lot of festival activities that you would normally not get for free if you went to other festivals. And we are here, specifically, valuing people who do not have the purchasing power to go to other festivals and say, ‘Hey, you're welcome to come, everything here is 100-per-cent free, and you can enjoy the same kind of stuff that you would at another festival.’”

Hanna Woodward, BSW’23, also co-founder and a senior events manager, said there was a specific focus on entertainment this year for those who don’t usually get to experience it. “We really want to provide a space where people feel dignified and are provided an opportunity to come here, listen to some music, get their face painted, see some magicians, and just have a sense of belonging and community,” Woodward said.

Zheng said many people who have taken part in C-PUCV are grateful to have the support. 

“In the past, with massage therapy (offered), there are literally puddles of tears that are left on the massage tables after people are finished because it's their first time getting touched in such a loving way. They actually have someone who they don't know, but they're able to invite them to their personal space, which is just really, really amazing to see,” said Zheng.

Ta said the event was important for breaking down barriers to conversations that may sometimes be uncomfortable. 

“It's not always the easiest to ask for help, whether that's with supplies or financing vet care,” she said. “I know that can be kind of an awkward conversation for some people to have. And I think it's really nice that we have some students here who are really passionate about this, and I think it's a better space to ask any questions and get any resources that you might need on accessible vet care.”