Dr. Luc Versavel is celebrating two milestones this year — 45 years as a veterinarian and 40 years since opening Equi-Tech Veterinary in Stonewall.
Coming from a farming background, he said he has always been interested in working with animals.
“My career has changed a lot over the years,” he said.
After practising with Stonewall Veterinary Clinic for five years, he opened his own practice, Equi-Tech Veterinary, in 1985 as primarily a pleasure horse facility. At the same time, he filled a veterinary position with the Manitoba Horse Racing Commission until 1993.
In 2009, he diversified Equi-Tech and now cares for all types of pets alongside his staff, including his wife Hilary and son Neil and daughter-in-law Valerie Millette.
“We used to do a lot of work with cattle, but over the years the cattle industry has gone through a bit of attrition. Eventually we began doing small animal work as well. Then we started doing equine,” he said. “Essentially, we have gotten a chance to work with every domestic species.”
Over the last 40 years, he has witnessed several changes in the field, most notably the transition from a male-dominated profession to one with more women, as well as medical advancements through technology and the emergence of new diseases.
“It seems every decade brings on something new,” he said.
He added that being a veterinarian — or any medical professional — is always a learning process, requiring constant adaptation.
“You will never know everything right off the hop — it’s a continuation of what you know and you just learn to go with the flow. When there are advancements in the medical understanding of conditions and new diagnostic techniques like imaging modalities in addition to X-rays, when the understanding of disease and surgical processes expands, learning all the nuances that go along with that is an ongoing learning process.”
Other changes include client expectations, especially with the influence of social media.
“The advent of social media — for better or for worse — is fine to know or understand what is being put out on the internet, but you have to be able to interpret it in the context of what you are trying to formulate an opinion on.”
He explained that too often pet owners arrive with unrealistic expectations after seeing a medical “miracle” online. He wants them to know not everything on social media is true, and just because a treatment worked for one animal doesn’t mean it will work for theirs.
“Dealing with public expectations today is certainly different than it was 45 years ago.”
While no particular case or patient stands out as a favourite, working with his family has been the most rewarding.
“The three of us are all basically on the same wavelength. So we are a good fit,” he said.
Balancing work and family life was sometimes a challenge, but he eventually learned to juggle both. In 2022, he and his wife, Hilary, began to semi-retire, passing ownership of Equi-Tech Veterinary to his son, Dr. Neil Versavel, and his wife, Dr. Valerie Millette. He still helps out around the clinic when needed but says full retirement is on the horizon.
“I think I’ve done my bit in the last 45 years. The time when I will hang up my stethoscope is drawing closer, so I definitely think it is time to pass it on to the next generation.”
Looking back to the start of his career, he offers advice to himself and aspiring veterinarians: “Go with an open mind, learn as you go, adapt as you go and things should all work out for the best.”
He is proud of staying progressive and keeping pace with the profession.
“That’s an accomplishment within itself,” he added.
In honour of the anniversary, Equi-Tech is collecting client photos and stories of working with Versavel. The stories will be turned into a book and gifted to him once he fully retires. Submissions can be emailed to equitech8155@gmail.com or posted in the comments of Equi-Tech’s Facebook anniversary posts.
On Saturday, Sept. 27, they will host a customer appreciation barbecue to thank clients and staff for 40 years of support. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the clinic will open its doors for a free celebration.
“It’s going to be a fun day for us to give back to the community,” he said.
