Valli Fraser-Celin is the Companion Animal Manager with Veterinarians Without Borders North America/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Amérique du Nord.
Valli joined the VWB team in July 2024. She brings a decade of experience in human-animal relationships, with a focus on companion animals and wildlife. She holds a PhD from the University of Guelph in Geography where she conducted research on human-African wild dog conflict and conservation. Following her PhD, she conducted postdoctoral studies in Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary where she focused on dogs in Indigenous communities, One Health, Reconciliation, and equitable access to veterinary care.
Prior to joining VWB, Valli worked for the Ontario Veterinary College on an access to veterinary care project focused on alternative economies and previously for the Winnipeg Humane Society where she planned veterinary clinics in remote communities across Manitoba. Valli currently lives in Winnipeg (Treaty 1 Territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation), runs a pet food pantry in her spare time, and is passionate about humane dog training.
This article explores the diverse and often underrecognized roles of veterinarians within a One Health framework, highlighting how their work in animal health, food safety, wildlife conservation, and climate adaptation strengthens communities, safeguards ecosystems, and supports global health resilience.
This article examines the vital role of veterinarians in immunization and disease prevention, highlighting how VWB’s One Health approach — through vaccination campaigns, CAHW training, and real-time disease surveillance — protects public health, supports farmer livelihoods, and strengthens animal health systems in vulnerable communities.
In remote areas, like the far North, dog bites are more prevalent. This Dog Bite Prevention Week, we're raising awareness about how reading dog body language and improving access to veterinary care can reduce bites—and prevent the spread of diseases like rabies.
