Welcome to the 2025 OVMA Conference & Trade Show!
Scroll down for venue information and hotel accommodation bookings
Each year, we’re proud to deliver the country’s premier veterinary conference and trade show. With a diverse program covering the hottest topics in veterinary medicine, our program offers something for every member of the veterinary practice team.
With your full conference registration you'll receive:
- With up to 85 hours of quality CE from North America's top veterinary speakers and leaders.
- Entry to the largest veterinary trade show in Canada, featuring over 100 exhibitors showcasing the latest innovative veterinary products and services.
- Access to session notes prior to the conference.
- Daily continental breakfast during the morning plenary sessions, as well as two coffee breaks.
- Daily hot lunch buffet.
- Exhibit Hall socials with refreshments on Thursday and Friday evenings.
- The most up-to-date information accessible at your fingertips via the conference app.
- The chance to win daily prizes through Exhibit Hall draws.
Venue Information
Conference Venue
The Westin Harbour Castle & Conference Centre
1 Harbour Square, Toronto, Ont.
Accommodation
1 Harbour Square, Toronto, Ont.
The hotel room block will open Sept. Hotel rooms are available for $256 (plus applicable taxes) until Jan. 17, 2025. Conference attendees and exhibitors must book accommodations under their designated room block.
Conference Attendee Room Block
Exhibitor Attendee Room Block
Guests can also call 1.888.627.8559 to make a reservation (identify yourself as an OVMA conference attendee).
Prior to the cut-off date, individuals are entitled to the group rate if they make their reservations and pay a deposit equal to the room rate for one night. Reservation requests received after the cut-off date will be accepted based on availability.
Individual attendees can lengthen their stay for up to two days prior and one day after the conference (Jan. 28 to Feb. 2). The hotel will provide these rooms, subject to availability, at the group rate if reserved by the individual prior to the cut-off date.
Room reservations will be held until 6 p.m., unless the first night’s deposit is received or the guest pays for a guarantee for late arrival.
Additional Information
Conference Proceedings
Conference Proceedings will be accessible online prior to the conference. Printed notes for individual sessions won't be available.
Continuing Education Credits
The conference offers 85 hours of continuing education, and you can gain up to 20 CE credits. To record your CE hours, individual certificates of attendance will be provided upon request.
Out-of-Province Attendees
OVMA welcomes out-of-province attendees and extends member rates to registrants who are members of their provincial or state veterinary medical association. To take advantage of this offer, indicate the name of the provincial/state veterinary medical association on your registration form.
Exhibit Hall Passes
Entry to the Exhibit Hall is included with your conference registration. Registered conference attendees and accompanying family members may enter the Exhibit Hall at no additional cost. Veterinarians and veterinary practice personnel who are not registered for the conference can purchase an Exhibit Hall pass on site at a cost of:
OVMA Members: $100 per person per day (rate applies to staff of Clinic Membership practices)
OVMA Non-Members: $150 per person per day
Please be prepared to show identification verifying your employment at a veterinary hospital (or veterinary license in the case of veterinarians) to obtain a pass. Representatives from non-exhibiting companies will not be issued passes unless registered with an exhibiting company. This policy is in place to protect the interests of our exhibiting companies. Requests for passes made by a sponsoring company will not be unreasonably withheld.
Conference Committee & Event Planning Team
OVMA would like to extend a very special thank you to this year’s conference committee members. Their expertise, perspective and dedication have combined to provide you with the best education and event experience possible. Thank you!
2025 OVMA Conference Chair Heather Fretz, DVM
Focus on Infection Program Scott Weese, DVM
OAEP Rep for Equine Program Michael Corradini, DVM
Practice Management Program Terra Shastri, B.Comm, Dip. B.A.
Small Animal Program Jennifer Day, DVM
Mary DeCaire, DVM (Chair)
Karla Scott, DVM
Chief Executive Officer John Stevens
Manager of Events & Sponsorship Sasha Basiri
Conference Coordinator Sheri Beatty
Financial Administrator Christine Neziol
Coordinator of Special Events Nina Bauer
What to do in Toronto
As the cultural, entertainment and financial capital of Canada, Toronto offers a wide range of activities for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re looking to visit a museum, shop until you drop or head out for a nice dinner with friends, here are some suggestions for what to do while you’re in the city:
Dining
With thousands of restaurants to choose from, Toronto has culinary options to please every palate. If you don’t want to venture too far from the hotel, we’ve provided several restaurants located within 1.5 km of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. If these selections don’t strike your fancy, check with the hotel concierge for more restaurant suggestions.
- Miku (sushi, Japanese, seafood, Asian), 105-10 Bay St.
- Alexandros Take-Out (Greek), 5 Queens Quay W.
- Firkin on the Harbour (pub), 21 Harbour St.
- The Keg (Steakhouse), 26 The Esplanade
- Miller Tavern on Bay (steakhouse, bar, pub), 31 Bay St.
- Pie Bar Pizzeria (Italian), 207 Queens Quay W.
- Pearl Harbourfront (Asian, dim sum), 207 Queens Quay W.
- The Goodman Pub and Kitchen (pub), 207 Queens Quay W.
- Steam Whistle Biergarten (German), 255 Bremner Boulevard Bay 7
- My Roti Place (Indian), 12 Queens Quay W.
- Harbour Sixty (steakhouse), 60 Harbour Street
- Don Alfonso (Italian), The top of the Westin, Reservations Required
Attractions
Visit Canada’s largest indoor aquarium, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, located in the heart of downtown Toronto at the base of the CN Tower. Explore a world of 16,000 aquatic animals at this underwater adventure to remember. Discover the world’s most extensive jelly fish exhibit. Watch with wonder as graceful stingrays glide through the water. And see more than 100 species of fish. There’s also a live coral exhibit, daily live shows and much more. Visit ripleysaquariumofcanada.com for more information.
Hockey Hall of Fame
Experience the game that defines Canada at the Hockey Hall of Fame. Go one-on-one against life-size, animated versions of today’s greatest goalies and shooters, call the play-by-play of some of hockey’s greatest goals in the TSN Sport Centre replica, take the shooting challenge, strike a pose with the Stanley Cup and catch a showing of Stanley’s Game Seven (3D), hockey’s first 3D film.
For more ideas on what to do in Toronto, and the most current listing of events, visit seetorontonow.com.
Mirvish Theatre
Relive the day music brought the world together. Featuring the songs of Bob Dylan, David Bowie, The Who, U2, Queen, The Police, Elton John, Paul McCartney, The Pretenders, The Cars, Status Quo, Sade, The Boomtown Rats, Diana Ross, Ultravox and more. This is the story of Live Aid and the people united by it. Political unrest, social revolution, boom and bust. In a decade of neon and noise, one moment made the world stand still and brought 1.5 billion people together – and they all have a story to tell about "the day rock ‘n’ roll changed the world."
Direct from a sell-out, smash hit run at London’s Old Vic, a cast of 26 star in Just For One Day, a new musical written by John O’Farrell (Mrs Doubtfire, Something Rotten) and directed by Luke Sheppard (& Juliet). Just For One Day is produced by permission of The Band Aid Charitable Trust. Ten per cent from the sale of all tickets will be donated directly to The Band Aid Charitable Trust.
Sporting Events
January 29 - 7 p.m. Toronto Maple Leafs vs Minnesota – Scotiabank Arena: tickets
January 31 - 7:30 p.m. Toronto Raptors vs Chicago Bulls – Scotiabank Arena: tickets