A Yellowknife veterinarian has been nominated for an international award for her work in animal welfare and community service.
Animal welfare charity Worldwide Vets’ 2025 Golden Star Award features 48 nominees “who have made a great contribution to animal welfare or conservation.”
Dr Michelle Tuma said she was nominated by a volunteer who worked with her through Veterinarians Without Borders’ northern program.
Tuma, born and raised in Yellowknife, has spent the past 11 years providing veterinary care in northern and isolated communities.
“I’m extremely honoured to have been nominated for this award,” she told Cabin Radio. “It means a lot to me to have this global recognition at this point because a lot of people know the work that we’re doing in the North.”
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After earning her veterinary degree from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine – which reserves a seat for one northern resident in each class – in Saskatoon in 2014, Tuma returned home to work at the Great Slave Animal Hospital.
She soon became involved in community outreach by working with groups such as Arctic Paws in Inuvik and the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, which runs annual clinics in Sahtu communities.
“It just sparked this passion,” she said. “Of course, there’s an incredible need for equitable access to veterinary care across the North.”
Tuma also began working with the NWT SPCA, helping organize veterinary visits to smaller communities across the territory and into Nunavut. The clinics provide essential services like vaccinations, spaying and neutering, and education on animal welfare – often in communities that have never had a veterinarian visit before.
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Since 2019, she has worked with Veterinarians Without Borders, helping northern communities address animal health challenges and develop long-term, sustainable solutions.
Growing up in Yellowknife, Tuma said she witnessed firsthand the challenges that come with limited access to animal health services.
“If I could clone myself and be everywhere at once and help everybody all the time, I wish I could. But the biggest challenge is just that there aren’t enough that’s up here,” she said.
“We have partner communities with Vets Without Borders, and we have a lot of other communities reaching out as well, asking for support to bring veterinary services and animal health and welfare education to their communities.
“There’s only so much that myself and the VWB team can do, so that’s definitely a huge challenge, having to ensure that we’re providing as much care as we can.”
Tuma said she is focused on expanding access to veterinary care across northern Canada. Despite challenges, she finds the work rewarding and encourages anyone interested in pursuing a career in the field to give it a try.
Having something wrong with your pet in an isolated community “can be very scary,” she said.
“I’m hoping to bring more awareness around animal health and wellness to all communities that are wanting to have veterinary services.”
To vote for nominees or learn more about them, visit Worldwide Vets. Voting closes on November 13, with 10 finalists to be announced the following day. The winner will be revealed on December 5.
