Veterinary Assistant, Specialty, Guardian Veterinary Centre

VCA Canada Ltd.; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RRSP matching (5%)

Paid time off

CE allowance

Uniform allowance

Certification memberships

Mental health resources

Career development pathways

Pet discounts and wellness perks

Job summary

Guardian Veterinary Centre in Edmonton, AB, seeks a full-time Veterinary Assistant with a specialty focus to support our Doctors and Technologists. You will help create a positive, low-stress environment for patients and assist with surgical instrument processing, diagnostic imaging support, and general hospital duties.

We offer competitive pay, RRSP matching (5%), paid time off, CE allowance, uniform and certification memberships, and mental health resources.

Qualifications

• Compassion and nurturing attitude providing care to patients.
• Ability to remain calm and efficient in stressful situations.
• Initiative in carrying out assignments independently.

Responsibilities

• Assisting Veterinarians and Technologists with various tasks and treatment of pet patients.
• Processing and sterilization of surgical instruments.
• General hospital maintenance including cleaning kennels and OR spaces.
• Patient handling and restraint.
• Aiding with diagnostic imaging.
• Working closely with the Specialty team to support patient care in the Surgery Department.

Job description

Veterinary Assistant (Specialty) – Edmonton, AB

Guardian Veterinary Centre is seeking a Full-Time Technologist Assistant to join our fun and motivated team of professional pet health caregivers.

Schedule & Eligibility

Schedule: This will consist of a 30-hour work week with 3 x 10-hour shifts. The successful candidate will be a believer in the possibilities of high quality veterinary medicine and patient care. In this position, you will be supporting our Doctors and Technologist teams by creating a positive, low-stress atmosphere for our patients. Veterinary experience or certificate would be an asset to this role.

What you need:

• Compassion and nurturing attitude providing care to patients
• Ability to remain calm and efficient in stressful situations
• Initiative in carrying out assignments independently

Duties will include:

• Assisting Veterinarians and Technologists with various tasks and treatment of pet patients
• Processing and sterilization of surgical instruments
• General hospital maintenance including cleaning kennels and OR spaces
• Patient handling and restraint
• Aiding with diagnostic imaging
• Working closely with the Specialty team to support patient care in the Surgery Department

What We Can Offer You

• Competitive compensation that reflects your skills, experience, and the role.
• RRSP Employer Group Match Program (5%) to help you save for the future.
• Paid time off for continuing education, vacation, sick days, and personal wellness days.
• Annual CE Allowance.
• Benefits: Minimum 24 hours per week for eligibility, with flexible options.
• Paid annual certification memberships and uniform allowance.
• Mental health support tools and resources:
  • Virtual health care (telemedicine)
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • digital wellness tools supporting mindfulness, sleep, and physical fitness
• Various career development pathways.
• Generous personal pet care discounts and lifestyle perks, including exclusive shopping discounts and access to a wellness app

Our Story

Our Story VCA Canada is a network of veterinary hospitals, with our head office in Calgary, Alberta, committed to positively impacting pets, people, and local communities for nearly 45 years. We have compassion for the neighbourhoods we serve and every pet within them, not just those we see in our hospitals. Every VCA Canada hospital location takes pride in its legacy of excellence, earning the trust of pet owners by delivering the highest quality of medicine to keep pets happy and healthy. In 2017, VCA Canada became part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of brands, solidifying an even stronger commitment to ensuring the strength and stability of the veterinary profession and our commitment to pet parents nationwide. VCA Canada is also passionate about providing an industry-leading Associate experience to over 4,000 Canadians employed across the country. In 2026, for the third year in a row, we were named one of Alberta's Top Employers, which recognizes organizations whose head offices are located within the province and lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. Additionally, we were selected as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People 2026, which recognizes employers across Canada that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work and programs for young people starting their careers. Most recently, we received 2026 Great Place to Work® Certification™ Canada.

A leader in veterinary care, VCA Animal Hospitals is committed to taking care of the future of veterinary medicine. We are a family of hometown animal hospitals determined to positively impact pets, people and our communities. From primary care to emergency, urgent and specialty care, VCA delivers world-class medicine and hometown care to more than four million pets each year. We invest in cutting-edge tools, training and technology that enable Associates across our national network of hospitals to lead the industry today and into tomorrow. Among our talented 35,000 Associates are nearly 7,000 veterinarians – including 500 who are board-certified specialists – nearly 4,000 credentialed technicians and over 10,000 veterinary assistants – all dedicated to giving pets the very best in medical care.

The future of veterinary medicine is in our hands. Join us.