Training
Webinars
Past Webinars
Please note that the CCAC does not provide certificates or proof of attendance to its webinars.
Fish Welfare and Aquatic Facilities
For several years, fish have figured in the top three most used animals in Canadian science. Unfortunately, they are also at the centre of many animal welfare incidents. Fish welfare extends far beyond the well‑being of the fish themselves; increasing fish welfare is also a critical part of reliable and reproducible science. This session focused on best practices related to maintaining a healthy aquatic environment and helped participants understand the stressors that affect fish so that they may ensure the highest standards of care for fish welfare. This was followed by a general discussion and Q&A.
Categories of Welfare Impact
The recently published CCAC guidelines: Categories of welfare impact acknowledges that the welfare of animals used in science can be impacted in diverse ways, and describes how expected welfare impacts to animals should be determined and summarized into a descriptive category, and then confirmed retrospectively. This session explores the details of the new guidelines, how they work together with other guidelines documents, including animal welfare assessment and endpoints, and their vision for improving animal welfare. The was followed by a general discussion and Q&A.
CCAC Panel Discussion on Openness in Science
The world has seen a growing call to action by the public and scientific community over the past several years to speak more openly about animal-based programs and increase transparency within institutions and practices. Many countries around the world have begun to embrace openness and transparency and create proactive communication strategies around animal-based science.
In November 2022, the CCAC hosted a virtual panel discussion on openness and transparency in Canadian animal-based science. Panelists and participants discussed the many benefits and challenges to transparency, how various Canadian institutions have been tackling this issue, and how to become more transparent at the institutional level.
AUDF Instructions
This webinar illustrates the steps found in the Instructions for Completion of the CCAC Animal Use Data Form (AUDF). Each element of the form is explained and additional information concerning the process for validating and reporting the data is provided.
- Access the recording of this webinar (80Mb)
- List of questions submitted by participants and our responses
Safeguards and Service – Striking the Right Balance
This webinar discusses striking the right balance between safeguards and services in animal care and use programs. Institutions, and their animal care committees, staff, researchers, and veterinarians, all must juggle proper safeguards for animals with maintaining good services for those conducting animal-based research and teaching, avoiding irritants, and minimizing burden for all involved. The webinar is meant to provide ideas on how each member of a team can contribute to a good balance of safeguards and services, starting with the CCAC, and moving on to examine what animal care committees, veterinarians, animal care staff, and others can do.
- Access the recording of this webinar (25Mb)
- List of questions submitted by participants and our responses
ACC Site Visits of Animal Facilities
This webinar addresses the importance of animal care committees conducting regular site visits, the elements to be observed and documented during a visit, and the value of following up on a site visit.