Authorized Ranch Access

With the gift of their 19,000-acre cattle ranch operation, J.C. (Jack) Anderson and his daughter, Wynne Chisholm, are transforming veterinary education and research at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM).

This ranch is a fully-operational ranch and therefore access to the ranch lands and facilities is limited. Academic requests to access the ranch must be made through Dr. Ed Pajor, Director, W.A. Ranches, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at eapajor@ucalgary.ca.

Non-academic requests must be sent to Shane Royal, the Director of Ancillary Services at sroyal@ucalgary.ca.

All individuals that have been pre-authorized to access the ranch are required to complete a Health and Safety Orientation on site and ensure that they are dressed appropriately for the conditions.

Updated: March 12, 2019

Authorized Ranch Access Waiver

If you are not a UCalgary employee, a student who is working on the ranch in an academic capacity, or a vendor who is under contract with the university to perform work at the ranch, you will be required to complete the ranch access waiver and give it to ranch staff on the day of the visit. If you do not have a paper copy, they will supply you with one. If you are travelling with a group, you should give the signed waiver to the group host prior to travel to the ranch.

Information to Review Prior to Ranch Access

• If you are in groups, stay with your group at each location. Do not switch groups or get into a different vehicle during the trip.
• Shelter is limited. You may be entering workshops, barns, and other outbuildings, most of which are not climate controlled.
• Clothing
  • Winter visits: hats, gloves, and warm winter clothing should be worn, as appropriate for the conditions that day. There may be mud, snow, and/or ice, so warm socks and boots with a lugged sole, preferably slip-resistant, should be worn. Hiking or winter boots are a good option.
  • Summer visits: sun hats and long pants should be worn. Closed toed shoes or boots are required. Mosquito spray is also recommended.
• Maintain situational awareness. Do not touch or climb on vehicles, machinery, fencing, or cattle handling equipment.
• Stay on the ground level if you enter buildings. Not all structures are equipped with handrails, guards, or other safety equipment.
• Cattle may be present. Do not approach or touch the animals unless authorized to do so by the ranch staff.
• Food and drink are not provided.
• There is a toilet available in the main ranch office (not Cochrane East), so plan accordingly.

• Ranch orientation will be presented by the host or ranch staff
• If you are not a UCalgary employee, a student who is working on the ranch in an academic capacity, or a vendor who is under contract with the university to perform work at the ranch, you will be required to complete the ranch access waiver and give it to ranch staff on the day of the visit. If you do not have a paper copy, they will supply you with one.
• Ensure everyone in the group makes it back on the vehicle at each location, and inform the ranch staff if someone is missing.
• If you are in a group, stay with the group at each location, and do not switch groups or get into a different vehicle during the trip.
• Food and drink are not provided.
• There is a toilet available in the main ranch office (not Cochrane East), so plan accordingly.
• In case of an injury or illness
  • Report incident to your group’s host, first aider, and/or ranch management (if available).
  • Ranch management (Jonny Bennett), your group’s host, and first aider will handle all incidents.
• In case of a fire or other emergency
  • Stay with your group and follow instructions from ranch staff.
  • Inform ranch staff and your UCalgary host immediately if you see a fire or other emergency develop.

In Case of an Injury or Illness

• Provide first aid as necessary.
• Report incident to ranch management.
• The closest urgent care facility is Cochrane Community Health Centre Urgent Care, located 32 kilometers away from the main ranch property and 37 kilometers away from the Cochrane East property.
• If moving an affected individual is not recommended, call 911, and remain with the individual until help arrives.The main ranch property address is 274237 Range Road 34, Rockyview County (close to the intersection of Range Road 34 and Township Road 275).
• Notify Campus Security at 403.220.5333 after you have called 911.
• Follow all UCalgary requirements for incident reporting the day of the injury.

In Case of a Fire or Other Emergency

• Go to a safe muster point, following ranch staff directions.
• Inform ranch staff immediately, and call 911 if necessary. Notify Campus Security at 403.220.5333 after you have called 911. Ranch management will interact with 911 dispatch during an emergency at the ranch main property.
• The safe muster points for the main ranch property are located on the map below. Ranch staff will direct visitors to an appropriate muster point, depending on the location of the fire or emergency.