Animal and Plant Care

Welcome to the StFX Animal & Plant Care Site

All information pertaining to the use of animals at X can be found here. We run a small sized facility and mostly deal with marine invertebrates. We are governed by the guidelines of the Canadian Council on Animal Care. 

The Animal Care Committee (ACC) usually meets three times per year to consider animal use protocols, review standard operating procedures and policies, and conduct other business. Meetings usually take place before the start of fall, winter, and spring/summer terms. The deadline for protocol submissions is a week before the meeting date. Please contact the Animal Care Committee Coordinator for precise dates.

Protocols related to the use and study of invertebrates (except higher invertebrates such as cephalopods) do not require an animal use protocol, however investigators should consult the Sr. Animal Care Technician if space is required in the Animal Care Facility.

NOTICE: Please note that as of September 30th, 2010 all Principal Investigators will have to complete their animal user training certification (regardless of their level of involvement in animal handling) in order to receive animal use protocol approval.

NOTICE: Please note the deadline for resubmission or finalization of protocols has changed. Users now must resubmit or finalize (make minor changes and get signatures) a protocol within 2 weeks from the date they were notified of the animal care committee's decision.

The St. Francis Xavier University Animal Care and Use Program is currently certified by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) are as being in accordance with standards of GAP - Good Animal Practice®. The program is overseen by the university's Academic Vice-President, and is comprised of an animal care facility, animal care staff, researchers, professors, instructors and the institutional animal care committee.

The Senior Animal and Plant Care Technician, Jen vandenHeuvel, with the help of an Animal Care Technician and student assistant, attends to all animal and facility needs and monitors animal use according to university policies as defined by the StFX Animal Care Committee (ACC) and the Canadian Council of Animal Care (CCAC). These policies promote responsible use of animals in research and teaching as well as the concepts of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (or the “Three R’s” ) that are widely accepted ethical principles and which are now embedded in the conduct of animal-based science in Canada, as recommended by the CCAC.

The St. Francis Xavier Animal Care and Use Program can be reached via:

Email: Senior Animal and Plant Care Technician - @email | ACC - @email
Phone: 902-867-5456
Fax: 902-867-2389
Visiting: J. Bruce Brown 121c

Mailing Address:
Animal Care
c/o Jen Van Den Heuvel
St. Francis Xavier University
PO Box 5000
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
B2G 2W5