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It was during his stay in Trinidad that he met and married Helen, his lovely and gracious wife of forty-four years. They immigrated to Calgary in 1957 under the sponsorship of the late Dr. Morris Hanson who operated a mixed practice. The hazardous winter driving conditions on isolated roads convinced him that he should convert to small animal practice and in 1959, Morris and Pearce opened the McLeod trail Animal Hospital that was devoted solely to small animal practice. At that time there were only four animal hospitals in the city. With that move, Pearce was able to devote more time to his family. A son, Robert was born in 1957, and Andrew arrived on the last day of 1959.
In 1961, Pearce struck out on his own and opened the 17th Avenue Animal hospital. Five years later, he constructed a new, state of the art hospital under the same 17th Avenue name. His busy general practice as well as his referral practice in internal medicine, orthopedic and general surgery, and ophthalmology continued until October 31, 1991 when he sold his interests to his long time partners, Dr. Richard Christmas and Dr. jack Wilson. Many young people have been influenced by Pearce and after watching him in his practice have gone on to become respected members of the veterinary profession. His niece, Nicola, is an OVC 1992 graduate.
In the mid 1960's Pearce served as one of the driving forces behind the formation of the Calgary academy of veterinary Medicine, one of the earliest of veterinary "clubs" that are now found throughout the province. He also played a significant role in educating the public as to what the veterinary professional could offer through continuing education courses at the University of Calgary and on the Wild Rose open line show on the Calgary CBC radio station.
Pearce was elected as a member of the Council of the AVMA in 1971. He was the pioneering force behind the establishment of Practice Standards in the province and was a member of the team that inspected small animal practice in Winnipeg on behalf of the CVMA. In 1973, the Association appointed Pearce AVMA representative to the Council of the CVMA. That summer the City of Calgary expressed concern about the cruelty caused by casualness of pet ownership, and the high cost to the taxpayer for the control of strays. Pearce accepted the AVMA Council's invitation to co-ordinate a successful public awareness. The campaign was funded by the City of Calgary and jointly sponsored by the city the AVMA, and the Humane Society with major participation by the media.
In 1976, Pearce was elected President of the CVMA. During his term of office, he played an instrumental role in the establishment of the Pet Food Certification Programme that to this day remains an internationally unique animal-food evaluation system. In 1981, Pearce was a member of the joint CVMA-AVMA team that inspected the Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine for accreditation by both associations. Pearce retired from private practice in 1991, but two years later he was pressed into service by the CVMA to manage its joint co-operative project with the Indonesian Veterinary Association (IVA) that was funded by the Canadian International Development Agency. His primary function was to assist in reorganizing and revitalizing the IVA and to initiate a professional development program. Pearce was also instrumental in setting up the first private small animal hospital in Indonesia that was jointly sponsored by the IVA and the local government and was funded by a local Charitable Foundation. He trained the hospital's veterinary staff and organized several continuing education seminars and wet labs for practitioners throughout the country over the four year period that the project lasted.
Pearce has received many awards. These include the Gaines Small Animal Practitioner of the Year Award form the CVMA, Humanitarian of the Year Award from Calgary Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Adikarya Satwa Award for his service and dedication to the Indonesian Veterinary Association and veterinary practices in Indonesia. He has been presented with an Honourary Life Membership with the AVMA, an Honourary Membership with the IVA, and a Life Membership with the CVMA.
Outside the profession, Pearce has had a busy and varied record of service to the community. He was a Cub Leader, charter member of the Chinook Chapter of the Lions Club, served on the Calgary Cancer Board and on the Parents Advisory Committee of St. Mary's School. When the disastrous hurricane struck St. Lucian in 1980, Pearce worked tirelessly, serving as co-chairman of the committee formed to help victims by raising funds and collecting donation of food and clothing from Calgary and throughout the province. He has been an active participant in Caribbean cultural activities from being an emcee at major functions to participating in costume parades on festival days.
Pearce was a member of the local cricket team that won many provincial championships and represented Canada in an International Cricket Tournament. He continues to be a keen competitor on the tennis court. His greatest achievement was winning the Western Canadian Doubles Championship at a Seniors Masters Tournament for two consecutive years.
Pearce firmly believes that his busy career was driven by a deep desire to repay the country that gave him the opportunity to get a university education and the profession that allowed him the means to achieve his life goals. In essence, he is proud to have served.
(Albert Veterinary Review)