Conference Promotes Thought Leadership and Celebrates Excellence in Animal Welfare

MONTREAL, April 8, 2019 /CNW/ - Humane Canada is pleased to announce that PetSmart Charities of Canada is returning as presenting sponsor of the 2019 Humane Canada National Animal Welfare Conference, playing a key role in the organization's ability to further enhance and professionalize the animal welfare sector in Canada.

"Without the support of our sponsors, we would not be able to host an event of this magnitude," says Barbara Cartwright, CEO at Humane Canada. "It is through this conference that our sector stays in the know about best practices, new research and emerging animal care approaches that ensure we are giving the best possible care to Canada's animals."

The Humane Canada National Animal Welfare Conference is the largest Canadian event of its kind and it represents the entire diversity of animal care and welfare professionals in our country. The 2019 conference is set to take place in Montreal April 14-15, 2019 with a deep dive training day on April 16th.

"By bringing the best minds in animal welfare together in Montreal, Humane Canada is encouraging greater cross-sector collaboration, increased knowledge transfer and idea sharing, and the formation of best practices that will inform and guide the future of our ever-changing industry. We feel privileged to be a funder and enabler of this conference and so many of its delegate organizations, as they work to  create, enhance and retain the incredible bond between people and pets," says Deborah Turcott, acting president, PetSmart Charities of Canada.

As part of the 2019 National Animal Welfare Conference (NAWC2019), we'll also be holding a special awards breakfast to celebrte the best in Canadian animal welfare and recognize the leaders who are developing important innovations to change the lives of animals for the better.

The winners of the 2019 Humane Canada Leadership and Innovation Awards are:

• For Leadership and Innovation in Strategic Policy Research and Application Involving Animals and the Law: Donner Canadian Foundation
• For Leadership and Innovation in bringing pets home and reconnecting families: Furry Hobos N Hiway Hero's
• The Women for a Humane Canada Award Recognizing the Power of Women's Leadership in Animal Welfare: Dr. Charu Chandrasekera
• For Leadership and Innovation in programming for thriving pets, thriving families and thriving communities: Zachary's Paws for Healing
• For individual staff and organizational leadership and innovation: Kevin Strooband of the Lincoln County Humane Society
• Special Award Recognizing the Historic Founding of the Animal Welfare Movement in Canada: Spca de Montréal

The Frederic A. McGrand Lifetime Achievement Award has been awarded by Humane Canada since 1985, to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to animal welfare in Canada. Dr. Ian Duncan is the 2019 recipient of this prestigious award. Dr. Duncan is one of the foremost experts on farm animal welfare, and poultry welfare in particular, in Canada and around the world. His research on the suffering experienced by egg-laying hens in battery cages helped to push for more humane husbandry systems in our country. We look forward to recognizing Dr. Duncan at the conference.

2019 Humane Canada National Animal Welfare Conference
April 14-15, 2019 with a deep dive training day on April 16th
Hotel Bonaventure
Montreal, QC

ABOUT THE HUMANE CANADA NATIONAL ANIMAL WELFARE CONFERENCE

The Humane Canada National Animal Welfare Conference is the annual gathering place for Canada's animal welfare movement, advancing our cohesion, knowledge and effectiveness. The event boasts 60+ individual sessions led by innovative and relevant speakers – including can't-miss plenary discussions by leading scientists, academics and other key thought leaders. The 2019 conference will offer the more than 350 delegates the opportunity to learn, build community, and advance their work for Canada's animals. This will be the sixth annual NAWC event. Find out more at: conference.humanecanada.ca

ABOUT HUMANE CANADA

Humane Canada is the federation of SPCAs and humane societies, representing Canada's largest animal welfare community. As Canada's national voice for animal welfare, we drive positive, progressive change to end animal cruelty, improve animal protection and promote the humane treatment of all animals. To learn more about Humane Canada, please visit humanecanada.ca.

ABOUT PETSMART CHARITIES® OF CANADA:

PetSmart Charities of Canada is committed to finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across Canada, PetSmart Charities of Canada helps to find forever homes and families for more than 25,000 shelter pets each year. PetSmart Charities of Canada also provides grant funding to registered Canadian charities aligned with its mission. Each year, more than 500,000 generous PetSmart shoppers help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities of Canada using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities of Canada efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as a leading funder of animal welfare in Canada, granting more than $19 million since its inception in 1999. PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered Canadian charity, a member of Imagine Canada and is independent from the PetSmart business in Canada. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.ca

SOURCE Humane Canada

or media interviews, contact: Natalia Hanson, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Humane Canada, Office: 613.224.8072 ext. 12 | Cell: 613-262-6233, [email protected]