/R E P E A T -- Animal welfare slates unite in race for THS board/

TORONTO, April 30 /CNW/ - The competition for the board of the Toronto Humane Society just became a whole lot easier to understand as two groups with a similar desire - to make animal welfare the key to a reformed THS - have joined forces.

The Faces of CHANGE slate was elected at a public meeting of THS stakeholders, volunteers and supporters. The RAIN slate was a group of concerned dedicated THS volunteers. The two have united to present a unified slate under the Faces of CHANGE banner.

"We realized that two slates with so much passion for animal welfare would be stronger as one cohesive group," explains Faces of CHANGE spokesperson Marcie Laking.

The slate remains at fifteen, and the RAIN group has officially resigned from the race.

Members will vote for new leadership on May 30, 2010.

"We believe the Toronto Humane Society can be a leader in animal welfare," says Marcie Laking, spokesperson and candidate for the Faces of CHANGE slate. "But it needs a board that is professional; one with the utmost integrity and transparency. What happened at the THS under the current board of directors must never happen again."

The united Faces of CHANGE are:

    
    -   Dr. Hanna Booth - Veterinarian
    -   Michael Downey - President & CEO, Tennis Canada
    -   Kim Cohen - CEO, Brown & Cohen Communications
    -   Jennifer Downe - Bank Manager & THS Volunteer
    -   Judi King - Senior Law Clerk & ART Co-founder
    -   Marcie Laking - Animal Welfare Advocate
    -   Linda MacKinnon - Paralegal & ART Co-founder
    -   Dr. Karen Nasir - Veterinarian
    -   Peter Newell - Senior Partner, Ogilvy Renault
    -   Garnet Pratt Siddall - Financial Professional
    -   Ferne Sinkins - President, Toronto Cat Rescue
    -   Tom Ungar - President & CEO, MTU Investments
    -   Ian Wintrip - Director, Wintrip Wolkoff Shin
    -   Wendy Strickland - Urban Forester, THS volunteer
    -   Crystal Tomusiak - Criminal Lawyer, THS volunteer
    

To view the platform and see the Faces of CHANGE animal welfare plan, please visit www.reformths.com.

In the summer of 2009 the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals charged the entire board of directors with animal cruelty - including acting president Bob Hambley. Those allegations are still before the courts. Yet Hambley is running for re-election. The united Faces of CHANGE encourages the THS membership to inform itself and to elect a brand new board to give the THS the best possible future.

For further information: Marcie Laking, [phone], or visit http://www.reformths.com