Animal Grantmakers

Sunday, October 27, 2024

10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.

Field Trip to The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada ($50 U.S.)

Our visit to The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada will offer a unique, hands-on opportunity to foster a deeper connection with these wonderful, gentle animals. Our tour with the executive director and humane education team lead will take us behind the scenes to learn about daily routines and specialized care. We will also have the chance to interact with the donkeys, brushing and petting some of the willing and friendly rescuees as we learn their individual stories and personalities and receive a demonstration in the training arena from one of the sanctuary’s trainers. Our tour will highlight the rehabilitation program, essential for donkeys who have been through neglectful situations in acclimating to their forever home so they can live their best lives. In this serene environment, we will witness firsthand the dedication and compassion that led The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada to win the 2023 Outstanding Sanctuary Award from the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries!

Host: Terri Morris, Humane Education Coordinator

1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.

Field Trip to New School Foods (Free)

New School Foods is a Toronto ag-tech company developing the next generation of alternative proteins aiming to reduce animal suffering in our food systems. New School Foods uses a unique muscle fiber and scaffolding technology to produce whole-cut filets that look, cook, taste, and flake just like wild salmon. Probably no one wants New School Foods to succeed more than the Puget Sound resident Orca whales off Washington and British Columbia, whose salmon-only diets are threatened by the fishing industry. This 90-minute tour of New School Foods’ production facility near downtown will be led by founder Chris Bryson, a serial entrepreneur, “alt protein” investor, and farmed animal philanthropist. And yes, Chris says we can sample the product!

Host: Chris Bryson, Founder and CEO

6:00 P.M. – 7:30 P.M.

Welcome Reception

Reception Sponsored by Summerlee Foundation

Specialty Cocktail Sponsored by Tigers in America

Join fellow conference participants for drinks and appetizers, as well as a visually-moving presentation from award-winning photographer, Jo-Anne McArthur, My Journey in Animal Photojournalism. McArthur is known for her long-term body of work, We Animals.

Moderator: Martin Rowe, Culture and Animals Foundation

Hosts: Melissa Rubin, Greater Good Charities & Lauren Burt, Consecon Foundation

Monday, October 28, 2024

7:30 A.M. – 8:30 A.M.

Breakfast

Sponsored by Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control

8:40 A.M. – 8:42 A.M.

Conference Welcome

Larry Green, Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control, Animal Grantmakers Board President

8:42 A.M. – 8:52 A.M.

Tribute to Louisa McCune, Executive Director of Kirkpatrick Foundation from 2011 to August 10, 2024

Bill Nimmo, founder and president, Tigers in America
Manda Overturf Shank, program officer, Kirkpatrick Foundation

8:52 A.M. – 8:58 A.M.

Welcome from Humane Canada and Land Acknowledgement

Barbara Cartwright, Humane Canada, Conference Co-Chair

8:58 A.M. – 9:18 A.M.

From Capitol Hill to Parliament: Building Bridges to Help Animals in Canada and the U.S.

Canada's plant-based power couple's opening talk will set the stage for the international convening.

Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Member of Parliament, Beaches - East York
Chef Amy Symington, M.Sc., Ph.D. Student, Professor, and Researcher; George Brown College

9:18 A.M. – 10:48 A.M.

Animal Law Canada-Style: Advances in Legislation, Caselaw, Advocacy, and Academia

Hear from well-known experts in the animal legal field in Canada. Learn the latest on what is happening in government relations that impact animals in Canada. Then take a deep dive into the latest advances in animal law classes and landmark cases, including the recent victory over Ontario’s "ag-gag" law.

Barbara Cartwright, Humane Canada
Tara Dobec, Crown Attorney's Office
Angela Fernandez, University of Toronto
Camille Labchuk, Animal Justice
Moderator: Melissa Rubin, Greater Good Charities

10:48 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
Break

11:00 A.M. – 12:15 P.M.

Changing Tides: A Journey from the Pound to Community-Centered Animal Sheltering

This session will explore the challenges faced by animal shelters in current times and how a community-centered approach can help in providing better care and support to animals and people in need. Our expert speakers will share their experiences and insights on transitioning from a traditional pound model to a community-centered sheltering model, the benefits of this approach, and the impact it has on communities. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about the evolving landscape of animal sheltering and how you can make a difference in the lives of animals and humans alike.

Melanie Barham, Community Veterinary Outreach
Tori Fugate, Shelter Animals Count
Owen Sharp, Dogs Trust U.K.
Melissa Shupak, Toronto Humane Society
Moderator: Maggie Lynch, Human Animal Support Services

12:15 P.M. – 1:15 P.M.

Lunch

Sponsored by Michelson Found Animals

1:30 P.M. – 2:40 P.M.

Justice for Animals: Practical Progress through Philosophical Theory

Philosophers have had an outsized influence on the development of the animal movement and on its success in influencing how animals are treated in modern times. Join a preeminent U.S. moral philosopher as she describes a new ethical framework for animals which she has developed based on a “capabilities approach.” Andrew Rowan will follow by leading an interactive discussion on how Nussbaum’s philosophy, along with those articulated by Christine Korsgaard, Peter Singer, Tom Regan, Bernie Rollin, and others, can have a clarifying impact on animal protection initiatives.

Martha Nussbaum, University of Chicago (virtual presentation)
Moderator: Andrew Rowan, Wellbeing International and Edith J. Goode Residuary Trust

2:40 P.M. – 2:50 P.M.

Break

2:50 P.M. – 4:20 P.M.

Canucktivists: Five Fierce Animal Advocates Give TÊD-à-Tête Talks

Five animal advocates working in Canada will go tête-à-tête (back-to-back, or dos-à-dos, may be more accurate) in a series of lively and inspiring TED-esque talks. Extremely popular at our 2022 conference, the 2024 installment promises to be just as mentally stimulating.

Rebecca Aldworth, Humane Society International
Kendra Coulter, Huron University
Sangita Iyer, Author, Filmmaker, Journalist, and Biologist
Rob Laidlaw, Zoocheck
Lori Marino, Whale Sanctuary Project
Moderator: Mitchell Fox, Summerlee Foundation

4:20 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.

Break

4:30 P.M. – 5:30 P.M.

Candid Critiques: What Grantees Really Think of Funders

In this session, we will hear some honest grantee appraisals of funders, including what non-profits want us to learn. Based on Exponent Philanthropy’s publication, “How Grantees Think Funders Can Improve,” we will discuss grantees' constructive feedback and thoughts about how funders can increase their impact and enhance their processes.

Brendan McCormick, Exponent Philanthropy
Phylicia Davis-Wesseling, Toronto Foundation
Moderator: Larry Green, Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control

6:30 P.M. – 7:30 P.M.

Yappy Hour

Relax and unwind after the first day of sessions at a happy hour for animal lovers.

7:30 P.M. – 9:30 P.M.

Dine Around Toronto (Pay Own Way)

Enjoy a delicious meal around town with other conference participants at one of a selection of Toronto's finest vegan-friendly restaurants.

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Breakfast and Optional Discussion

Sponsored by Consecon Foundation

Discuss a quarter century of animal philanthropy in a changing landscape with Andrew Rowan, author of a new report from Animal Grantmakers.

8:45 A.M. – 9:45 A.M.

Indigenous Leadership and Reconciliation: A New Path Forward for Animal Welfare and Conservation

Join us for a critical discussion on the intersection between animal protection and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in the U.S. and Canada. Our panelists will explore Indigenous world views, the impacts of systemic racism in animal welfare, challenges of public misconceptions, and the leadership roles of Indigenous people in advancing animal welfare and wellbeing. The importance of embracing reciprocal relationships, traditional knowledge, and stewardship responsibilities as human relatives of all animals will be discussed, and recommendations for a path forward will be offered.

Alison Bressette, Aboriginal Community & Animal Advocacy Connection
Elaina Cox, Indigenous Conservation and Relations
Pam Kingfisher, Green Country Guardians
Moderator: Naomi Williams, Walpole Island First Nation

9:45 A.M. – 9:55 A.M.

Break

9:55 A.M. – 11:25 A.M.

Planting Seeds of Change: Transformative Strategies to Challenge Animal Farming in Canada

Dive deep into farmed animal welfare in Canada with many of the country's leading advocates, who will showcase the breadth of strategies used to combat farmed animal suffering, including research, corporate outreach, civil disobedience, plant-based innovation, and improving welfare standards. Against the backdrop of a global movement, the discussion will spotlight the urgent need for progress in Canada, a nation lagging behind in protecting farmed animals compared to other developed nations.

Lynn Kavanagh, World Animal Protection
Giuliana Miguel-Pacheco, Humane Canada
PJ Nyman, Mercy for Animals
Amy Soranno, Meat the Victims
Moderator: Camille Labchuk, Animal Justice

11:25 A.M. – 11:35 A.M.
Break

11:35 A.M. – 12:35 P.M.

Conservation Strategies for Wide-Ranging Carnivores: Past Lessons, Current Challenges, and Future Funding Priorities

How do we conserve wide-ranging carnivores, given that many fail to meet international criteria for vulnerable or endangered status? How should we strategically invest to push conservation agendas for controversial species, some of which instill fear in everyday people? Join us for a review of lessons learned and diverse strategies to protect pumas (also called mountain lions, cougars, and panthers), bears, and wolves in the U.S. and Canada, where wildlife agency cultures and agendas sometimes seem at odds with their conservation.

Chris Darimont, Raincoast Conservation
Mark Elbroch, Panthera
Moderator: Gary Smith, Summerlee Foundation

12:35 P.M. – 1:40 P.M.

Lunch

1:50 P.M. – 2:05 P.M.

Third Annual Melanie Anderson Lifetime Excellence in Animal Protection (LEAP) Award

The Melanie Anderson LEAP Award was established by the Summerlee Foundation and Animal Grantmakers in 2022 to honor Melanie Anderson, Summerlee’s director of animal programs for 32 years. The Award is given every fall at the Animal Grantmakers Conference to an animal advocate who has made a substantial and sustained contribution to the field of animal protection. Geared toward lifetime achievement, the LEAP Award embodies a major concern of Summerlee’s founder, Annie Lee Roberts, who sought out and embraced animal advocates who pushed boundaries, changed the conversation, and advocated for species and creatures often neglected or overlooked.

When in Canada, honor a Canadian. Or two! This year's LEAP Award winners are:

Rob Laidlaw, a chartered biologist and founder of the wildlife protection organization Zoocheck
Liz White, a founding member and director of the Animal Alliance of Canada, and leader of the Animal Protection Party of Canada
Moderator: Jill Hoffman, Animal Grantmakers

2:05 P.M. – 3:20 P.M.

Community Cats: A Researched Path to Success and Community Cats Podcast Live!

John Boone of the Great Basin Bird Observatory and Stacy LeBaron of the Community Cats Podcast will discuss their foundation-commissioned white paper on the landscape of community cats and new strategies for funder engagement. Bring your toughest questions about community cats to these authors. The second part of this session will be a live episode of the Community Cats Podcast interviewing Canadian documentary filmmaker Aaron Hancox and the executive director of the Canadian Animal Task Force, RJ Bailot. The Community Cats Podcast is the place to learn how to turn your passion for cats into action!

RJ Bailot, Canadian Animal Task Force
John Boone, Great Basin Bird Observatory
Aaron Hancox, Filmmaker
Stacy LeBaron, Community Cats Podcast
Moderator: Bethany Heins, Best Friends Animal Society

3:20 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.

Break

3:30 P.M. – 4:45 P.M.

Ending Animal Research and Testing: Strategies in Regulation, Biomedicine, and Next-Gen Education

In this panel presentation and discussion, international, U.S., and Canadian perspectives on animal use in regulatory testing and biomedical research, as well as educating the next generation of scientists, will be offered.

Elizabeth Baker, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Charu Chandrasekera, Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods
Troy Seidle, Humane Society International
Moderator: Luke Klein, Alternatives Research and Development Foundation

6:30 P.M. – 8:30 P.M.

25th Anniversary Reception and Gala Dinner

Dinner Sponsored by Best Friends Animal Society

Building a Foundation for Foundations: 25 Years of Animal Grantmakers – Past, Present, and Future

Raise a glass to Animal Grantmakers' founding members and celebrate a quarter century of progress on behalf of animals of all stripes.

Melanie Anderson, Summerlee Foundation (Retired; Board Member)
Dick Obermanns, Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust (Retired)
Andrew Rowan, Wellbeing International and Edith J. Goode Residuary Trust
Gary Tabor, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation (formerly) and Center for Large Landscape Conservation
Champagne Toast: Kathy Savesky Buckley, A Kinder World Foundation
Moderator: Mitchell Fox, Summerlee Foundation

Connecting the Wild - The Yellowstone to Yukon Vision for Thriving Wildlife

As the celebration continues over dinner, listen to a fascinating keynote presentation that will reinforce the critical significance of collaborating and cooperating across international lines.

Tim Burkhart, Yellowstone to Yukon
Moderator: Gary Tabor, Center for Large Landscape Conservation, who also co-founded Yellowstone to Yukon

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Breakfast

9:00 A.M. – 10:30 A.M.

Annual Business Meeting (Members Only)

12:00 P.M. – 1:30 P.M.

NEWLY ADDED: Tour of Toronto Humane Society (Free)

Melissa Shupak, a presenter during Monday's community-centered animal sheltering panel, has graciously extended an invitation to a complimentary tour of Toronto Humane Society after the conference concludes. For anyone staying in Toronto for a while after the conference (or who is local) and interested in joining, the site is about 15 to 20 minutes by car from the conference hotel.