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
  

4:45 P.M. - 4:50 P.M.

Closing Traditional Blessing

• Elder Constance Simmonds, University of Toronto Law

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