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Media Release

Vancouver proclaims May 15 Meatless Monday

Media release

April 10, 2017

Vancouver proclaims May 15 Meatless Monday

Metro mayors urged to follow suit

Vancouver – The City of Vancouver has proclaimed May 15 Meatless Monday and the Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) is calling on other Metro Vancouver municipalities to join the Meatless Monday movement with their own proclamations of support.

A number of institutions throughout Metro Vancouver are participating in the movement, including ten schools offering meatless dishes on their Monday menus. VHS has supported student groups and food service providers in bringing the initiative to their cafeterias by sharing tips, best practices and resources and helping to promote the concept.

Meatless Monday is a global initiative, active in more than 30 countries and growing in popularity in Metro Vancouver. The campaign is aimed at increasing awareness about the impact of food choices and improving access to humane, healthy and sustainable food options.

VHS has written to mayors and councils in Metro Vancouver, explaining the concept and encouraging them to pass a similar proclamation in solidarity with not only the City of Vancouver, but also the schools, organizations and residents who are actively participating.

“We’re thrilled that Vancouver is supporting this initiative. As a city committed to developing food systems that are sustainable and that support community well-being, Vancouver is taking a step in the right direction,” said Emily Pickett, VHS’s Program Coordinator. “This also serves as an inspiration for those looking to do their part to help tackle issues like factory farming, climate change and public health.

“Every time we sit down to eat, we have the chance to stand up for a kinder, cleaner and healthier community. This is what Meatless Monday is all about and we’re encouraging Metro Vancouver residents to join us on Monday, May 15 in this effort.”

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Categories
animal welfare compassion fundraising News/Blog Promoted

Thank you, Scotiabank!

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Our amazing VHS team

We love Scotiabank! Every June, we participate in the Scotiabank Half Marathon/5k Charity Challenge. This is a huge event, and something that we would never be able to afford to do ourselves – so we are very grateful for the opportunity. Scotiabank takes care of all the logistics, and all we have to do is recruit runners and raise money for animals!

VHS has been participating since 2011 and every single time, the sun shines and we have a lovely run (or walk!) through Stanley Park. This year we hit an all-time record – we raised $41,850!! This included a $2500 (2nd) prize from Scotiabank for the highest amount raised per runner.  Our thanks goes out, not only to Scotiabank, but to all the participants and donors who made our biggest fundraiser of the year the best yet.

Thank you!!!

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fundraising News/Blog Promoted Scotiabank Uncategorized

We reached our goal – thanks to you!

team pic 2016

On Sunday, June 26th, Team VHS ran for the animals in the Scotiabank Half-Marathon & 5k. This year marks VHS’s sixth year participating in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. Thanks to our amazing team of runners and all of the generous donors who sponsored our team, an incredible total of $39,100 was raised to support VHS’s work to help animals.

The Scotiabank Charity Challenge is the most important fundraiser of the year and it enables us to continue our work to protect animals from exploitation and abuse, whether it’s due to factory farming, captivity or entertainment. The funds also allow us to assist low-income guardians in getting their pet spayed/neutered or in emergency situations. Learn more about our campaign work and how you can get involved!

We couldn’t do this important work without you! From the entire VHS Team, thank you to everyone who participated and sponsored our team in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. A big thank you to West Coast Monograms for the great team t-shirts!

VHS at the Scotiabank Half Marathon and 5K

Vancouver Humane Society at the Scotiabank Half Marathon and 5K!

 

Categories
compassion Cruelty-free fundraising News/Blog Promoted Scotiabank Uncategorized

Meet the VHS team!

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New video gives a behind-the-scenes look at VHS

VHS celebrated its 30th anniversary last year and we’re proud of our history. But we’re focused on the future and working hard to make life better for animals in the years ahead.

Meet the people at VHS who are taking this work forward in this new video:

 

Help us continue this important work for animals now and into the future by sponsoring Team VHS in the upcoming Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5k! On Sunday, June 26th, VHS will be participating for our 6th year in the run. It’s our most important fundraiser of the year and we rely on our supporters to help us make it the most successful. Please help us reach our goal by sponsoring our team. We’re 86% of the way there, with 5 days left!

Categories
animal welfare fundraising News/Blog Promoted

VHS marks 30 years of helping animals

VHS reception Rebecca Ledger
Keynote speaker Dr. Rebecca Ledger gave a presentation on science and animal emotions and sentience.

Close to a hundred supporters and animal lovers turned out to celebrate VHS’s 30th anniversary at a reception in Allard Hall at UBC on November 21st.

The event highlighted many of VHS’s achievements over the last 30 years and drew attention to the animal welfare issues we continue to address.

 

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VHS executive director Debra Probert

VHS executive director Debra Probert spoke to the assembled guests about VHS’s history, thanking the many people who contributed to our success, including founder Ingrid Pollak. She also described the need for organizations like VHS:  “I‘d just like to remind you why we’re here. We’re here because we all know and care that every day animals are suffering because of human carelessness, thoughtlessness and greed. It’s up to us to speak for them. Tonight we’re taking a few hours to celebrate what VHS has accomplished. But tomorrow, we have to resume our battle to fight for their basic rights to live the lives they were meant to live, with minimal interference from us.”

VHS staffers Emily Pickett (who organized the event) and Peter Fricker also spoke, giving details on our program work.

The evening ended with a compelling presentation by keynote speaker Dr. Rebecca Ledger, a clinical animal behaviourist and animal welfare scientist. Dr. Ledger spoke about changing scientific attitudes toward animal sentience and emotions.

A silent auction and donations at the reception raised $3443 for VHS’s work.

We would like to thank all the supporters, sponsors and volunteers who helped make this event a great success and a memorable evening.

Photos by Sam Steele of Willow Tree PhotographyTo see a photo album of the reception click here.

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VHS board and staff, L to R: Peter Fricker, Chris Hajek, Frances Kelly, Marjorie Brown, Debra Probert, Liberty Mulkani, Marylee Davies, Rebeka Breder, Aarti Gupta, Emily Pickett, Amy Balcome.

Categories
fundraising News/Blog Scotiabank

Support VHS in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge!

svhm-logo-grey-red

Run (or walk) for the animals!!

SCOTIABANK CHARITY CHALLENGE

SUNDAY, JUNE 23, 2013

VHS is again participating in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge on June 23. This is our biggest and most important fundraiser of the year! We hope that you will join us, either by running or walking the 5k or half-marathon, or by sponsoring one of our amazing team members. The animals are depending on us. Chickens, needy companion animals, rodeo animals – we speak for them all. Please join us so we can continue to help them.

If you would like to donate to support one of our runners on the Vancouver Humane Society Chicken Runners Team, please click here . Every little bit helps, and at least one of our participants will have their donations doubled by a generous VHS donor! Last year, VHS won a special $5000 award for having the highest amount raised per team member. We’d love to do that again!

If you would like to participate in the 5k or half-marathon, you can click here for the form – there are some helpful directions below (and if you hurry, your registration will be free):

Filling out the form: When you reach the Scotia Charity Challenge section, choose “I would like to create a fundraising account”, then select your favourite charity: “Vancouver Humane Society”

Create a username and account, then go to the Discount Section, and put in code 13HUMANE and your registration will be free.

Once you’ve reached the bottom and clicked “submit” you will see a box with a ‘transfer’ button. That will take you to your personal fundraising page, where you can change your goal, upload your own photos and edit your message.

As well, you can click here to join our Chicken Runners Team. Just look at those happy hens!!

If you click here you’ll see all the charities that are ahead of us. Let’s get VHS into the top 10!!

Thank you for helping us help animals!

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News/Blog Uncategorized

Holiday potluck dinner

The Vancouver Meatless Meetup Group is teaming up with the Vancouver Humane Society for a fundraising potluck dinner on Saturday, December 15th. There are still a few openings, but they’re going fast! There will be lots of prizes to be raffled off, including two Christmas packages from LUSH (would make a great Christmas gift!), and gift certificates to restaurants and vegan stores. More info here. We hope to see you there!

We’re grateful to these wonderful businesses who have donated gifts to our raffle (please patronize them this holiday season):

LUSH Cosmetics

Karmavore Vegan Specialty Shop and Café

Nice Shoes – specializing in vegan shoes

3G Vegetarian Restaurant

Bandidas Taqueria

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News/Blog Uncategorized

Wayne Pacelle of HSUS in Vancouver

Wayne Pacelle, president of The Humane Society of the United States, will be in Vancouver on Sunday, June 17 to sign his new book and discuss animal welfare issues. VHS is co-hosting the event with Humane Society International Canada.


 

WHO: Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States

WHAT: Discussion, Q&A and book signing

WHERE: Black Bond Books at Book Warehouse, 632 West Broadway, Vancouver

WHEN: Sunday, June 17; 12:00 – 2:00 PM       

Pacelle’s bestselling book The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them  has been called revolutionary, uplifting and inspiring. The book takes readers on a journey from America’s great open spaces to its crowded factory farms to the ice floes of Canada where seals are slaughtered. Pacelle illuminates the stark dichotomy we face in an age when animals are more beloved yet more abused than during any period in history.

Pacelle will discuss the themes in the book and issues of local, national and international impact at the Vancouver event.