Major horse slaughterhouse closes
A major step forward for farmed animals took place last month with the confirmed closure of the Bouvry Exports slaughterhouse in Alberta, formerly Canada’s largest horse slaughterhouse. The closure follows years of horrific cruelty and suffering, with the company being convicted and fined in 2025.
While this is incredible news, it does not fully eliminate the horrors that horses raised for meat face. Horses continue to be bred, raised, and shipped on long, stressful journeys overseas for slaughter. The VHS and organizations across Canada continue to advocate for an end to this horrific practice.
Advocating for meaningful changes in on-farm guidelines
At the same time, the VHS has continued to share practical tips to help animal allies speak up during public consultations on Canada’s farmed animal Codes of Practice, which guide how animals are treated on farms and affect millions of animals every day.
Advocacy on these codes is vital to ensure that the codes consider the voices of the animals and the people who care about the welfare of sentient beings over profit. The VHS’s guide on providing feedback for the equine code of practice was accessed by nearly 3,000 individuals!
Making plant-based eating more accessible
The VHS is also helping make plant-based eating more accessible and welcoming. At this year’s UBC VegFest, more than 5,000 people—mostly students and people who did not yet self-identify as vegan—came together to enjoy delicious plant-based foods and learn about compassionate choices.
The VHS’s PlantUniversity program is gearing up for another year of advocacy to decrease the demand for industrial animal agriculture. The program aims to reach more than 1,768,000 people over the next 12 months, and each person touched by these messages has the potential to save hundreds of animal lives each year.