2013 Summit Awards Tour Finishes in Halifax Today

The HarbourStone Sea Grill and Pour House, at the Halifax Marriott Harbourside Hotel, in Halifax, Nova Scotia will be the venue for the fourth and final event to recognize the 2013 Summit Award Winners across North America.  

2013 Summit Award Winners - Halifax

The Summit for Product or Service Innovation (sponsored by Novartis) recognizes an innovative product or service that improves the quality of life for people and pets in homes, in communities or industry sector(s). 

Working On Our Future (WOOF), Nova Scotia Department of Justice and Nova Scotia SPCA, won with 34% of the ballots cast, for developing a program which pairs dogs and offenders for social and behavioral development that achieves mutual benefit.

The 2013 Summit Award for Wellness (sponsored by Petsecure) recognizes the efforts of an organization to improve the overall levels of wellness for urban animals in a particular client base, a specific community or industry sector.

Dr. Peter Foley, Atlantic Veterinary College, won with 29% of the ballots cast, for demonstrating that clinicians and volunteer organizations can collaborate to increase the overall wellness of urban and rural feline populations.

The Summit for Retailer (sponsored by PIJAC Canada) recognizes a retailer of pet products and services who has developed a reputation and frequent connection to pet families that enhances the lives of pets and people in the community(ies) they serve.

Planet Paws Pet Essentials, Rodney Habib, won with 54% of the ballots cast, for raising funds through store initiatives, hosting community events and for being recognized by the Nova Scotia Legislature for his pet related radio show and internet blog.

About the Summit Awards:

The mission of the Urban Animal Program is to illuminate successful strategies for urban animals and to recognize those who lead the Urban Animal Industry. The Summit Awards are the highest honour conferred upon recipients by the Urban Animal Industry and an essential element for delivering on this mission. 

The Summits are presented annually by members of the Urban Animal Program using an academy style system of nominations followed by an election using secret ballots and an electronic process. Winners of the 2013 Summits include individuals, agencies and organizations from all sectors of the urban animal industry. 

The 2013 award program demonstrated the greatest level of engagement by members of the Urban Animal Program to date: 56 nominees in 12 categories; 1,642 eligible voters and just under 700 ballots cast. The Summit Awards were announced at the 2013 Summit Awards Gala on Friday, 18 October 2013, in Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada.

2013 Summit Awards Tour in Oakville, Ontario Today

The RSA Pets Plus Us Kennel, in Oakville, Ontario, Canada is the venue for the third of four events to recognize the 2013 Summit Award Winners across North America.

2013 Summit Award Presentations - Oakville 

The 2013 Summit for Community Compliance (sponsored by Pets Plus Us) recognizes efforts to increase the overall level of compliance in a community with the development of best practices or codes of ethical conduct in the area of licensing, identification, spay/neuter, wellness, recreation, breeding or standards of care.

Ontario SPCA, Tonya Martin, won the 2013 Summit with 50% of the ballots cast, votes for the development of the High Volume Spay/Neuter program which has lowered the admission of Cats in area shelters to levels never before encountered.

The 2013 Summit for Homing (sponsored by IAMS Canada) recognizes an organization that demonstrates innovation, commitment and success in the homing of animals through adoption, sale, return-to-owner, re-homing and/or fostering programs.

Toronto Animal Services, James McLean, won with 42% of the ballots cast, for creating relationships and for resourcing multi-species homing activities above and beyond the call of duty.

The 2013 Summit for Breeder (sponsored by Pets Plus Us) recognizes a breeder of companion animals with five or more years of breeding experience that is compliant with codes of ethical conduct and who demonstrates a high level of professionalism and commitment to the urban animal industry.

Bundas Bengals Cattery, Trysh Tolhurst, won with 60% of the ballots cast, for her work to establish breeding standards, for producing cats and dogs that do not require cropping or docking and for her breeding of Bengals where she continues to improve the standards and experience of those who receive her kittens into their homes.

The 2013 Summit for Individual Achievement (sponsored by IAMS Canada) recognizes an individual who is currently active in the companion animal industry and who is well regarded for the level of achievement they have attained. Preference will be shown for those who actively mentor and support leadership and professionalism in the industry.

Randy Valpy, Pets Plus Us, won with 41% of the ballots cast, for being an innovator in the pet health industry over the past 12-years, for being a founder of the Urban Animal Summits and for developing programs that increase pet owner happiness.

About the Summit Awards:

The mission of the Urban Animal Program is to illuminate successful strategies for urban animals and to recognize those who lead the Urban Animal Industry. The Summit Awards are the highest honour conferred upon recipients by the Urban Animal Industry and an essential element for delivering on this mission. 

The Summits are presented annually by members of the Urban Animal Program using an academy style system of nominations followed by an election using secret ballots and an electronic process. Winners of the 2013 Summits include individuals, agencies and organizations from all sectors of the urban animal industry. 

The 2013 award program demonstrated the greatest level of engagement by members of the Urban Animal Program to date: 56 nominees in 12 categories; 1,642 eligible voters and just under 700 ballots cast. The Summit Awards were announced at the 2013 Summit Awards Gala on Friday, 18 October 2013, in Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada.

2013 Summit Awards Tour in Cambridge, Ontario Today

The Bruce Restaurant and Lounge, at the Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre, in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada is the venue for the second of four events to recognize the 2013 Summit Award Winners across North America.

2013 Summit Award Presentations - Cambridge

The 2013 Summit for DistinguishedService Provider (sponsored by CDMV) recognizes a service provider in the Urban Animal Industry that is distinguished by the level of achievement and impact on the lives of people and pets within a community. 

Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society, Holly Wiseman, won the 2013 Summit with 61% of ballots cast, for the development and delivery of a Humane Education program featuring annual visits with educators and canine companions that has elevated the level of care and attention for animals in the region.

The Summit for Sheltering (sponsored by Petsecure) recognizes an organization that best addresses the care of animals in shelters, pounds, retail outlets, kennels, veterinary clinics/hospitals, grooming shops and breeding facilities.

Animal Welfare Agency of South Central Ontario (AWASCO), Kathy Innocente, won the 2013 Summit with 54% of the ballots cast, for completing the amalgamation of the Perth and Kitchener Waterloo agencies and for increasing the live release rate of this organization.

The 2013 Summit for Lifetime Achievement (sponsored by PetLynx) recognizes an individual who has earned the honor and respect of peers in the Urban Animal Industry for achievements in their field of endeavor.

Paul Melanson, won the 2013 Summit with 52% of the ballots cast, for activities to establish a judicial framework for the protection of pets that in June 2010 resulted in legislation to license and regulate pet establishments in the province of New Brunswick.

About the Summit Awards:

The mission of the Urban Animal Program is to illuminate successful strategies for urban animals and to recognize those who lead the Urban Animal Industry. The Summit Awards are the highest honour conferred upon recipients by the Urban Animal Industry and an essential element for delivering on this mission. 

The Summits are presented annually by members of the Urban Animal Program using an academy style system of nominations followed by an election using secret ballots and an electronic process. Winners of the 2013 Summits include individuals, agencies and organizations from all sectors of the urban animal industry. 

The 2013 award program demonstrated the greatest level of engagement by members of the Urban Animal Program to date: 56 nominees in 12 categories; 1,642 eligible voters and just under 700 ballots cast. The Summit Awards were announced at the 2013 Summit Awards Gala on Friday, 18 October 2013, in Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada.

2013 Summits Honor the Best of the Urban Animal Industry

CALGARY, AB - On Friday, 18 October, thought leaders of the Urban Animal Industry will reward the hard work and efforts of their peers with the 8th annual Summit Awards. The numbers are impressive:

• 1,473 Nominators
• 12 Categories
• 56 Meritorious nominations
• 183 Eligible voters

Nominations of individuals, agencies and organizations from Care and Control, Health and Wellness, Humane and Rescue, Retailers, Breeders and Kennels as well as Community Services compete to secure the acclaim of their peers based on the merit and innovation associated with their activities.

"I am really impressed with the quality of the nominees for this year's awards," said Sheena Neel, Summit Awards Manager. "Each year the quantity and caliber of nominees increases. Like the Academy Awards there is only one Summit awarded in each category. However, the commitment and innovation of all the 2013 Summit nominees shows that pets and people are in good hands."

Earlier this year Summit organizers unveiled a new process for the Summit Awards to ensure a more desirable and engaging result. Nominations from Urban Animal subscribers were attracted through the Innovation Showcase of the Regional Conferences in April and also directly from Advocates, Mentors, Alumni, Associates and Sponsors.

The academy style Voting and Board Confirmation process has also changed. In past years voting could take place during the Summit event. In 2013, all voting will be completed prior to the event using the PetLynx YourSAY(tm) system. Advocate, Mentor, Sponsors and Alumni categories of the Urban Animal Program are eligible to electronically vote for nominees in each category. The election will close prior to the event so the top two nominees can be invited to the Summit Gala on Friday, October 18th. The Urban Animal Foundation Directors will confirm the results presented during the Summit Awards Gala.

With almost 1,500 Urban Animal stakeholders participating in the 2013 Summit Awards process, a significant level of engagement has been achieved.

Those eligible are invited to cast their votes during the next 10 days.