2013 Innovation Showcase awarded Summit for Product or Service Innovation

Captain John Landry & Angela Poirier

A unique and thoughtful initiative developed through a collaborative effort between the Nova Scotia SPCA and the Nova Scotia Department of Justice has helped save the lives of dozens of shelter dogs and more than likely, a few prison inmates. 

Working On Our Future (WOOF) was first introduced to the Urban Animal Program during the 2013 Innovation Showcase at the Halifax Regional Conference. The program received 34% of ballots cast during the nomination process and was awarded the 2013 Summit award for Product or Service Innovation for developing a program which pairs dogs and offenders for social and behavioural development that achieves mutual benefit. The award, sponsored by Novartis, recognizes an innovative product or service that improves the quality of life for people and pets in homes, in communities or in industry sector(s). 

Program stakeholders Captain John Landry and Angela Porier with the N.S. Department of Justice were presented with the award at the 2013 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies in October. But when the 2013 Summit Awards Tour stopped in Halifax, additional collaborators were rallied to pay tribute to their efforts. 

Left to Right: Elizabeth Murphy (NS SPCA),
Captain John Landry (NS Dept. of Justice), Angela Poirier (NS
Department of Justice), Kristin Williams (NS SPCA), 
Sean Kelley (Director of Correctional Services),
Amy MacCrae (trainer)