Summit Awards Poll FOUR - Now Open!

Poll THREE is now closed (thank you for your votes!) making way for Poll FOUR. This final poll in the 2015 Summit Awards program elects the Summit Award winners for the following categories:

SHELTERING
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT

In 2015, Urban Animal presents the tenth annual Summit Awards program by inviting the public to vote on Summit nominations. Please use the following link (copy and paste) to share this poll through email, websites and social media and other digital channels: 

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07ebl6su8nievk00d2/start

Review all Nominations

VOTE NOW!!

This survey will close Wednesday, 30 September at midnight MST. Finalists will be announced early October and winners will be announced during the 2015 Summit Awards Gala, 16 October.

The 2015 Summit Award elections will be accomplished in four polls of 2-3 categories. Each poll will take about 3 minutes. Voting for the 2015 Summit Awards is by secret ballot using the YourSAY™ electronic polling system. 

Summit 2015 Polling Schedule: 

Poll 1 (Distinguished Service Provider, Retailer, Community): Sept. 3 - 9

Poll 2 (Pet Owner, Wellness, Breeder): Sept. 10 - 16

Poll 3 (Collaborators, Homing, Lifetime Achievement): Sept. 17 - 23

Poll 4 (Communication, Sheltering, Individual Achievement): Sept. 24 - 30

The International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies has developed an overnight package for those who live close by or plan to be in the area on Friday, 16 October. Please contact Shannon Woodward for details.  

* All nominations are subject to the discretion of the Program Manager and Urban Animal Action Council. Nominations may be moved between categories if the merit discussion is better suited to another category. 

** Unless there is a clear distinction between submissions, nominees are only eligible in one category per year. Duplicate nominations found in more than one category will be vetted and placed into the single category that best suits the criteria.  

Get the Facts, Have YourSAY™, Move the Industry.

Summit Awards Poll THREE - Current Leaders

The current leaders in Poll THREE of the 2015 YourSay™ Summit Awards are identified below. Those who haven't yet voted, can still honour industry nominees by clicking on the VOTE NOW link below:

Collaborators
There are TWO nominations in this category: 
63.1% Alberta Alliance for the Safety of Animals and People / Pet Safekeeping Program
36.9% Ontario SPCA / City of Markham

Homing
There are FIVE nominations in this category: 
1.8% Jane Russett - Air Angels  
88.2% Shelley Cunningham - Litters N Critters Rescue
5.9%  Lyndsay Tischer - Humane Animal Rescue Team (hart) 
4.2% Judaea Dawn - Angels Animal Rescue Society 
<1% Britaney Courtney - RPets4U

VOTE NOW

In 2015, Urban Animal presents the tenth annual Summit Awards program by inviting the public to vote on Summit nominations. Please use the following link (copy and paste) to share this poll through email, websites and social media and other digital channels. Please note, you must use this EXACT link!

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07ebi3jtc3ie4ezvsf/start

Poll THREE closes Wednesday, 23 September at midnight MST. 

REVIEW NOMINATIONS

* All nominations are subject to the discretion of the Program Manager and Urban Animal Action Council. Nominations may be moved between categories if the merit discussion is better suited to another category. 

**Unless there is a clear distinction between submissions, nominees are only eligible in one category per year. Duplicate nominations found in more than one category will be vetted and placed into the single category that best suits the criteria.  

Get the Facts, Have YourSAY™, Move the Industry.

Summit Awards Poll THREE - NOW OPEN!

Poll TWO is now closed (thank you for your votes!) making way for Poll THREE. This third of four polls in the 2015 Summit Awards program elects the Summit Award winners for the following categories:

COLLABORATORS
HOMING

In 2015, Urban Animal presents the tenth annual Summit Awards program by inviting the public to vote on Summit nominations. Please use the following link (copy and paste) to share this poll through email, websites and social media and other digital channels: 

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07ebi3jtc3ie4ezvsf/start

Review all Nominations

VOTE NOW!!

This survey will close Wednesday, 23 September at midnight MST. Finalists will be announced early October and winners will be announced during the 2015 Summit Awards Gala, 16 October.

The 2015 Summit Award elections will be accomplished in four polls of 2-3 categories. Each poll will take about 3 minutes. Voting for the 2015 Summit Awards is by secret ballot using the YourSAY™ electronic polling system. 

Summit 2015 Polling Schedule: 

Poll 1 (Distinguished Service Provider, Retailer, Community): Sept. 3 - 9

Poll 2 (Pet Owner, Wellness, Breeder): Sept. 10 - 16

Poll 3 (Collaborators, Homing, Lifetime Achievement): Sept. 17 - 23

Poll 4 (Communication, Sheltering, Individual Achievement): Sept. 24 - 30

The International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies has developed an overnight package for those who live close by or plan to be in the area on Friday, 16 October. Please contact Shannon Woodward for details.  

* All nominations are subject to the discretion of the Program Manager and Urban Animal Action Council. Nominations may be moved between categories if the merit discussion is better suited to another category. 

** Unless there is a clear distinction between submissions, nominees are only eligible in one category per year. Duplicate nominations found in more than one category will be vetted and placed into the single category that best suits the criteria.  

Get the Facts, Have YourSAY™, Move the Industry.

Summit Award nomination deadline EXTENDED!

The deadline to submit Summit Award nominations has been extended 24 hours! You now have until today (Tuesday, September 1) at midnight to nominate the people and organizations that are making a difference and committed to creating healthy communities for pets and people. 

Nominations are sought in particular, for the Breeder, Communicator, Collaborators and Community Award categories. Though submissions are welcome in all categories. 

NOMINATE NOW!!! 

Last minute nominations still being accepted for Urban Animal Scholarships!

Attention Western Region! A limited number of spaces are still open to nominations in four Urban Animal scholarship categories for the Western Adjudication Event taking place in Calgary, Monday, April 20.

A maximum of SIX nominees in the Innovation Showcase, Digital Journalist and Research Poster scholarship categories are invited to the Adjudication Event to showcase pitch their case in a 10 minute presentation to the Action Council Adjudication panel. A maximum of FOUR candidates will be interviewed for Emerging Leader Scholarships.

Winners of these prestigious awards are granted full scholarships to attend the Summit for Urban Animal Strategies in October as well as national recognition and the opportunity to network with the leaders of the Urban Animal industry.

Innovation Showcase Nomination

Nominate a Digital Journalist

Research Poster Nomination

Nominate an Emerging Leader

Nominations for Emerging Leader Scholarships NOW OPEN!

Each year, eight Emerging Leaders are identified by their peers and awarded  an Urban Animal Emerging Leader Scholarship.

Emerging Leader Scholarships were launched in 2010 to illuminate the up and coming leaders in the pet industry. The goal is to grant these emerging leaders the opportunity to network with current leaders and gain executive insight into their sector.

NOMINATE AN EMERGING LEADER!

Nominees for the Emerging Leader Scholarship will be invited to appear before an adjudication panel of Action Council members in each region. This panel will select those receiving scholarships to attend the Summit for Urban Animal Strategies in October. The Action Council of the Urban Animal Foundation will confer these scholarships in a process aimed at bringing the top nominees in North America to present at the Summit.

Urban Animal™ sponsors, advocates and alumni are invited to nominate future thought leaders in four separate scholarship categories:

• The Jerry Aschenbrenner Scholarship (2013) enables two future leaders from Animal Control/Services
• The Frederick Lynn Webster Scholarship (2014) enables two future leaders from Animal Health/Wellness
• The Rolf C. Hagen Scholarship (2014) enables two future leaders from Retail and Commercial Services
• The Humane and Rescue Scholarship (2014) enables two future leaders from Humane and Rescue

Scholarships are valued at up to $2,700 and are funded by the Urban Animal Foundation. Recipients are awarded full delegate packages* for the Summit and up to $550 in travel subsidies. They also have the opportunity to develop a unique insight into collaboration between executive level leaders in North America’s Urban Animal industry.

*Delegate Package

The delegate package includes passes to all Urban Animal Sessions, three nights of Fairmont level accommodation, meals and gratuities. Nominees will celebrate collaboration, relationships and accomplishments with urban animal industry thought leaders at the Relationship Building Reception on Wednesday evening, the Foundation Dinner on Thursday evening, the Summit Awards Gala on Friday evening and the Urban Animal Keynote Breakfast on Saturday morning.

Get Ready, Get Set...

Nominations for Urban Animal programs are NOW OPEN and you are invited to consider the individuals, organizations, innovators and academics that surround you every day. Please take a moment to nominate these worthy people and programs for Urban Animal scholarships that will help drive awareness, recognition and support.

In 2014, the involvement of people like you helped us to successfully execute the Urban Animal programs that formed the foundation of the Summit for Urban Animal Strategies and the Regional Conferences. Nearly 300 community to executive level thought leaders participated in these events and feedback was overwhelmingly positive. We are anxiously looking forward to even greater success at this year’s events, which will be held April 14-22 and October 14-17.

As you know, 2015 is the 10th anniversary of Urban Animal. A number of program enhancements are being added including a new Urban Animal scholarship for Digital Journalists and a strengthened nomination process for other Urban Animal programs.

Nominations are now being accepted for the following programs:

• Innovation Showcase
• Research Poster
• Digital Journalist
• Summit Awards

Don't hesitate, NOMINATE TODAY! 

Four days left for Summit Award Nominations!!

The Summit Awards have been a part of the Urban Animal program since its inception in 2006. Summits illuminate the achievements of those who toil in the trenches of the industry in twelve different categories. Nominees for the Summits include individuals and organizations active in the Urban Animal Industry.

Nominations are still being accepted for this exciting program. This is a valuable opportunity to recognize peers with a prestigious Summit Award for the excellent efforts they bring to the Urban Animal industry.

NOMINATE NOW!

Summit categories have been updated to include opportunities for stakeholders across all Urban Animal Industry sectors. Award categories can be found HERE. 

Nominations close 29 August, 2014. A public polling process will follow, wrapping up 17 September when the top two finalists in each Summit category will be announced and invited to attend the 2014 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies.

Summits are presented using an academy style system of nominations and elimination rounds that feature the automated casting of secret ballots for each category. The nomination process begins immediately following the Regional Conferences and completes with the opening of the envelope indicating the winner of the Summit at the Friday evening gala of the International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies in October.

The top two nominees in each category are awarded a Scholarship worth up to $2,000 to attend the 2014 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies, October 22-25.  Scholarships include a Full Delegate Package and up to $550 towards travel costs. Nominating reps will be awarded an invitation to the Summit's Friday night gala as well as the Saturday morning Keynote and up to $500 in travel expenses.

The delegate package includes passes to all Urban Animal Sessions, three nights of Fairmont level accommodation, meals and gratuities. Nominees will celebrate collaboration, relationships and accomplishments with urban animal industry thought leaders at the Relationship Building Reception on Wednesday evening, the Foundation Dinner on Thursday evening, the Summit Awards Gala on Friday evening and the Urban Animal Keynote Breakfast on Saturday morning.

Please contact Sheena Neel with Summit Award questions. 

 

Get the facts, have YourSAY™, move the industry. 

Nominations for 2014 Summit Awards NOW OPEN!

The 2013 Summit Awards program experienced record-breaking numbers: 1,640 Urban Animal Subscribers were invited to vote for 56 nominated individuals and organizations in 12 categories. Qualified votes were received from just under 700 Urban Animal Subscribers across North America. 

In April, Urban Animal Regional Conference delegates kicked off the 2014 Summit Awards program by submitting 23 nominations. 

Nominations are now open for all Urban Animal Mentors, Advocates, Alumni, Associates, Subscribers, Collaborators and Sponsor organizations. This is a valuable opportunity to recognize peers with a prestigious Summit Award for the excellent efforts they bring to the Urban Animal Industry. 

Summit categories have been updated to include opportunities for stakeholders across all Urban Animal Industry sectors:

• 2014 Breeder Summit
• 2014 Collaborators Summit
• 2014 Communicator Summit
• 2014 Community Summit
• 2014 Distinguished Service Provider Summit
• 2014 Homing Summit
• 2014 Individual Achievement Summit
• 2014 Lifetime Achievement Summit
• 2014 Retailer Summit
• 2014 Shelter Summit
• 2014 Wellness Summit
• 2014 Pet Owner Summit 

AWARD CRITERIA               AWARD CATEGORIES 

The Urban Animal program's mission is to illuminate successful strategies for urban animals and to provide recognition for those who lead and innovate. 

The Summit Awards are an essential element of delivering on this mission. The Summits are presented annually using an academy style system of nominations followed by an open polling process. 

NOMINATE NOW! 

Jerry Aschenbrenner Scholarship for Emerging Leaders in Animal Services, Care and Control

Jerry Aschenbrenner, was born in Watson, SK, on the 16th day of April, 1940. Growing up with an agricultural background, three careers and life experiences gave him a breadth of understanding for humans and animals in the modern urban municipality. 

Jerry graduated from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Training Depot in Regina, Saskatchewan in 1959. As a member of Canada’s national police force, he moved through the ranks, enjoying rural policing and Highway Patrol duties in Western Canada. A highlight of his career was his involvement in VIP Security including his role coordinating motorcades during the Visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton. 

After a policing career that spanned 21 years, he began a second career with the Alberta Department of Justice. Working in the court system gave him at broader understanding of the judicial process. After two years in the Justice system Jerry began a third career managing Animal Services for the City of Calgary. His experience in policing and justice helped him to develop a new way of thinking about the complexities of human and animal interactions in modern urban neighbourhoods. 

He soon realized bylaw compliance needed an increase in monetary consequences for those who didn’t comply and an increase in value for the paying public. Within a decade, his City of Calgary department became a model for Animal Services across North America. A drive-home program for lost animals, zero subsidies from municipal taxes and the ‘People for Responsible Animal Control’ (PRAC) program were three elements of this success. Ever the humble one, he refused celebrity status, choosing instead to focus on serving the city that paid his salary. His crowning achievements were opening a modern Animal Services facility and accepting the first Summit for Lifetime Achievement from Urban Animal™. 

Jerry’s commitment to community and his understanding of compliance are achievements for which Urban Animal™ has named the Emerging Leader Scholarship for Animal Services, Care and Control as the ‘Jerry Aschenbrenner Scholarship’. 

In 2014, two scholarships will be awarded under the Urban Animal™ Emerging Leader program and recognized during the 2014 Urban Animal™ Foundation Dinner on Thursday evening, October 23rd.

NOMINATE AN EMERGING LEADER! 

EMERGING LEADER CRITERIA

2014/2015 Innovation Showcase kicks off

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED for the 2014/2015 Innovation Showcase. This Urban Animal program is intended to illuminate the successful achievements of those who toil in the Urban Animal Industry and to ensure these Innovators are recognized for their efforts. 

Six candidates will be accepted for each of the four regions and provided with a 10 minute slot to present their innovation to delegates at the Regional Conferences in April. Leading Innovators in each region will be selected by their peers to present at a national level to delegates at the Summit for Urban Animal Strategies in October and vie for a chance to become the 2014 Innovator of the Year and Keynote Address for next year's Conferences. 

NOMINATE AN INNOVATOR TODAY!

The nomination process will close 19 March 2014. For a summary and rules relating to the Innovation Showcase, CLICK HERE. 

SUMMIT 2013 POLLS REACH ALL TIME HIGH

The 2013 YourSay™ Summit Award Polls are rewriting Summit history. Even though polls don't close until October tenth, more Urban Animal Subscribers have already voted than ever before. Each poll was presented to 1,652 Urban Animal Subscribers and the current response rate is indicated here below.

Those who haven't yet voted, can still honour industry nominees by clicking on the YourSay™ Poll below:

Poll 1 - Current response rate of 21% on Summit awards for Community Compliance, Distinguished Service Provider, Product or Service Innovation, Sheltering

Poll 2 - Current response rate of 30% on Summit awards for Community Collaboration, Individual Achievement, Retailer, Wellness

Poll 3 - Current response rate of 55% on Summit awards for Breeder, Communication, Homing, Lifetime Achievement

Polls close Thursday, 10 October 2013. 

REVIEW NOMINATIONS

The 2013 Summit Awards will be presented during the Awards Gala on Friday, 18 October 2013. This event is open to the public.

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.

PIJAC Canada's Call for Nominations

PIJAC Canada's Nominating Committee is looking at filling three vacancies on the National Board. Elections will take place during the association's AGM on 16 September in Toronto. 

Interested PIJAC Canada members in good standing need to submit their candidacy to our head office no later than the end of business day on Wednesday, 7 August. Members can find details in the member section of the PIJAC Canada website by clicking on the My Resources button with their online member account or by contacting head office directly at 1-800-667-7452 or information@pijaccanada.com.

Summit - Animal Wellness Award

The Animal Wellness award, presented by PetSecure Pet Insurance, recognizes the efforts of an organization to improve the overall levels of wellness for pet families in a particular client base, a specific community or industry sector. 

Important primarily because of its widespread reach from single pet families to entire communities, this International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies award encompasses compassion and is the essence of the Animal Health and Wellness sector.

NOMINATION FORM

In 2011, that organization was the Alberta Spay and Neuter Task Force (ASNTF) for its work with many First Nations communities in Alberta to assist their communities in reducing human health issues that have resulted from pet overpopulation problems and help community members care for their pets responsibly. The Task Force also works with rescue groups who assist with rehoming unwanted or stray animals. 

VISIT ASNTF WEBSITE

Animal Sheltering Award

Presented by PetSmart Charities of Canada, the Animal Sheltering award acknowledges the extraordinary efforts to address both the physical and psychological aspects of animal care for animals in shelters, pounds, retail outlets, kennels, veterinary clinics, grooming shops and other facilities where animals are housed. The Animal Sheltering award is a quintessential example of recognition in all four sectors of the companion animal industry.

NOMINATION FORM

Only one nominee met the vetting criteria for the 2011 ISUAS Animal Sheltering award. The City of Edmonton, Animal Care and Control Centre was selected for its construction of a new facility to safely house pets while providing excellence in health care and incorporating best practices in cleanliness and disease management. 

VISIT EDMONTON ACCC WEBSITE  

Nominations for the International Summit of Urban Animal Strategies award nominations are accepted until 14 September 2012. Nominees must meet eligibility criteria. 

Animal Homing Award

The first of a dozen awards handed out at the Summit for Urban Animal Strategies recognizes an organization that demonstrates innovation, commitment and extraordinary effort in homing animals through adoption, sale and fostering programs. 

Presented by IAMS Canada, the Animal Homing award nominees should demonstrate exemplary community and industry collaboration, commitment to creating responsible pet communities and peer recognition. 

NOMINATION FORM

Past winners of the Animal Homing category award include Capitol Regional District (2008), Lincoln County Humane Society (2009) and Edmonton Humane Society (2010). 

In 2011, Toronto Animal Services (TAS) walked away from the summit with the prestigious award and in turn, garnered recognition, awareness and respect from fellow industry ambassadors both at home and across the country.  

TORONTO ANIMAL SERVICES

Nominated for its outstanding statistics in pet adoption, TAS stood out because of its extensive efforts to find first and forever homes for animals in the Toronto area. Assuming a multi-faceted approach to rehoming, TAS increased pet adoption numbers by 18 per cent.