Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the conference? 

The Summit for Animals will be held at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler from April 19 to 21, 2026 in Whistler, British Columbia.

Here's a detailed breakdown of each day:

• Sunday, April 19: 
  • Half-day Pre-conference Deep Dives, sponsored by Edmonton Humane Society. Optional. Additional registration is required. Five tracks to choose from.
  • Opening social. More details to come. Additional registration may be required.
     
• Monday, April 21:
  • Summit, Day 1
  • Yappy Hour, sponsored by Veterinov.
     
• Tuesday, April 22:
  • Summit Day 2

What is the difference between the Pre-conference Deep Dives and the Summit?

Great question!

The Pre-conference Deep Dives take place on Sunday, April 19, and run for half a day. You’ll choose one of five immersive tracks to attend:

• Preparing for Emergency Response
• Leadership - Pioneering Progress
• Shelter Medicine
• Humane Education
• Psychological Health & Safety

This optional add-on offers in-depth learning through hands-on workshops and small-group discussions. It’s perfect for those looking to dive deep into a focused topic before the main conference begins.
 

The Summit is our main two-day conference, happening on Monday, April 20 and Tuesday, April 21. Unlike the Deep Dives, you’re not limited to one track, you can mix and match sessions across tracks on both days.

Here are the confirmed Summit tracks:

April 20

• Shelter Medicine
• Community Impact
• Humane Education
• Farmed Animal Welfare

April 21

• Marketing, PR and Fund Development
• Urban Wildlife
• Volunteer Management and Engagement
• Community Impact (continues)

When does conference registration open, and when will the schedule be available? 

Registration opens in December 2025, and the full schedule will be released then. Enjoy super early-bird pricing once registration opens. Sign up early and save up to $200!

Notification and pricing details will be emailed to everyone on our Summit email list.

How much does it cost to attend the conference?

Super Early Bird rates will be available when registration opens in December 2025. These limited-time discounts can save you up to $200, so be sure to register early!

We offer two ticket categories for the Summit for Animals:

• Humane Canada members, associates, and students*: $372**
• General public: $412**

** Prices above cover the two-day Summit (April 20–21, 2026).

Super Early Bird pricing is only available for a limited time.

Pre-conference Deep Dives (April 19) are available at an additional cost:

• $120 for members, associates, and students
• $148 for the public

* Humane Canada members and associates are organizations that hold official membership or associate status with us. These include humane societies, SPCAs, rescues, TNR groups, municipal shelters, and more. Learn more about becoming a member or associate here.

What kind of content was offered during past conferences? 

Humane Canada’s Summit for Animals has strived to stay at the forefront of the latest animal welfare trends. Past educational tracks have included: 

• Access to Care
• Action, advocacy and government relations 
• Advocacy and building humane communities 
• Advocacy and education 
• Alternatives to animal use in research and testing 
• Animal ethics 
• Animal law and enforcement 
• Animal sentience 
• Animal welfare and COVID-19 
• Animal welfare and human behavioural intersections 
• Animals and the law 
• Applied animal welfare science 
• Build and Innovate
• Canine sheltering and community 
• Canine welfare and behaviour 
• Cats in Canada 
• Challenges to effective legal protection for animals 
• Communications and fund development 
• Community-supported animal sheltering 
• Companion Animals
• Diversity, inclusion and reconciliation 
• Education and advocacy 
• Enforcement 
• Farmed animal welfare 
• Feline welfare and behaviour 
• Fund development and marketing 
• Leadership
• Leadership and management 
• Leadership and organizational strength 
• New developments in animal welfare 
• One health, one welfare 
• Operational best practices (governance, fundraising, finance and change management) 
• Outreach and engagement 
• Protecting vulnerable animals 
• Science and research 
• Shelter medicine and animal care 
• Sheltering for change 
• Sheltering in the 21st century 
• Standards, guidelines and certification 
• Tackling Fatigue & Building Resilience
• The future of sheltering 
• Volunteer Management and Engagement
• Wild and Farmed Animals
• Wildlife welfare 

I am interested in speaking, what should I do? 

The Call for Speakers is now open! If you're interested in contributing your knowledge and expertise, please view the application here.

Can I volunteer at the Summit for Animals?

First of all, thank you for your interest in volunteering at our conference! We will know our volunteer needs in the early spring of 2026. If you are interested in volunteering, please get in touch with us at events@humanecanada.ca and ensure you add your name to our Summit for Animals email list to learn about potential volunteering opportunities at this conference.

We send conference-related emails once to twice per month.

Who organizes this conference?

Humane Canada.

We are the federation of humane societies and SPCAs, and the convener of animal welfare in Canada.

To learn more about us visit our website. If you have additional questions please reach out to info@humanecanada.ca.