Montreal, April 20 2017 – As part of Montreal’s 375th anniversary celebrations, the Coderre administration and the 375th anniversary committee are planning to hold a rodeo from August 24 to 27, 2017 in the old port. Rodeos have no cultural or historical connection to our city, and, more importantly, subject animals to fear, stress, and undue risk of injury or even death – all for the purpose of so-called entertainment. Today, the Montreal SPCA is launching the campaign Montreal alive and rodeo free! to halt the Coderre administration’s plans and stop a rodeo from being held in our city.
NomadFest Urban Rodeo is set to feature bull riding, as well as bareback and saddle bronco riding. These events are designed to provide entertainment based on fear and domination. “The Montreal SPCA has always voiced our firm opposition to so-called entertainment activities, such as rodeos, that subject animals to unnecessary suffering. This barbaric activity has no place in Montreal,” says Me Alanna Devine, Director of Animal Advocacy at the Montreal SPCA. “While pro-rodeo advocates like to tout statistics about the “small” number of animals injured or killed during rodeos, these figures do not take into account the animals harmed during practice or training behind the scenes, or even the horses sent to slaughter who do not qualify to compete,” she adds. In fact, each year, the Calgary Stampede—Canada’s largest rodeo —sends at least 20 horses to slaughter after they fail to qualify for bucking events.
The Montreal SPCA’s campaign website offers a comprehensive overview of why rodeos are cruel and straightforward ways for the public to take action.
The Montreal SPCA invites the public to visit the campaign to :
- Learn the alarming truth about rodeos and read what experts have to say about this form of “entertainment”
- Take action by signing a letter to Mayor Denis Coderre and Montreal’s 375th anniversary committee asking them to cancel Nomadfest Urban Rodeo
- Ask 375th anniversary sponsors to follow Loblaws’ example and disassociate themselves from the rodeo
- Share our campaign
“The NomadFest Urban Rodeo is an embarrassment to Montreal. Together, we can put pressure on the mayor, as well as the organizers and sponsors of the 375th celebrations, to cancel this inhumane event! Please join us today and let’s celebrate Montreal – rodeo-free,” says Me Sophie Gaillard, lawyer for the Animal Advocacy Department of the Montreal SPCA.
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Media contact: Anita Kapuscinska, Communications Manager, Montreal SPCA, 514 656-2760, or anitak@spca.com.
About the Montreal SPCA Founded in Montreal in 1869, we were the first animal welfare society in Canada and our mission is to:
- protect animals against negligence, abuse, and exploitation;
- represent their interests and ensure their well-being;
- raise public awareness and help develop compassion for all living beings.
For more information about the Montreal SPCA, please visit our website at www.spca.com.
