Thursday, 16 April 2009, dawned bright and sunny in Halifax for the second annual Atlantic Regional Summit. Twenty-four industry leaders from across all four industry sectors were present. The Halifax Ballroom of the Marriot Halifax Harbourfront Hotel looks out over the beautiful and much improved Halifax harbour with traffic from Canada’s East Coast Naval Station, fishing boats, commercial traffic and the Dartmouth/Halifax ferry service. It was hard not to feel a sense of opportunity and openness to new ideas against this background.
David Webb, Associate Vice President of Ipsos Canada presented the 2008 National Urban Animal Survey. The Urban Animal Metrics discovered in this survey led to a lively discussion. Understanding the numbers of pets in our communities today and the dollars being spent on the products and services they consume can provide a solid foundation upon which to build urban animal strategies for the organizations and communities represented at this summit.
The luncheon provided an opportunity for organizations and individuals to establish new relationships and discuss areas of common interest in the communities they represented across the Atlantic Region. The interaction between individuals who were previously unknown to each other is expected to continue to pay dividends during the coming years.

The afternoon session provided a robust discussion of how communities could move toward a more feline friendly environment. A number of good ideas emerged that will be forwarded to the National Summit in October. Larry Evans, President & CEO of PetLynx facilitated the afternoon session and Judi Cannon, Manager of Community Automation for PetLynx recorded the input from this forum. The environmental survey completed by delegates in advance of the summit provided a foundation for these discussions.
Much thanks to our colleagues from Halifax Animal Services and the Moncton SPCA who collaborated to create the successful 2009 event. A big thank you to Romy Sharpiro, Territory Manager for Petsecure Pet Health Insurance and Heather Creamer, Territory Manager for P&G PetCare for their assistance during the day and for providing additional values to delegates. Other allies such as PetSmart Charities, CDMV, Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, Canadian Kennel Club and PIJAC Canada also contribute value as co- sponsors of the Summits for Urban Animal Strategies.
The number of associates and alumni of the Summits for Urban Animal Strategies in Atlantic Canada has now reached 31 up from 12 in 2008. A post event survey will allow delegates to celebrate the good things that were accomplished and assist organizers to add greater value to those attending the 2010 Atlantic Regional Summit.
David Webb, Associate Vice President of Ipsos Canada presented the 2008 National Urban Animal Survey. The Urban Animal Metrics discovered in this survey led to a lively discussion. Understanding the numbers of pets in our communities today and the dollars being spent on the products and services they consume can provide a solid foundation upon which to build urban animal strategies for the organizations and communities represented at this summit.
The luncheon provided an opportunity for organizations and individuals to establish new relationships and discuss areas of common interest in the communities they represented across the Atlantic Region. The interaction between individuals who were previously unknown to each other is expected to continue to pay dividends during the coming years.
The afternoon session provided a robust discussion of how communities could move toward a more feline friendly environment. A number of good ideas emerged that will be forwarded to the National Summit in October. Larry Evans, President & CEO of PetLynx facilitated the afternoon session and Judi Cannon, Manager of Community Automation for PetLynx recorded the input from this forum. The environmental survey completed by delegates in advance of the summit provided a foundation for these discussions.
Much thanks to our colleagues from Halifax Animal Services and the Moncton SPCA who collaborated to create the successful 2009 event. A big thank you to Romy Sharpiro, Territory Manager for Petsecure Pet Health Insurance and Heather Creamer, Territory Manager for P&G PetCare for their assistance during the day and for providing additional values to delegates. Other allies such as PetSmart Charities, CDMV, Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, Canadian Kennel Club and PIJAC Canada also contribute value as co- sponsors of the Summits for Urban Animal Strategies.
The number of associates and alumni of the Summits for Urban Animal Strategies in Atlantic Canada has now reached 31 up from 12 in 2008. A post event survey will allow delegates to celebrate the good things that were accomplished and assist organizers to add greater value to those attending the 2010 Atlantic Regional Summit.