12/01/2025
𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬
On the anniversary of the Agriculture Minister’s December 16, 2021 mandate letter—one that included a clear promise to end live horse exports for slaughter—Canadians across the country are coming together for a peaceful candlelight vigil to honour the thousands of horses who have suffered and died since that commitment was made.
Despite the Liberal Party’s 2021 pledge to ban this industry, more than 10,700 Canadian horses have been shipped on gruelling long-haul flights to Japan since the Agriculture Minister was mandated to make good on the commitment. Many arrive injured, severely dehydrated, or deeply stressed. They are doused with harsh disinfectant chemicals as they arrive at quarantine facilities, fattened, and violently slaughtered. Others never make it off the planes alive. Horses regularly die during transport or in the hours and days that follow—victims of untreated injuries, extreme exhaustion, and even tragic miscarriages.
𝐀 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
Animal Justice, along with the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition, Humane World for Animals Canada, and local partner organizations will be hosting 11 coordinated events across Canada on December 16, bringing together communities from coast to coast in unity, compassion, and determination. Together, we will honour the horses whose lives were taken and remind our government that these animals must not be forgotten.
Participating cities:
• Calgary
• Charlottetown
• Edmonton
• Halifax
• London
• Moncton
• Montreal
• Ottawa
• Toronto
• Vancouver
• Winnipeg
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥
• Standing together in solidarity and compassion
• Reflections and shared words from community members and advocates
• A moment of silence to honour the horses who have been lost
• The opportunity to lay letters, flowers, candles, or symbolic items at a shared memorial
• A collective call for the government to act now and end this cruelty
𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐬
As part of this national day of remembrance, we are also inviting Members of Parliament to attend and speak at vigils across the country. Their presence is a meaningful opportunity to acknowledge the importance of making good on the 2021 promise to Canadians, listen directly to their constituents, and demonstrate support across party lines for ending live horse exports for slaughter. We hope MPs from all parties will join us in honouring the lives lost and committing to urgent action.
For more details about the event in your area, links are shared in the comments below.
More details can also be found here: https://animaljustice.ca/take-action/nationwide-candlelight-vigil-for-the-horses-lost-to-live-exports
