Benevolence is the New Black: Unique Ways to Give Back in Canada in 2020

Whether you're passionate about climate change or animal welfare, personal accountability is key. If climate action is your cause, consider taking the bus, hang drying your clothes and shopping at thrift shops. Consume less. Consider the legacy you want to leave. Change can be uncomfortable but nothing worth doing is easy.

Self-awareness is paramount and we're starting to see people adapt their lifestyles to reflect the changes they'd like to see in the world. Frivolity, short-termism and talk without action are no longer acceptable.

So as you goal set for the ahead, I hope you'll consider supporting the following causes. Whether it's donating, volunteering, or simply having a conversation about these organizations with the person next to you, I hope that 2020 marks the dawn of a new decade - a decade of socially engaged, enlightened, informed, empathetic, benevolent Canadians. You CAN make a difference.

Northern Hope Dog Rescue (NHDRS) is a non-profit rescue organization committed to finding loving homes for stray/unwanted dogs from remote Canadian communities. They are a foster-run organization in Vancouver and Vancouver Island (Comox to Victoria). NHDRS works alongside partners in Saskatchewan to give these dogs a second chance at life, finding them loving forever homes on the west coast. The rescue typically looks for people who have tickets booked from Saskatoon or Regina to Vancouver, Victoria, Comox, or Nanaimo who are willing to allow them to add a dog or dogs to their ticket and escort the dogs to their foster and/or forever homes. (Saskatchewan and BC)

Wild Horses of Alberta Society’s mission is to ensure the provision of all aspects of the conservation and humane treatment of wild horses in Alberta. WHOAS Objectives are to protect the environment by working with the government to establish reasonable and achievable wild horse population management solutions. They promote the welfare of wild horses by rescuing, gentling and rehoming wild horses and by operating a wild horse adoption program. WHOAS advances education by participating in research by collecting data to support scientific research that will add to overall public understanding and increasing knowledge to the scientific community. I have a friend who rescued two 'wildies,' and they're absolutely magnificent animals. (Alberta)

Alberta Spay & Neuter Task Force (ASNTF) partners with communities who request guidance, support, and resources to humanely manage their companion animal population, in order to improve the safety of their community and well being of the animals. Formed in 2008 as a response to the need for a proactive solution to pet overpopulation. ASNTF held their first on-site clinic for the Blood Tribe First Nation in September 2010. To date, they have examined, spayed and neutered, tattooed, vaccinated and dewormed over 15,000 companion animals and placed an addition 6,300 surrendered animals with partner rescue groups. (Alberta)

Critter Care Wildlife Society is Critter Care Wildlife Society specializes in the treatment, care and release of sick, injured and orphaned Native Mammal species of British Columbia’s Southern and Lower Mainland. They're the only facility in BC specializing in the care of mammals and one of only four bear rehabilitation facilities in the province. You can get involved by joining their volunteer program or donating. (BC)

C&M Horse Haven is a husband and wife run rescue that saves horses from slaughter and adopts them out to loving homes. What makes this rescue unique is Christine's notably horse savvy. Christine is an experienced horsewoman. I rescued my horse from slaughter and plan on rescuing my next horse through Christine. (Alberta and BC)

Manitoba Animal Alliance rescues and rehomes dogs and cats from rural communities in northern Manitoba. The lifespan of a northern dog in some communities is below 1.7 years. The group rescues homeless, injured, and abandoned pets and flies them to foster and forever homes. The group needs flights sponsors, donations and foster homes. Foster homes are often in Manitoba and Ontario. (Manitoba and Ontario)

Second Chance Cheekye Ranch is located in Squamish. SCCR aims to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome horses and donkeys in need. Over 37,000 horses were needlessly slaughtered in Canada in 2017. Horse slaughter is prevalent in Canada and happens weekly. The group aims to save as many as they can and to help stop the Canadian horse meat industry altogether. (BC)

The Canadian Horse Defense Coalition is a Canada-wide initiative. Every week, unwanted and abused horses are disposed of at slaughter horses (in horrifying condition) and shipped live, all the way to Asia for meat. The coalition is a collective of people and national groups that have joined forces in order to ban the slaughter of equines for human consumption in Canada, as well as the export of live horses to other countries for the same purpose. You can support the group through donations for legal fees and by emailing your local MP, as well as Justin Trudeau. Fundamentally, horse slaughter happens due to lack of policy and enforcement regarding the over-breeding of horses and lack of consequence for people who abuse their animals. (Canada-wide)

The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is a national conservation program that provides Canadians the opportunity to take action in their communities wherever water meets land. My sister Kasey hosts one in Kits Beach every summer. Reach out to her directly to join. (BC/Canada)

MEOW Foundation is a specialized cat-focused registered charity and humane society with a no-kill mandate. We rescue and facilitate the adoption of stray and abandoned cats into new, loving permanent homes. We work hard to ensure that each MEOW cat is matched with the best possible home based on his or her personality, history, habits and individual needs. In addition to our Rescue and Adoption program, MEOW Foundation offers a subsidized Spay Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP), Cat Food Assistance Program and Trap Neuter Return (TNR) Program for cats living in the Calgary community. MEOW Foundation also offers cat care information and spay/neuter education to the public to promote responsible pet ownership and reduce the problem of pet overpopulation. (Alberta)

ROARR strives to relieve the conditions associated with youth and elderly in need, by providing Equine Assisted Learning and related therapies. EAL is an experiential life skills program that helps participants become strong, confident human beings. Participants engage in objective driven exercises and find themselves learning valuable life skills in a fun exciting atmosphere while working with horses. (Alberta)

I rescued by horse from slaughter in the Lower Mainland sixteen years ago and adopted my cats from the MEOW Foundation. Rescuing and rehabilitating animals is one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have.

This year, I donated to the Alberta Spay Neuter Task Force, AARCS and in 2020 I am volunteering at ROARR.

I sincerely hope that you'll consider donating to, volunteering at and/or raising awareness about these worthy causes. Let's create a more engaged, benevolent world for generations to come.