Over an elegant backdrop of the Sobey Art Award Exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, advocates unveiled a hidden truth about the award’s funders. While the art world gathered to celebrate creativity and philanthropy, Animal Justice delivered a powerful message about Sobeys’ caged hens—exposing how the grocery giant remains deeply entrenched in the art of deception when it comes to animal welfare.
On October 2, as leaders took to the podium at the exhibition, noting Sobeys’ representatives in the audience, five advocates quietly lined up and opened their blazers to reveal an important message: Sobeys is still selling eggs from caged hens that endure horrific cruelty. It was a strategic moment to ensure our message reached those with the power to initiate change, while drawing in artists and attendees through respectful silence. People recognized the gravity of the message and took out their phones to photograph the demonstration, helping spread awareness beyond the gallery walls.
This latest action comes two months into Animal Justice’s public campaign demanding accountability from Sobeys for its decade-old cage-free policy following an undercover investigation at a Sobeys egg supplier.
Since Animal Justice released shocking investigation footage of horrific cage conditions at a Sobeys egg supplier in British Columbia, the company’s customer service reps have said that Sobeys is “working towards phasing out this system by the end of the year.”
But despite nationwide protests and more than 15,000 emails from Canadians to Sobeys’ leadership, CEO Michael Medline has yet to demonstrate leadership before his pending retirement and Sobeys has yet to publish a plan to make cage-free progress.
Help us keep up the pressure!
