Demonstrators have gathered outside a Concord banquet hall where a trophy hunting show is taking place today.
Vendors at the show, hosted by African Events Canada, offer attendees information about booking trips to Africa to hunt animals, including lions, leopards, elephants and hippopotamuses.
But animal rights activists have set up shop in front of the venue to protest the practice of trophy hunting.
“These are beautiful, majestic and mostly endangered animals,” protester Katie Rankin told CP24.
“It is basically just the thrill of the kill. They don’t care about anything else. It’s a trophy, it’s not for food or warmth.”
On Friday, Birgit Johnstone, the organizer of the trophy hunting show, was left scrambling to find a venue after Borgata Wedding and Event Venue in Vaughan cancelled African Events Canada’s booking earlier in the day.
Speaking to The Canadian Press, the organizer said “threats” were allegedly made by animal rights advocates and the owner of the venue cited safety reasons when asked about the cancellation.
It was the second time the show had its venue fall through.
The event was initially supposed to take place at a Holiday Inn near Pearson International Airport but Johnstone said that fell through following protests from Animal Justice.
-With files from The Canadian Press