Hero Toolkit | Voiceless

About #Voiceless4AnimalJustice

#Voiceless4AnimalJustice is an annual crowdfundraising campaign that allows our supporters to collect funds to support our efforts to transform Canada into a kinder country for animals. This year’s campaign is entirely dedicated to funding our legal fight to strike down Canada’s ag gag laws in court, including upcoming lawsuits in Ontario and Alberta.

During the campaign, supporters will share pre-made graphics on social media that will educate the public about ag gag laws. On the last day of #Voiceless4AnimalJustice, supporters will take action with a 24-hour vow of silence for animals who are silenced by ag gag laws. Supporters will post on social media with a red “X” on their hand and over their mouth, making a powerful visual statement.

#Voiceless4AnimalJustice 2020 launches on October 23, 2020 and ends with a day of silence on Saturday, November 14, 2020. (Note that it’s fine to go silent on another day of your choice if more convenient!)

What are “ag gag” laws?

#Voiceless4AnimalJustice Hero Toolkit

Thank you so much for joining our #Voiceless4AnimalJustice and for helping Animal Justice protect animals! We’re so excited to have you on board. This page is your #Voiceless4AnimalJustice Toolkit, explaining all you need to know, including:

Hey #Voiceless4AnimalJustice Hero!

About #Voiceless4AnimalJustice

#Voiceless4AnimalJustice is an annual crowdfundraising campaign that empowers our supporters to collect funds to support our efforts to transform Canada into a kinder country for animals.

During the campaign, supporters will share pre-made graphics on social media that will educate the public about what makes Canada's animal protection laws some of the worst in the western world, and why the desperately need to change. On the last day of #Voiceless4AnimalJustice, supporters will take action with a 24-hour vow of silence for animals who are silenced by industries, and our legal and political systems. Supporters will post on social media with a red “X” on their hand and over their mouth, making a powerful visual statement.

#Voiceless4AnimalJustice 2021 launches on Wednesday October 13, 2021 and ends with a day of silence on Saturday, November 6, 2021. (Note that it’s fine to go silent on another day of your choice if more convenient!)

What is Animal Justice?

Animal Justice is Canada’s only national animal law advocacy organization working to protect animals from cruelty and neglect. Our lawyers make sure animals have a voice in court, push for stronger laws, and raise the profile of animals in the media.

To learn more about Animal Justice’s life-saving work, watch our 2020 Year In Review video below.

Campaign breakdown

#Voiceless4AnimalJustice kicks off on October 13, 2021 and runs for about three weeks. Participants will encourage their friends, families, and colleagues to contribute to their own individual fundraising pages, and the proceeds will go toward ensuring Animal Justice can continue to work to give animals the legal protections they need.

On the final day of the campaign, November 6, participants will pledge to go silent for an entire day in solidarity with and to advocate for the animals whose voices are silenced. If you can't join on November 6, feel free to choose another day to go voiceless.

Leading up to the day of silence, post graphics on social media to educate others about Canada's weak animal protection laws (more on that in the “Posting on Social Media” section of this document).

On the day of silence on November 6, you can post a picture with a red X on your hand like this one:

While you are participating in the day of silence you can communicate online or via written messages.

We have a huge selection of fabulous prizes from ethical brands to be awarded to the top fundraisers and teams in these categories. This year's prize for our 1st Place Top Fundraiser is a luxury vegan parka from Wuxly Movement!

Our fundraising prize categories include:

1st Place Top Individual Fundraiser
2nd Place Top Individual Fundraiser
3rd Place Top Individual Fundraiser
Most Individual Donors
Top Fundraising Team
First Fundraiser to Raise $200
First Fundraiser to Raise $500
First Fundraiser to Raise $750
Completed Personal Fundraising Page by October 15, 2021
Using the Hashtag #Voiceless4AnimalJustice
Best Personal Story Shared on Fundraising Page or Social Media

How to get started!

We each have our own individual fundraising pages on the platform Qgiv. The platform will guide you through the setup process. You’ll notice really neat tools like the ability to import your email list so you can email your contacts, the ability to post on social media with pre-made template posts, and fun badges to award your achievements.
- Go to animaljustice.ca/voiceless and either join as a team or as an individual.

Join the Facebook group for #Voiceless4AnimalJustice heroes! We’ll share helpful info and motivate each other throughout the campaign.

Join Facebook group

You can contact the #Voiceless4AnimalJustice lead Shannon Nickerson at any time with questions at shannon@animaljustice.ca

Fundraising tips

Ask friends, family and co-workers to support the #Voiceless4AnimalJustice campaign.
Ask your network of friends, family or co-workers, or company to match a personal donation.
Make a short video or livestream for social media about why you are fundraising for #Voiceless4AnimalJustice.
Hold a workshop teaching one of your skills, with proceeds going to your #Voiceless4AnimalJustice campaign.
Have a yard sale.
Sell items online.
Get creative and have fun!

Posting on social media &

share graphics

Below, you'll find social media graphics that you can download and post leading up to the November 6 day of silence.
- Square graphics are for Instagram, Facebook and Twitter static posts
- Vertical graphics are for Instagram and Facebook stories.
- The horizontal graphic is for a Facebook cover photo
As mentioned above, on the November 6 day of silence, post a picture of yourself with a red X on your hand, asking people to donate for the cause. Some photos from previous years looked like this:

Best practices
- All posts should include the hashtag #Voiceless4AnimalJustice
- Sharing personal stories is a great way to engage people on the issue.
  - Example: If you’re an animal advocate who bears witness to animals in transport outside slaughterhouses, you can share a story about a suffering animal you’ve personally seen.
- Tag us on Instagram @animaljustice_ and on Twitter @AnimalJustice so we can repost you!
- Include a link to your campaign in the bio of your Twitter, and Instagram and in the caption of your #Voiceless4AnimalJustice themed Facebook cover photo so people can access it easily!