Taking care of mink is a big job but these farmers are happy to do it. In this video, you’ll visit Dean’s Canadian mink farm and see exactly what it’s like to care for mink. You’ll learn what mink eat, where they live, and why their care and comfort are top priority for Canadian mink farmers. Watch the video to learn more and visit www.FarmFood360.ca to tour other Canadian farms and food-processing facilities.

Canadian mink farming is an industry proud to be environmentally sustainable. That means that mink are cared for and raised in a manner that ensures nothing is wasted. In this video, you’ll visit a Canadian mink farm and learn all about what Canadian mink farmers do to reduce, reuse and recycle to lessen their carbon footprint and preserve the environment for future generations. Visit the Canadian FarmFood360 website at www.FarmFood360.ca.

The Canadian mink industry is about a lot more than fur. In this video, you’ll meet Jenny and Ted, Canadian mink farmers, and hear about all the different products that the mink farming industry creates. Whether it’s fur for high fashion or oil for biodiesel, there are several different uses for Canadian mink. Visit the Canadian FarmFood360 website at www.FarmFood360.ca.

Ontario trapper Jim Gibb proudly sports one of his ring seal vests in Iqaluit at the celebration of the seal. Jim started trapping at 14 years old, and has had a registered trapline in the Timmins area of Ontario since 1983. He is a past president of the Timmins Fur Council which is one of the most active trapping councils in Ontario. He has been a certified trapping instructor since 1987, teaching courses in North Bay, Timmins, Bracebridge, Chapleau and Gogama. He has been involved with trapper training in Ontario, Yukon, North West Territories and Nunavut, holding numerous fur-handling workshops. He was heavily involved with Fur Harvesters Auction for 20 years sitting on the board of directors, and worked as the director of public relations for eight years. He is a member of the board of the Fur Institute of Canada, and of its Trap Research and Development Committee. (Updated: June 2018) By Jim Gibb on Truth About Fur - The Blog: The value of an active trapper: Maintaining trails, unplugging culverts, saving tax dollars. March 29, 2018.

Jeff Traynor traps for fur across southern New Hampshire and considers proper education and support for regulated fur trapping a key component of modern wildlife conservation. He is a state-licensed Wildlife Control Operator and also works as a Wildlife Conflict Management Consultant for many local clients. As of 2018, he sits on the Board of Directors for the New Hampshire Trappers’ Association. He also manages LiveFreeAndTrap.com, a blog and resource website which presents the benefits of regulated fur trapping and conservation in New Hampshire and the greater New England area. By Jeff Traynor on Truth About Fur - The Blog: Trappers: Conservation's "black sheep" or unsung heroes? August 9, 2017. Sportsmen must unite to protect all hunting, fishing, trapping. October 28, 2016.

Jeff Traynor traps for fur across southern New Hampshire and considers proper education and support for regulated fur trapping a key component of modern wildlife conservation. He is a state-licensed Wildlife Control Operator and also works as a Wildlife Conflict Management Consultant for many local clients. As of 2018, he sits on the Board of Directors for the New Hampshire Trappers’ Association. He also manages LiveFreeAndTrap.com, a blog and resource website which presents the benefits of regulated fur trapping and conservation in New Hampshire and the greater New England area. By Jeff Traynor on Truth About Fur - The Blog: Trappers: Conservation's "black sheep" or unsung heroes? August 9, 2017. Sportsmen must unite to protect all hunting, fishing, trapping. October 28, 2016.

Alcide Giroux (1945-2018), known to his friends as “Ti Loup”, demonstrates a small Conibear trap for marten to war veteran Roland Giroux (not related) at a trapping workshop in 1986.

Alcide’s life as a trapper began in 1951, near Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, when he was just six years old. His family had moved into the old homestead his grandfather built in the 1920s. There was no electricity or indoor plumbing, and Alcide and his siblings had to cross the Sturgeon River in a homemade boat before walking to school – a walk that provided opportunities for the young Alcide to snare rabbits to complement the moose and beaver in his mother’s stew pot. It was God’s Country back then, he later recalled, with wilderness and wildlife all around. Their trap lines began at the farmhouse door.

A few years later, Alcide’s Dad, Philippe, built a remarkable suspension bridge to facilitate the family’s commuting. “We had so many curious and nosy visitors; they all came to see the 8th Wonder of the World ... well the 8th wonder of River Valley!”

Alcide described his Dad as “a great trapper with a built-in GPS in his brain.” He instilled in his sons the importance of respecting the animals they depended upon, which meant trapping as humanely as possible. “Because we only had leg-hold traps back then, Dad showed us how to build underwater sets that ensured a quicker death for muskrats, mink and beaver.”

Alcide went on to become one of Canada’s foremost advocates for humane trapping. By the time he was 30, in 1975, he was writing articles in trappers’ magazines and leading workshops across Ontario and beyond, promoting the importance of researching and implementing better trapping techniques.

In 1980, as newly-elected president of the Ontario Trappers Association, he called on trappers to take the lead in humane trapping, rather than have changes imposed on them by others.

When the Fur Institute of Canada was created in 1982, to implement recommendations of the Federal-Provincial Committee on Humane Trapping (1974-81), Alcide became a founding member, and later vice-chair. He travelled the world to lend his expertise to trap-research and conservation meetings in New Zealand, Europe, Louisiana, Australia and elsewhere. When scientists, politicians or journalists wanted to see a trap line first-hand, more often than not it was Alcide and his wife Pat who received them.

In recognition of Alcide’s outstanding contributions, in May 2005 he was presented with the Fur Council of Canada’s “Furrier of the Year” award, at the North American Fur & Fashion Exposition in Montreal (NAFFEM). In his speech to more than 600 fur manufacturers, designers, retailers and government officials, Alcide reminded them that trappers did more than provide beautiful furs. They were also front-line defenders of the industry, using responsible practices and educating the urban population – including furriers – about the importance of using nature’s gifts sustainably.

From Truth About Fur - The Blog: Alcide Giroux: My first 60 years enjoying nature as a trapper. By Alan Herscovici, June 30, 2016.

Alcide Giroux (1945-2018), known to his friends as “Ti Loup”, with his friend Ben, an orphaned bear cub, in 1983.

Alcide’s life as a trapper began in 1951, near Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, when he was just six years old. His family had moved into the old homestead his grandfather built in the 1920s. There was no electricity or indoor plumbing, and Alcide and his siblings had to cross the Sturgeon River in a homemade boat before walking to school – a walk that provided opportunities for the young Alcide to snare rabbits to complement the moose and beaver in his mother’s stew pot. It was God’s Country back then, he later recalled, with wilderness and wildlife all around. Their trap lines began at the farmhouse door.

A few years later, Alcide’s Dad, Philippe, built a remarkable suspension bridge to facilitate the family’s commuting. “We had so many curious and nosy visitors; they all came to see the 8th Wonder of the World ... well the 8th wonder of River Valley!”

Alcide described his Dad as “a great trapper with a built-in GPS in his brain.” He instilled in his sons the importance of respecting the animals they depended upon, which meant trapping as humanely as possible. “Because we only had leg-hold traps back then, Dad showed us how to build underwater sets that ensured a quicker death for muskrats, mink and beaver.”

Alcide went on to become one of Canada’s foremost advocates for humane trapping. By the time he was 30, in 1975, he was writing articles in trappers’ magazines and leading workshops across Ontario and beyond, promoting the importance of researching and implementing better trapping techniques.

In 1980, as newly-elected president of the Ontario Trappers Association, he called on trappers to take the lead in humane trapping, rather than have changes imposed on them by others.

When the Fur Institute of Canada was created in 1982, to implement recommendations of the Federal-Provincial Committee on Humane Trapping (1974-81), Alcide became a founding member, and later vice-chair. He travelled the world to lend his expertise to trap-research and conservation meetings in New Zealand, Europe, Louisiana, Australia and elsewhere. When scientists, politicians or journalists wanted to see a trap line first-hand, more often than not it was Alcide and his wife Pat who received them.

In recognition of Alcide’s outstanding contributions, in May 2005 he was presented with the Fur Council of Canada’s “Furrier of the Year” award, at the North American Fur & Fashion Exposition in Montreal (NAFFEM). In his speech to more than 600 fur manufacturers, designers, retailers and government officials, Alcide reminded them that trappers did more than provide beautiful furs. They were also front-line defenders of the industry, using responsible practices and educating the urban population – including furriers – about the importance of using nature’s gifts sustainably.

From Truth About Fur - The Blog: Alcide Giroux: My first 60 years enjoying nature as a trapper. By Alan Herscovici, June 30, 2016.

Alcide Giroux (1945-2018), known to his friends as “Ti Loup”, is shown here leading a workshop for First Nations trappers in northern Ontario, in 1980.

Alcide’s life as a trapper began in 1951, near Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, when he was just six years old. His family had moved into the old homestead his grandfather built in the 1920s. There was no electricity or indoor plumbing, and Alcide and his siblings had to cross the Sturgeon River in a homemade boat before walking to school – a walk that provided opportunities for the young Alcide to snare rabbits to complement the moose and beaver in his mother’s stew pot. It was God’s Country back then, he later recalled, with wilderness and wildlife all around. Their trap lines began at the farmhouse door.

A few years later, Alcide’s Dad, Philippe, built a remarkable suspension bridge to facilitate the family’s commuting. “We had so many curious and nosy visitors; they all came to see the 8th Wonder of the World ... well the 8th wonder of River Valley!”

Alcide described his Dad as “a great trapper with a built-in GPS in his brain.” He instilled in his sons the importance of respecting the animals they depended upon, which meant trapping as humanely as possible. “Because we only had leg-hold traps back then, Dad showed us how to build underwater sets that ensured a quicker death for muskrats, mink and beaver.”

Alcide went on to become one of Canada’s foremost advocates for humane trapping. By the time he was 30, in 1975, he was writing articles in trappers’ magazines and leading workshops across Ontario and beyond, promoting the importance of researching and implementing better trapping techniques.

In 1980, as newly-elected president of the Ontario Trappers Association, he called on trappers to take the lead in humane trapping, rather than have changes imposed on them by others.

When the Fur Institute of Canada was created in 1982, to implement recommendations of the Federal-Provincial Committee on Humane Trapping (1974-81), Alcide became a founding member, and later vice-chair. He travelled the world to lend his expertise to trap-research and conservation meetings in New Zealand, Europe, Louisiana, Australia and elsewhere. When scientists, politicians or journalists wanted to see a trap line first-hand, more often than not it was Alcide and his wife Pat who received them.

In recognition of Alcide’s outstanding contributions, in May 2005 he was presented with the Fur Council of Canada’s “Furrier of the Year” award, at the North American Fur & Fashion Exposition in Montreal (NAFFEM). In his speech to more than 600 fur manufacturers, designers, retailers and government officials, Alcide reminded them that trappers did more than provide beautiful furs. They were also front-line defenders of the industry, using responsible practices and educating the urban population – including furriers – about the importance of using nature’s gifts sustainably.

From Truth About Fur - The Blog: Alcide Giroux: My first 60 years enjoying nature as a trapper. By Alan Herscovici, June 30, 2016.

Participants in a “Fur Futures” program organised by the International Fur Federation, at a mink farm outside Toronto, April 2016. Left to right: Jacob Shanbrom, design student, School of the Art Institute of Chicago; sisters Rita and Rim Elias, fur designers from Montreal; Nancy Daigneault, VP Americas, International Fur Federation; Dustin Redus, specialist in fur garment alterations.

Before furs are graded and sold at North American Fur Auctions, they are received, ticketed, and drummed. Video by Jim Gibb.

In 2016, fur design student Jacob Shanbrom and Montreal designers Rim and Rita Elias visited North American Fur Auctions (NAFA) as part of the “Fur Futures” program organised by the International Fur Federation. Here they are seen in NAFA's atrium. They attended seminars on mink grading and wild furs. Recalls Jacob, "I enjoyed learning the nuances that distinguish a good skin from a phenomenal skin, and loved learning that so much of the sorting process Is done manually, not by computers!" By Jacob Shanbrom on Truth About Fur - The Blog: "Fur Futures" has changed my life's direction. May 11, 2016.