In 2016, fur design students Alejandro Hendel (left) and Jacob Shanbrom visited North American Fur Auctions (NAFA) as part of the “Fur Futures” program organised by the International Fur Federation. 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.

Fox farming began on Prince Edward Island, Canada. One of the pioneers was Sir Charles Dalton, who had a farm in Tignish. In 1912 he set up a new venture near Charlottetown, the Charles Dalton Silver Black Fox Company Limited, to which he would transport foxes from Tignish. The fast-growing fox industry on the island was riding so high by then that the train carrying stock from Tignish was dubbed the “Million-Dollar Train” in the local papers. Photo: Courtesy of Alberton Museum. Read more on Truth About Fur - The Blog: A personal voyage to the origins of fox farming. By Alan Herscovici, September 23, 2015.

Alan Herscovici sports a coyote-lined parka from Canada Goose, accompanied by Maggie, in Montreal, 2016. Alan is the founder and senior researcher of Truth About Fur. Alan was raised in a fur family. His grandfather came to Canada in 1913 as a young fur artisan, having learned the craft from his own father in Paris. Alan’s father was a respected Canadian fur manufacturer and sales agent. After receiving his BA from McGill University and an MA from the University of Sussex, Alan worked as a writer, freelance journalist and communications consultant. Alan’s published work includes the award-winning Second Nature: The Animal-Rights Controversy (CBC, 1985; General Publishing, 1991), the first book to present a balanced critique of the animal-rights philosophy from an environmental and social justice perspective. From 1997 to 2016, he served as Executive Vice-President of the Fur Council of Canada where he initiated pioneering programs to increase understanding and appreciation of the fur trade including, notably, www.Furisgreen.com. This photo is featured in Alan's blog post 5 reasons why PETA won't make me ditch my Canada Goose, February 19, 2016.

Alan Herscovici is the founder and senior researcher of Truth About Fur. In 2015, he took a voyage to the historical home of fox farming, Prince Edward Island, where he visited Alberton Museum. Photo: Helene Lapointe. Alan was raised in a fur family. His grandfather came to Canada in 1913 as a young fur artisan, having learned the craft from his own father in Paris. Alan’s father was a respected Canadian fur manufacturer and sales agent. After receiving his BA from McGill University and an MA from the University of Sussex, Alan worked as a writer, freelance journalist and communications consultant. Alan’s published work includes the award-winning Second Nature: The Animal-Rights Controversy (CBC, 1985; General Publishing, 1991), the first book to present a balanced critique of the animal-rights philosophy from an environmental and social justice perspective. From 1997 to 2016, he served as Executive Vice-President of the Fur Council of Canada where he initiated pioneering programs to increase understanding and appreciation of the fur trade including, notably, www.Furisgreen.com. This photo is featured in Alan's blog post, A personal voyage to the origins of fox farming, September 23, 2015.

Alan Herscovici (standing, right) with leaders of the Aboriginal Trappers Federation of Canada at their founding meeting in 1985. Alan is the founder and senior researcher of Truth About Fur. Alan was raised in a fur family. His grandfather came to Canada in 1913 as a young fur artisan, having learned the craft from his own father in Paris. Alan’s father was a respected Canadian fur manufacturer and sales agent. After receiving his BA from McGill University and an MA from the University of Sussex, Alan worked as a writer, freelance journalist and communications consultant. Alan’s published work includes the award-winning Second Nature: The Animal-Rights Controversy (CBC, 1985; General Publishing, 1991), the first book to present a balanced critique of the animal-rights philosophy from an environmental and social justice perspective. From 1997 to 2016, he served as Executive Vice-President of the Fur Council of Canada where he initiated pioneering programs to increase understanding and appreciation of the fur trade including, notably, www.Furisgreen.com. This photo is featured in Alan's blog post Ten lessons from 30 years battling animal rights, November 9, 2015.

Jane Dragon makes hand and foot warmers outside her family home in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. Her daughter, Brenda, founded the company Aurora Heat, producing heritage fur products. By Brenda Dragon on Truth About Fur - The Blog: Heritage fur products to warm the body and soul, April 20, 2017.

Calvin Kania is president and CEO of Fur Canada. He is seen here in his store with his executive assistant, Jialin. Calvin is a second-generation fur trader / fur manufacturer, and manufacturer of humane animal traps. He was raised on the family cattle ranch and fur trapline in the interior of British Columbia. Calvin emigrated to Canada from upstate New York in 1962 when he was 3 years old with his father, mother and siblings. His mother was a returning Canadian so immigrating and gaining the coveted Canadian citizenship was a formality. He obtained his Business Administration from Grant McEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta in 1986. He joined the venerable Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) Northern Stores Raw Fur Division in the 1980's where he gained his technical fur-grading experience. After years with HBC and a short stint at their Toronto Fur Auction House (currently North American Fur Auctions) he ventured out on his own to expand the family fur business. Today, Calvin is president and CEO of Fur Canada and Kania Industries, Inc., based in British Columbia. Fur Canada manufactures premium-quality fur blankets, pillows, and carpets from wild Canadian furs. It performs museum-quality taxidermy with a workforce of five dedicated employees on wildlife as large as polar bears, moose, mountain sheep, muskox and even narwhals. Kania Industries Inc. manufactures the Kania Trap 2000 not only for fur trappers but also for pest control, home owners, as well nut and fruit growers. Over 40,000 Kania Trap 2000's have been sold in the United Kingdom to control the over-population of grey squirrels as they are an introduced alien species. Calvin and his partner Greg reside on the west coast of British Columbia in Nanaimo, where he grows in excess of 2,000 tulips and 1,000 gladiolas annually as a hobby. By Calvin Kania on Truth About Fur - The Blog: Trapline tales: Ski Doos and marten scent, January 26, 2018. Trapline tales: Trail-building in the high country, May 17, 2018.

Paul Tufts is a retired wildlife biologist, fur farmer and trapper. Listen to Paul talk about he chose to pursue a career in nature here.

Aagu Peter (left), Jim Winter (centre) and Aagu's mother Aaju (right) represent sealers at an anti-sealing protest outside the Canadian embassy in the Hague in March 2007. As Jim recalled, the media were more interested in his group than in the protesters. Jim Winter was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. He has worked as a journalist with both CBC and SRC, in addition to doing freelance work for many other media organisations. In 1978 he won the Association of Canadian Radio and Television Artists (ACTRA) award – Best writer, documentary. He was the founding president of the Canadian Sealers Association. Aaju Peter is a lawyer and Inuk clothing designer, and in 2011 was named a member of the Order of Canada for her work promoting and preserving Inuit culture. By Jim Winter on Truth About Fur - The Blog: Sealing industry is much more than sealers. May 31, 2017. EU sealing policy is hypocritical, anti-democratic. July 23, 2015.

Katie Ball is a trapper and fur designer from Thunder Bay, Ontario. “I was gifted my mother’s fur coat, as so many have, when she was no longer wearing it,” recalls Katie. “This coat has much meaning to me. For one, my father trapped each red fox to make it. All 27 came from his trap line, and I remember being there while he collected some of these specific pelts. “I am now the second trapper of this line, and I spend even more time with him on this land. “But this isn’t the only reason why this coat is special; I was able to watch the skillful hands of Pirie create this coat from the ground up, for my mother. This is where the love of fur fashion spawned from for me at such a young age. “I modeled for over 10 years but wanted to get into fashion and create my own items. Fur became that medium. I now own and run Silver Cedar Studio, creating items with furs from our trapline as well as others. “This coat is a part of who I am. And continues to influence me daily in my passions and trade. Proud to be a trapper.” This photo is featured in our blog post Fur coat stories: "I wear mine everywhere!", March 22, 2018. For an interview with Katie, read Here come the girls, by Mariana Cutino Moguel, June 1, 2018.

Christy A. Allen Mullen, from Weymouth, Nova Scotia, proudly sports her remodeled vintage blue iris mink jacket and a Blackglama coat made from pelts from her own farm. “I would never have imagined that I would marry into a mink ranching family (in fact my sister and I married brothers!),” says Christy. “Nor did I know, leading up to my marriage, that I would find out that my great-grandfather Kenny was a mink rancher in the 40’s. “I begged for a mink coat for several years; my dream came true in 2010. I am now the proud owner of a 7/8 length Blackglama coat made from female skins from our farm. In the spring of 2017, I purchased a vintage Blue Iris coat in New Brunswick. My furrier in Montreal remodeled this into a beautiful new jacket that I could never have imagined owning! I wear my coats EVERYWHERE!! I have had many repairs done from being worn, and even had trim replaced because it was worn out. I am a proud ambassador of fur and our farm, everywhere I go!” This photo is featured in our blog post Fur coat stories: "I wear mine everywhere!", March 22, 2018.

Gordy Klassen is a renowned trapper and wildlife advocate from Alberta. Here he is shown at home holding a workshop in 2016. Photo: Derek Martel. On Truth About Fur – The Blog: An eye-opening fur workshop with Gordy Klassen and friends. By Derek Martel, May 25, 2016.