Committed to Communities
Supporting Local Growth and Development

Helping Protect the Animals

January 26, 2012

 “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”

  - Mahatma Gandhi

In Canada each year, over one quarter of a million animal companions are faced with issues of animal cruelty, abandonment, and overpopulation.  

Abandoned animals regularly die of starvation, exposure or are killed by other animals or hit by vehicles. Other issues facing animal companions in Canada include puppy mills, dog fighting, dangerous dogs and breed bans, cat over population, malicious poisoning, and animal hording. The death of each animal is an obstacle to the moral progress of a society as it reinforces the view that animals are disposable and that we have no obligation to seek for a solution to end their problems.

Click here to view a video on rescued research dogs and watch them as they experience the sun and grass for the first time.

The Humane Society of Canada (HSC) works to protect dogs, cats, horses, birds, rabbits and small animals, livestock, lab animals, wildlife and the environment. They carry out programs dedicated to helping animals and nature through rescue operations, exposing animal cruelty, passing animal protection laws, supporting local animal shelters and wildlife rehabilitation centers and by encouraging communication about how to help animals and nature through humane education.

How you can help the HSC protect animals:

• Choose and promote the adoption of animals from shelters. This reduces irresponsible breed practices and abusive puppy mills; it also helps take many abandoned animals off of the streets.
   
• Always microchip and keep ID tags on your pets as this will provide them with a ticket home.   
   
• Be a responsible pet owner and spay or neuter your pets to help the pet overpopulation problem.
   
• Volunteer your time with your local humane society, SPCA or other animal welfare organization. Work to pass legislation that protects animals.
   
• Report animal abuse to your local animal shelter, animal control department, humane society or SPCA.
   
• Buy cosmetics and personal care products that are not tested on animals. Use cruelty-free household cleaners, or make your own cleaners from natural products.
   
• Donate to your local animal shelter to help them get the supplies and resources they need to help animals in your area. All donations help towards directly improving the lives of shelter animals.

AGAT Laboratories and its employees across Canada have donated $10,000 to assist the HSC in its mission. If you are interested in joining the AGAT family and the HSC in helping animals click here.

The Humane Society of Canada (HSC) depends entirely on donations to support their programs to help animals and the environment. If you would like to learn more about their mission and educational campaigns that protect animals and the environment please visit their website at www.humanesociety.com/.

About hunger in Canada

December 8, 2011

Many people do not realize the extent of hunger’s reach in this country. Each month, close to 900,000 Canadians are assisted by food banks, and 38% of those helped are children and youth.

The problem of hunger is a persistent one, with food banks providing comparable levels of food and other assistance for the better part of a decade.

Who is turning to food banks? There is no single, typical profile. The people helped include families with children, individuals on social assistance, and Canadians living on a fixed income, including people with disabilities and seniors.

Consider these figures from HungerCount 2011:

• 93,000 people each month access a food bank for the first time
• 38% of those turning to food banks are children and youth
• 7% of adults helped are over age 65
• 10% of people assisted are Aboriginal
• 52% of households helped receive social assistance
• 18% have income from current or recent employment
• 13% receive disability-related income supports
• 35% of food banks ran out of food during the survey period
• 55% of food banks needed to cut back on the amount of food provided to each household

To help during the holiday season AGAT Laboratories and its Employees across Canada have donated $109,046  to the Canadian Salavation Army in the hopes of reaching 1000 families with a minium emergency food basket during the Holiday Season.  Each $120.00 donation ensures a basic emergency food basket to sustain a family of four in a time of need.  AGAT Laboratories and its employees pay tribute to our many customers, suppliers and support services that have made this donation possible.

About The Canadian Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and everyday in 400 communities across Canada and more than 120 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, providing shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction. When you give to The Salvation Army, you are investing in the future of marginalized and overlooked people in your community.

Anyone wishing to join the AGAT family in our Holiday Season contributions please click here.

Left: AGAT Laboratories' representatives Marissa Reckmann and Dave Fast present Captain Pam Goodyear with a cheque for the Canadian Salvation Army.

Providing relief to drought victims in the Horn of Africa

September 15, 2011

As one of the worst famines that our generation has ever seen, the Horn of South Africa is experiencing a severe drought which is endangering the lives of over 12 million people.

To help during this crisis, AGAT Laboratories has donated $10,000 to World Vision Canada to go towards food, clean water, agricultural support, health care and other vital assistance that the children and families in this region desperately need. Donated before September 16, 2011, this amount was doubled by the Canadian Government through their "Double the Impact" donation matching initative.

World Vision is a relief organization that is dedicated to advocacy, growth and the development of children, families and communities, helping them overcome poverty and injustice. Canada became a part of World Vision in the 1950’s and its national headquarters are in Mississauga, Ontario. World Vision is the largest private relief and development agency in Canada, partnering with numerous agencies and governing bodies to address pressing issues such as famine, child rights, drought, hunger and health.

For more information on this organization and their ongoing projects, please visit their website at www.worldvision.ca. 

AGAT Laboratories supporting local aboriginal communities

AGAT Laboratories is proud to partner with the Métis Development Corporation in helping to support the organization’s mission of creating sustainable business development in the local area and support economic growth and self-sufficiency for members of the Labrador Métis Nation.

The Labrador Métis Nation is a not-for-profit organization that is committed to promoting and ensuring the basic human rights of its members and the collective recognition of these rights by government bodies, industries and the public in general.  The Labrador Métis Nation created the Métis Development Corporation to generate sustainable dividends for the Labrador Métis Nation through for-profit, business development, while maintaining a deep respect for Inuit-Métis traditions, elders and Labrador Métis Nation policies.

In 2008, AGAT Laboratories worked with the Aboriginal peoples of Labrador and Newfoundland to open a Branch location in Happy-Valley, Goose Bay. This Branch is a seasonal sample reception facility that supports the Goose Bay Remediation Project.

Additionally, AGAT Laboratories is a proud supporter of the First Nations College Guide Bursary Fund, which is a program dedicated to offering scholarship opportunities to Canadian Aboriginal students interested in pursuing secondary education. In addition to the First Nations College Guide, AGAT Laboratories also hosts an ad and editorial section in this publication communicating potential work opportunities within our multiple locations across Canada.

Through our Employment Equity Program, we aim to represent Canada’s rich diversity and ensure that no person is denied employment opportunities. It is important that all employees be equally represented in all levels of our organization and be treated fairly in all of our selection, hiring, training and promotion practices.

 For more information on our Aboriginal Partnerships please e-mail info@agatlabs.com.

AGAT Laboratories - The tee off against cancer at the Don LaBerge Memorial Golf Tournament

September 7, 2011

AGAT Laboratories is pleased to announce its sponsorship of the Annual Don LaBerge Memorial Golf Tournament on September 7, 2011.

This event began in recognition of Don LaBerge who has made positive and innovative contributions that continue to impact many today. This event increases awareness and all proceeds will go to the Alberta Cancer Foundation (ACF) for continued research and to provide assistance in the battle against cancer.

Last year’s event awarded the ACF over $20,400 and they hope to receive even more donations this year. AGAT Laboratories will be raffling off two tickets to see Keith Urban at the Calgary Saddledome and with a minimum donation of five dollars your name will be entered into the draw.

For more information on the Don LaBerge Memorial Golf Tournament click here.

To submit your name for the prize draw, click here.

AGAT Laboratories aids in the fight against cancer

June 8, 2011

Melanie Larche and several other AGAT employees from the Montreal lab have joined the fight against cancer by participating in the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay For Life.

Together, the team raised over $3,000 towards the fight against Cancer. In support of the Canadian Cancer Society and Melanie’s team, AGAT Laboratories has also donated an additional $2,000.

Did You Know? According to the Canadian Cancer Society, two in five Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes, although now 62 per cent will survive compared to 33 per cent in the 1960’s.

The Canadian Cancer Society’s, Relay For Life is an opportunity to get together with family, friends and co-workers to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost to cancer and fight back in the hope of finding a cure.

For more information on AGAT Laboratories’ community investment, e-mail info@agatlabs.com. For more information on the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, click here.

AGAT Laboratories helps celebrate Canada’s national past time

The next time you find yourself in the Calgary Saddledome surrounded by a sea of red or in the Bell Centre, cheering on the Montreal Canadiens - look around the rink boards and see if you can spot AGAT Laboratories.

Tom Stompin sang, “The good ole hockey game is the best game you can name”. In line with this sentiment, AGAT Laboratories has partnered with the Calgary Flames and the Montreal Canadiens to support Canada’s favourite past time coast to coast. We recognize that value-added service starts in the community and are committed to the development of our local communities.

Support our teams and support your local growth with AGAT Laboratories. For more information on our involvement, please e-mail info@agatlabs.com.

Project IX-CANAAN

AGAT Laboratories funded a new laboratory to be used for medical care in the rural area of El Remate, Flores in Peten, Guatemala. This laboratory is located in the middle section of a Clinical Building put up by Project IX – Canaan. As a result of the donation of these funds, this location now provides many basic tests which can be conducted to diagnose patients in need in the area.

Although rich in history, the arts and Mayan culture, Guatemala is one of the poorest developing countries in Latin America.  With medical care scarce or non-existent in the rural areas surrounding the Mayan Rainforest, Project IX – Canaan sought to build a clinic where those in the area could be provided with the relief that they need. With the volunteer services of Canadian doctors and the funding from AGAT Laboratories, this goal is closer to becoming fully realized. read more...