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BLACKFISH will be showing at The Screening Room, (120 Princess Street, Kingston) on Oct 10, 2013 at 7:00 PM. Queen’s Animal Defence is co-sponsoring a screening of the documentary “Blackfish”, directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, as part of the OPIRG Q Series. Blackfish tells the story of Tilikum, a performing killer whale at SeaWorld, and his violent resistance against captivity. This extraordinary and riveting film raises the larger question of countless wild animals in captivity — the appalling bleakness of their lives, and their efforts to escape and resist human domination.

This special screening will feature a introductory talk by Rob Laidlaw. Rob began his animal protection work in 1979 investigating slaughter houses and farming practices in Ontario, Canada. In 1984, he founded Zoocheck Canada and since that time he has been involved in wildlife issues, with an emphasis on the welfare of wildlife in captivity. His work has included successful campaigns to change wildlife protection policies and laws in many jurisdictions, as well as the closure of a number of substandard zoos. Laidlaw has also been involved in a broad range of international initiatives, with a particular emphasis on wildlife in captivity issues in Asia. Rob is an award winning author of six children’s books on animal issues, a Chartered Biologist, a former humane society inspector, past member of the board of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and past Project Manager for the World Society for the Protection of Animals. He is Executive Director of Zoocheck.