Sophie Gaillard

One of the first and leading animal protection lawyers in Quebec and Canada, Sophie Gaillard has worked at the Montreal SPCA since 2013. Sophie oversees the organization's efforts to advance animal law and strengthen animal protection legislation and public policy at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. She also acts as head legal counsel, government relations expert and spokesperson for the SPCA. Sophie notably spearheaded the campaigns that led to the banning of cat declawing in Quebec, the authorization of dogs in the Montreal metro and the adoption of a new provision in the Civil Code of Quebec recognizing animals as sentient beings. Sophie was head of the SPCA's Investigations Division from 2018 to 2020 and served as Interim Executive Director of the organization from 2022 to 2023. She is a graduate of McGill University's Faculty of Law, where she has taught animal law.

Session: Shifting the Status Quo: Legal Tools for Reimagining Animals in Society