New York, NY —St. Gilles, Quebec, Canada resident Mr. Jean-Louis Blais is among the judges at the 147th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Presented by Purina Pro Plan in New York, New York on May 8-9, 2023. The iconic dog show is set to return to New York City at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York City. He will judge Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers during his first judging assignment at Westminster. The Best of Breed winners he selects will advance to the Sporting Group evening competition on Tuesday, May 9.
Mr. Blais bought his first Labrador Retriever in 1979 and registered his first litter with the Canadian Kennel Club in 1981. He and his wife Madeleine Charest have produced over 135 Canadian Champions and 35 American Champions (most of them owner/handler and shown in Specialties) under their permanent registered kennel name, Chablais. Additionally, they have bred many dogs that have become Champions worldwide. Most notable wins include Best of Breed at the Canadian National Specialty several times, Best of Breed at the American National Specialty, and winning Best of Breed three times at the prestigious Labrador Retriever Club of Potomac Spring Specialties.
Blais began judging in 2006 and is currently an AKC-licensed judge for the Sporting, Hound, Working, Non-Sporting, and Herding Groups. He primarily judges in Canada and the US, including the Canadian and American National Specialties and Best of Breed and Non-Regular Classes at Labardor Retriever Club of Potomac. He has also officiated in Mexico, Brazil, Spain, the Philippines, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Poland, Denmark, Argentina, Costa Rica, and in the UK.
For 2023, Westminster Week returns to New York City kicking off with Canine Celebration Day on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The day commemorates the 10th Anniversary of the Masters Agility Championship and the 8th Annual Masters Obedience Championship with new family fun-filled events like dock diving, a breed showcase, and a demo ring for visitors to see herding, scent work and freestyle obedience. The breed competitions will take place at the same location on Monday, May 8 (Hound, Toy, Non-Sporting and Herding Breeds and Group judging) and Tuesday, May 9 (Sporting, Working, Terrier Breeds, Junior Showmanship Finals, and Group judging followed by Best in Show).
For the schedule of events click here. For television coverage click here. Live streaming of daytime events and dog show results can be found at westminsterkennelclub.org.
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About the Westminster Kennel Club
The Westminster Kennel Club,established in 1877, is America’s oldest organization dedicated to the sport of dogs. It hosts the iconic, all-breed Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the second-longest, continuously held sporting event in the U.S. after the Kentucky Derby, and since 1948, the longest nationally televised live dog show. The Club’s mission, which enhances the lives of all dogs, celebrates the companionship of dogs and promotes responsible dog ownership and breed preservation. The Club advocates for purpose-bred dogs, with an understanding that each breed has a legacy and history that deserves to be taught, honored, and preserved. The Club uses education to raise awareness and encourage owners to conscientiously select dogs that are the right match for their families. The annual dog show—a conformation competition for purpose-bred dogs—and the Masters Agility Championship and Masters Obedience Championship—where dogs from all backgrounds are eligible to compete—make Westminster Week with nearly 3,000 dogs from the U.S. and around the world, a pinnacle experience for any dog lover. America’s Dog Show has captivated canine enthusiasts for more than a century. WESTMINSTER. There’s only one.® Visit us on, westminsterkennelclub.org, on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
About Nestlé Purina PetCare
Nestlé Purina PetCare creates richer lives for pets and the people who love them. Founded in 1894, Purina has helped dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives by offering scientifically based nutritional innovations. Purina manufactures some of the world’s most trusted and popular pet care products, including Purina ONE, Pro Plan, Fancy Feast and Tidy Cats. Our more than 8,700 U.S. associates take pride in our trusted pet food, treat and litter brands that feed 51 million dogs and 65 million cats every year. More than 500 Purina scientists, veterinarians, and pet care experts ensure our commitment to unsurpassed quality and nutrition. Purina Pro Plan is a leader in the advanced nutrition category, with more than 140 targeted formulas to help your pet thrive throughout every stage of life. It is also the food of choice for 15 of the past 16 Westminster Best in Show winners*. For more information, visit www.proplan.com or follow @ProPlan on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
Purina promotes responsible pet care through our scientific research, our products and our support for pet-related organizations. Over the past five years, Purina has contributed more than $150 million towards organizations that bring, and keep, people and pets together, as well as those that help our communities and environment thrive.
Purina is part of Nestlé, a global leader in Nutrition, Health and Wellness. For more information, visit purina.com or subscribe here to get the latest Purina news.
*The handler or owners of these champions may have received Purina Pro Plan dog food as Purina ambassadors.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
