An animal-welfare group has launched a petition urging the Fairmont Empress to pressure two stores to stop selling fur and exotic skin products on its premises.
Members of the Victoria chapter of Direct Action Everywhere has been staging protests in front of the hotel once or twice a month since last year.
As part of its efforts to end the sale of clothing and accessories made from furs and exotic skins, the group started an online petition on Change.org that has garnered 506 signatures since it began on July 20.
“I am very happy and not surprised at the response,” said Karin Nelson, the petitioner and a member of the group.
She said that while many companies have pledged to go fur-free, two shops at the Fairmont Empress — Collections by 5th Avenue and London Towne Boutique — continue to sell furs. Calls to the hotel and the two stores for comment were not immediately returned.
“The Fairmont must re-examine which companies they do business with and update their business model to eliminate animal exploitation, suffering and death for fashion,” said Nelson.
She said that five out of 20 Fairmont properties across Canada still sell real animal fur. The petition calls for the hotel chain to pledge to go fur-free by 2025.
The hotel did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Direct Action Everywhere is an international animal welfare organization with chapters in Victoria, Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal.
