The Steam Whistle Brewery, in Toronto, Canada, is hosting an exhibition of "a series of anthropomorphic illustrations".

Entitled Menagerie, the art show features the work of nineteen local artists, who explore "the idea of anthropomorphism as a form of self-extension".

The exhibition, featuring images of a number of different species, runs until February 26. Entry is free.

Toronto-based furry convention Furnal Equinox has released its first newsletter of 2012.

The convention is actively seeking contributions from attendees in the last 50 days before the convention, including conbook submissions, panelists and volunteers.

Just in time for Christmas, Toronto-based furry convention Furnal Equinox has released its December 2011 newsletter.

A convention-sponsored Christmas potluck took place December 17, attracting more than 75 attendees and raising over $500 for the convention's charity, the Mississauga Humane Society. Early bird pre-registrations closed November 30; dealers tables are now sold out. The con also continues to search for conbook submissions, volunteers, panelists and DJs.

Nat Geo sees fursuiting as a fit subject for Taboo, according to this three-minute preview:

The program spins furries as "people who enjoy wearing animal costumes in their adult life", calling the behaviour "bizarre", and quoting regular media commentator Dr. Sudeepta Varma:

Furries can be considered greatly taboo because we look at people dressing up in furry costumes as child's play, and it's something that should have been left in the past, and not brought into adulthood.

Update (24 Dec): The episode is to air January 3 at 9PM Eastern, and again at midnight. [cloudchaser_s/furrymedia]

One fursuiter profiled on the show is Nuka (Courtney Plante), a social psychology graduate student at the University of Waterloo in Ontario.

It's been a while since we posted an update, but now is the time. We hope that everyone is looking forward to June 1-3rd, with anticipation building and the excitement levels rising. The crew of What The Fur is hard at work, planning what we expect to be the best event yet.

In this edition: Hotel reservations are open; Early Bird pre-registration is still on, with a contest for those who sign up before January; dealer's den table availability; and requests for convention book submissions, programming and DJs.

Toronto-based furry convention Furnal Equinox has released its November 2011 newsletter.

Early bird registration and submissions for the Infurnally Yours Video Competition close on November 30. The convention also seeks conbook submissions, panelists and volunteers.

I wasn’t as proactive as I thought I would be, and I’m pretty sure I missed a couple posted during the first of September, so apologies there. Otherwise, here was last month’s Newsbytes.

Canadian furry convention Furnal Equinox has announced its first "Infurnally Yours" video competition. To enter, participants must create and post a YouTube video (max. two minutes) citing the con's website and answering the question 'Why come to Furnal Equinox 2012?'

The winning video producer will receive a sponsor membership to Furnal Equinox 2012. Entries will be judged based on originality, creativity, tastefulness and quality of the final product, as well as the number of views and likes received on the YouTube website.

Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET, November 30; finalists will be chosen soon after. Official contest rules and the entry form are available on Furnal Equinox's website.

Preregistration has opened for Furnal Equinox 2012.

The third iteration of the convention, with the heaven-and-hell theme of Infurnally Yours, is scheduled to take place March 16-18, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Featured at the convention will be artist Guests of Honour Dark Natasha and Canadian Marci McAdam.

This What The Fur newsletter covers 2012 Guest of Honour Karine Charlebois (Kanthara), the convention's theme, estimated dates of 1-3 June and the opening of pre-registration.

The past few days have been very active with animal-related stories from around the world:

• An animal rights activist from Ukraine is protesting poor living conditions for zoo animals, living in the lions' den for five weeks to raise money for them.
• A pair of cougars have been shot after they began attacking humans in Alberta.
• Ukraine's government has vowed to end a sickening local tradition of animal abuse.
• An Idaho man is in hot water after prancing around in a bunny suit.
• A truck carrying bees has flipped and closed a major highway near Edmonton, Alberta.

Fanboy Confessional: The Furry Edition by Markham Street Films is a very good, well-balanced, objective and positive review of furry fandom.

We've known for ages that animals are sentient beings, albeit on a lower level than humans. These stories provide insight into animals' thought processes and emotions, how they cope with sadness and disappointment, and how they can recover when conditions improve.

Our first story is about Gigi, a Doberman Pinscher, who became depressed after losing her litter of two puppies following birth complications.

The second is a modern take on The Lion King: Agence France-Presse and Brazilian media report that a pair of lion partners were reunited at a zoo in Brasilia, the capital city of Brazil, after the male became so depressed by their separation that he stopped eating.

Lights!  Cameras!  FURRIES!  Canadian cable television network Space has launched a new documentary mini-series, "Fanboy Confessional" (from Markham Street Films) exploring the various science-fiction fandoms, such as comic books, LARPers, and yes, even furries.

While the series premieres in Canada on July 13 at 10PM Eastern, there is no word yet as to whether it will be shown on other sci-fi channels, such as NBCUniversal's Syfy.

Read more: Fanboy Confessional on Facebook, Youtube, Vimeo and Twitter.

Update (1 Aug): See dronon's review of Fanboy Confessional: The Furry Edition

"Canada's Secret War Weapon Escapes!" — "IT'S COMIN' RIGHT FOR US!" — "Nickelodeon's 1990s Cartoon Based on True Canadian Stories?" — "Why did the Beaver Cross the Road?"

Any of those headlines would be equally accurate in this very odd story from Fort Smith in Canada's Northwest Territories.  The small, otherwise-sleepy northern town just north of the Alberta-NWT border was the victim of a rampaging beaver that alarmed several residents and prompted a call from the territory's Department of Environment and Natural Resources.