We're upgrading and here's how you can help!

Medicine River Wildlife Centre's current facility was originally built on a shoestring in 1991. We created the exisiting cages and buildings with some ideas, a federal grant for $175,000, some smaller donations and a lot of volunteer labour. We bacame very good at stretching a dollar and when it was all done we had a local construction company give us an estimate of what they would have charged us to build it. The estimate came in at close to $500,000. We had achieved more than we expected!

The downside of all that scrimping was that we made use of some used and mostly home construction materials instead of industrial grade supplies. 17 years in a busy wildlife centre has left us with some upgrading to be done. We've also identified changes that will make our Centre more interesting and educational for visitors and more efficient in the hospital. The following will give you an idea of what we're up to and how you can get involved:

Before any major money can be spent on an upgrade it is only proper that we pay off any debt.

Paying off debt is something that there is no grant available for so we must rely on donations.

• Increase our "Freedom Fund" 

To be a responsible charity, Medicine River Wildlife Centre believes that a solid endowment fund is the only way to develop sustainability. Our goal is to develop a fund that will produce an annual interest income to cover the basic operation of our Centre. Our Freedom Fund presently stands at close to $70,000 and is managed by the Red Deer Community Foundation.

• Upgrade the outdoor cages 

This phase of our upgrade began in 2006 and is about 2/3 complete. We've completed a new moose enclosure, songbird flight cage and squirrel cage. Renovations of the medium owl and Great Grey Owl cages are complete while the upgrades of the hawk and eagle flight area and Great Horned Owl complex are underway. 2 new mammal cages and a small raptor cage is planned for next spring. Funding in the amount of $30,000 will be required to complete this project.

• Expand the nature trail including wheelchair accessibility

• Upgrade of wildlife hospital to provide better student learning facility and a more efficient hospital

• Improve public interpretive area to include better educational displays, wildlife viewing, expanded tourist facilities and a snack shop

• Build a new residence that will house summer, intern, practicum, work experience and other students, eco/education tourists and be available to be booked for retreats