Town & Country

T H O M P S O N WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018 5 KELSEY SCHOOL DIVISION "MISSION STATEMENT" "We strive to be a respectful and enthusiastic school community, dedicated to quality education for all." Margaret Barbour Collegiate 623-3485 École Opasquia Early Years School 623-3459 Kelsey Community School 623-7421 École Scott Bateman Middle School 623-3411 Mary Duncan School (including Kelsey Learning Centre) 623-1420 Kelsey School Division Office 623-6421 www.ksd.mb.ca For information about our schools, please contact: Produced by The Flin Flon Arts Council and The Flin Flon Community Choir For more information contact (204) 687-5974 www.flinflonartscouncil.ca | info@flinflonartscouncil.com Go Wild and Take a Chance Travel north to Flin Flon to see MAMMA MIA T H E M U S I C A L May 10 - 12, 2019 Thompson's Boreal Discovery Centre is continuing to take shape as it puts the finishing touches on a unique new feature — the habitat for its sturgeon fish collection, which includes two sub-adults, four juveniles and four fingerlings. "We're working on getting the interior design finished and it will almost be like a complete aquarium building," says Thompson Zoological Society co-chair Monique Lahaie. "The idea is that it will feel like you're under the water with the sturgeon instead of looking at fish tanks." The society and the City of Thompson have been working on a new vision for the former Thompson Zoo for several years now. The zoo dates back to the 1970s and in 2011 a master plan was unveiled for converting it into a centre where visitors can explore how people historically adapted to the boreal region, encounter animals such as wolves, lynx and caribou in more natural habitats, and learn about the flora and fauna of the North, with community gardens and landscaping featuring boreal plants. "We're a non-profit organization and we want to connect the people of our community to our boreal region," Lahaie says. "We want to do that by bringing education, programming and conservation teaching." As Lahaie explains, one of the important steps in the process was "decommissioning" the zoo and rethinking the way animals will be displayed. The goal is to employ a more humane method when making animals available for viewing, in habitat enclosures rather than cages. And with the exception of rescues, animals will not be taken from the wild. "Since we are completely rebuilding all new habitats for the animals, the old habitats needed to come down," she says. "Numerous animals that were in the zoo when the transition began were dispersed among other zoos that wanted them." The official relaunch of the centre took place in 2014 and while it is still a work in progress, there are some exciting developments. Work on the wolf habitat has been completed, although the viewing building is still being designed. There are also plans in place for an amphitheatre, greenhouse and an extensive boardwalk. "Realistically, we expect this project will take another five to 10 years, just like other major zoos who are constantly rebuilding," Lahaie says. "However, it doesn't mean we're not open and ready to the public before then and won't have animals available, but that's how long it will take for our full master plan to be realized." The centre recently hired a full-time program coordinator and hires additional staff in the summer. Throughout the year, it offers special events and hands-on activities like making bird-feeders or scaring up fun at Boo-real Discovery Centre at Halloween. Lahaie notes that the centre honours its location on Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation traditional territory and "seeks, through education and conservation, to respect the lands, fauna and waters for their life-giving bounty." The original price tag for the centre was pegged at more than $3 million. The Thompson Zoological Society has relied on fundraising and plenty of grant writing. Donations from the public are welcome and plans are underway to create a membership program so people can become more engaged. The centre is also in need of volunteers to help with planning, fundraising and working in the community garden. To learn more about the centre, visit borealdiscoverycentre.org. Natural Progression Development continues at Boreal Discovery Centre B Y P A T R E D I G E R

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