Trillium grant helps turtle centre complete renovations

Facility welcomes $143,500 toward much-needed upgrades

Thanks to an Ontario Trillium Foundation $143,500 capital grant in 2019, the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC), located at 1434 Chemong Rd., was able to make needed renovations and add 3,100 square feet to their hospital for Ontario’s at-risk native turtle species. The renovations were just recently completed.

“The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre has been one of Ontario’s best kept secrets and it is my genuine hope that we can use this announcement to change that and bring to the forefront the amazing work that this organization does,” said Dave Smith, MPP.

“They are seemingly singlehandedly reversing the declining turtle population with their rehabilitation of injured turtles and recovery and fertilization of turtle eggs from those turtles injured beyond the ability for even Dr. Carstairs to save. We are blessed to have such a world leader in this area of conservation in our backyard and I couldn’t be more emphatic in my support for the work she and her team do.”

Last month, OTCC completely renovated and redesigned two buildings to house the injured turtles in their care. As a result, capacity was substantially increased in the new facility with larger enclosures that allow for maximum rehabilitative exercise, decreased hospital stays and accelerated return of the turtles to their source wetlands. The survival of the turtle population is so important because of the critical role they play in maintaining the health of the life-sustaining wetland ecosystems upon which we all depend.

“The impact that this Ontario Trillium Foundation grant will have on conservation of Ontario’s declining turtle populations is extensive,” said Dr. Sue Carstairs, executive and medical director of OTCC.

“The rapid increase in turtle admissions over the past few years had pushed our current facility well beyond capacity. The OTF Capital Grant to renovate the buildings will not only greatly increase our capacity to conserve turtle populations, it will also allow us to more effectively involve the community, with more volunteers able to work concurrently to care for the turtles.”

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the

Government of Ontario, is one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, awarding $115 million to 644 projects over the past year alone.

The OTCC, founded in 2002, is a fully integrated turtle hospital and multifaceted conservation centre for at-risk native Ontario turtles. It is considered Canada’s leading turtle hospital.

The centre runs a teaching hospital, egg incubation and hatchling program, scientific research, and education and outreach, all in an effort to help reduce the threat to Ontario’s declining turtle populations. For further information, visit ontarioturtle.ca.

You, too, can help the OTTC with a donation. You can make a one-time gift, donate monthly, or even arrange a legacy gift. For complete details, visit ontarioturtle.ca/ donation-options.

Little Learners Online

Lavender and Play Family Boutique and Studio is offering a Little Learner’s Discovery Class online, Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m., beginning Jan. 12 and running until Feb. 2. The class is geared for children ages two to four years.

Join Sonja Martin for this 45minute class that includes singing, movement and crafts. Prior to the class, you can pick up a full activity kit with everything you need to use during the class.

Pickup of the kits will be done safely via curbside during pickup hours Jan. 8 from noon until 6 p.m. and Sat. Jan 9 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Lavender and Play is located at1434 Chemong Rd., unit 1.

The cost which includes the activity kit is $48 plus HST. Register by visiting lavenderandplay.ca/events.