August 2023
In July 2023, we celebrated our new facility’s Groundbreaking!
Present were the major pillars of our Capital Campaign as well as local dignitaries. Of course none of this would be possible without the generosity of Mary and Gerry Young, who are gifting their land to OTCC. The whole 100 acre property will be named:
Margaret Mary Young and C.J. Gerry Young Conservation Farm
We are working together to make this vision come to life as their Living Legacy.
Our Major Funders for the Capital Campaign (donations of $50,000 and more), and major naming recipients are:
The Gordon and Patricia Gray Animal Welfare Foundation (Naming of the whole building – The Gordon and Patricia Gray Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre)
The Alan and Patricia Koval Foundation (Naming of the hospital – The Koval Tinker Turtle Hospital)
In Memory of Lindsay Samuel (TBD)
Liam’s Dream Foundation (Liam David’s Hospital Admission Area)
The Michael Young Family Foundation (Outdoor Education Centre)
The Morton-Sayles family, in memory of Noah Sayles (The Retail Facility)
Of course, there were SO many others who contributed as well, including naming recipients of smaller portions of the Centre through donations of $5000-$50,000:
The Reverend Dr. Connie and Dennis Phillipson (Hatchling Room #1)
Sheryl and David Kerr (“The Sheryl and David Kerr Hatchling Room”)
Nicole Dufort (“The Nicole Dufort Hospital Viewing Area”)
Marc and Susan Dupuis-Desormeaux (“The John Oliver Turtle Salmonella Prevention Pond” ie an outdoor pond 😉)
Mr. Kwong and Mrs. Fanny Hum and Family (Congregation area of Education Centre)
Maada’ookii Committee, Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation (Hatchling area)
Gary Markotich (“Head-started Hatchling Habitat Tank donated by Gary Markotich in memory of Mary Markotich”)
Karin Martens-Wasylyk (Paddy’s new enclosure)
Sean A. Rhoads (Viewing Wall – Hatchling Area)
In-Kind donations were also SO important in getting us to this stage. We are forever grateful to:
Adam Chapman (who so generously drew up the original and amazing architectural plans)
Herb Lang Well Drilling (who drilled a new well for the facility at no charge)
Ray McNeice (who created artwork depicting the new facility)
Wilk and Associates Landscape Architecture (who drew up the landscape architecture plans, and created a virtual tour of the site)
Gervais Vignola of Fishdog video (who created video promotions)
Scott Adams of Birchbark Media (who produced drone footage for video promotions)
There are still naming opportunities available in all price categories!
Contact us for details: Email info@ontarioturtle.ca, phone 705-741-5000, or use our Contact Us form.
Construction is due to be completed by the end of the year, and we hope to be using it by next turtle season! We have our current lease on Chemong Road only until August, with no extension available, so timing will be tight! Saving our annual lease cost of $65,000 will really help in operating costs at our new facility. We are so thankful to Mary and Gerry Young for gifting the property to OTCC. They truly are gems.
As of August 28, the walls are well on their way, and we expect the roof trusses to be constructed in September!
Wilk and Associates produced a virtual tour of the facility, with this depiction of the finished facility!
