Jun 3 2026

MEDIA RELEASE – PDF Version Here

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre Announces New Executive Director in Strategic Leadership Expansion

ONTARIO, CANADA – June 3, 2026 – The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC), Canada’s premier facility for turtle conservation, rehabilitation, and research, is honoured to announce the appointment of Glenn M. Cunnington, Ph.D., as its new Executive Director, effective June 15.

This appointment marks a significant milestone in OTCC’s strategic succession plan. Since 2009, Dr. Sue Carstairs has concurrently held the positions of Executive Director and Medical Director. Under her leadership, the OTCC has evolved from a grassroots, volunteer-driven, initiative into a world-renowned conservation centre. To support continued organizational growth, the OTCC Board of Directors has had in their succession plan to split the roles to allow each position to become more specialized, thereby increasing the organization’s scope and impact.

Dr. Carstairs will remain in a co-leadership position as Medical Director. Dr. Kristen Janke, a long-standing veterinarian with the organization, will gradually assume the full Medical Director role,  with Dr. Carstairs remaining  involved but at a slower pace.

“Glenn brings with him all the qualities that OTCC needs to continue moving forward,” said Dr. Sue Carstairs. “He is an expert in Ontario’s turtles, having been on the Committee On The Status of Species at Risk in Ontario for five years.”

Dr. Cunnington holds a Ph.D. focused on Road Ecology from Carleton University, an M.Sc. in Watershed Ecosystems and a B.Sc. in Conservation Biology from Trent University, as well as a diploma from Fleming College in Fish & Wildlife. He is a published author in road ecology and brings deep experience in stakeholder engagement, grant writing, and financial stewardship.

“It is a tremendous honour to join the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre as its next Executive Director,” said Dr. Cunnington. “I want to thank Dr. Sue Carstairs for her extraordinary leadership over the past sixteen years. I am stepping into a healthy, growing organization with a remarkable culture, world-class clinical care, and an ambitious path towards 2030 already in motion.”

The OTCC remains dedicated to protecting and conserving Ontario’s native turtles and their habitats. Core operations—including healing injured turtles, incubating eggs, and releasing healthy turtles and hatchlings back into the wild—will continue uninterrupted through this transition.

About OTCC: The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre is a registered charity dedicated to protecting Ontario’s native turtles and the habitats they rely on. Operating a specialized turtle hospital, the OTCC rehabilitates injured turtles, conducts field research, and leads comprehensive educational programs to foster environmental stewardship.

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For further information contact:
Dr. Sue Carstairs, OTCC Executive and Medical Director
Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre
705-741-5000: info@ontarioturtle.ca; website: www.ontarioturtle.ca
Charitable Registration # 85752 4409 RR0001 (registered as Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre)

Previous Media Releases

Aug 20 2025

MEDIA RELEASE – PDF Version Here

Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre Celebrate Grand Opening of New State-of-the-art Hospital and Education Centre

August 20, 2025    Peterborough, Ontario    Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre

PETERBOROUGH, ON – The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC) is pleased to announce the grand opening of its new 10,000-square-foot hospital and education centre, a major step forward in the organization’s mission to protect and conserve Ontario’s vulnerable turtle populations. The grand opening ceremony will take place on Thursday, August 22, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. (invite only), followed by an open-house, available for exploration by the public, from 1-4pm at the new building located at 2785 Television Road, Peterborough, Ontario.

This new, state-of-the-art facility, situated on a generous 100-acre property, was gifted by the Young Family. Funding for construction was provided by hundreds of donors, along with founding support for the centre from The Gordon and Patricia Gray Animal Welfare Foundation, The Alan and Patricia Koval foundation, and the family of Lindsay Samuel. The increased space will allow the OTCC to significantly expand its capacity to help injured turtles, a critical need given the six-fold increase in admissions over the last decade. In 2024 alone, the center admitted 2,300 turtles and released 5,011 back into the wild.

In Southern Ontario, wildlife can never be further than 1.5km from a road. This statistic highlights the significant impact of human development and infrastructure on the landscape, particularly for wildlife. “The dense road network (with more being built every day) fragments natural habitats, making it difficult for species like turtles to travel and find mates, food, and suitable habitat without encountering a road – a major cause of injury and mortality,” says Brennan Caverhill, board member at the OTCC. The vital work of the OTCC team of veterinarians and conservation professionals is absolutely essential to offset this growing threat to the world’s oldest group of animals – turtles.

A Vital Role in Conservation

All eight of Ontario’s native turtle species (like the Blanding’s turtle, Snapping turtle, and Spotted turtles, among others) are considered at risk. Southern Ontario is home to Canada’s greatest turtle diversity, and density. While habitat destruction is the primary threat, road mortality is a major cause of injury, which is where the OTCC’s work is crucial. The new facility will feature an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and a dedicated hatchling area to care for the thousands of eggs and hatchlings rescued each year. The OTCC’s innovative methods for healing injured turtles and their shells, pioneered by Executive Director Dr. Sue Carstairs, Order of Ontario, and her team, are crucial for their recovery.

Beyond direct care, the OTCC’s public education and stewardship programs, including the volunteer-run Turtle Taxi program with over 1,500 volunteers, play a key role in rescuing and transporting turtles from across the province. This includes a pilot who volunteers his time to transport turtles from Northern Ontario.

Turtles: Flagship Species for Ontario’s Wetlands

Turtles are more than just a beloved species; they are a vital part of Ontario’s ecosystems. As major components of wetland and waterway biodiversity, their survival has a direct impact on the health of these habitats, which are essential sources of drinking water. Turtles act as flagship species for the areas where they live. Their charismatic nature and unique natural history captures the public’s imagination, encouraging people to support the conservation of these critical habitats for all species. With their lineage dating back 220 million years, pre-dating the dinosaurs, turtles are a living testament to the importance of protecting these ancient, irreplaceable ecosystems from the pressures of modern development.

This vital work, however, is not possible without the generous support of the community. As a registered charity, the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre is funded almost entirely by grants and private donations. While large funders play a crucial role, it is the cumulative impact of small, one-time or monthly donations from everyday Ontarians that allows the centre to sustain its day-to-day operations, providing the critical care and rehabilitation needed to release thousands of turtles back into their wild homes. Every donation, no matter the size, helps us purchase essential supplies, from medical equipment and food to enclosure materials and transportation costs for our Turtle Taxi volunteers. To learn more or to make a donation and join us in protecting these fascinating animals, please visit www.ontarioturtle.ca or email info@ontarioturtle.ca.

Grand Opening Details

WHO:

  • The Honourable Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
  • The Honourable Dave Smith, MPP Peterborough/Kawartha
  • Her Worship Heather Watson, Mayor of Douro Dummer
  • Chief Laurie Carr of Hiawatha First Nation
  • Major funders and volunteers
  • Sue Carstairs, Executive Director, OTCC, Order of Ontario

WHAT:

  • Grand Opening Celebration and Open House for the new OTCC facility

WHEN:

  • Friday, August 22, 2025 – Remarks 11 a.m. – 12 p.m (invite only)
  • Friday, August 22, 2025 – Open house, 1-4pm (open to public)

WHERE:

  • 2785 Television Road, K9L 1E9

WHY:

  • To celebrate stewardship efforts of OTCC staff and volunteers, in their work to protect native turtles species and natural habitats that are essential to all life in Ontario

Related Links

May 6 2022

MEDIA RELEASE – PDF Version Here

Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre launches Ontario Turtle Conservation Network

Supporting the creation of an online resource for turtle research and conservation in Ontario

Peterborough, Ontario – The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC) is pleased to announce the creation of the Ontario Turtle Conservation Network, an exciting new initiative that will support knowledge gathering and sharing of best conservation practices with experts, and the public, in order to facilitate turtle protection work throughout the province.

The creation of the Ontario Turtle Conservation Network is being supported by Parks Canada through a recently signed three-year contribution agreement with the OTCC. The creation of an Ontario Turtle Conservation Network will facilitate connections with other organizations across the province and help further engage the public in the work taking place at Parks Canada administered places.

Eight species of turtle are found in the province of Ontario, all of which are species at risk federally and face population declines. The Ontario Turtle Conservation Network is an online resource that offers public access to educational resources to learn more about turtle conservation and get involved with local turtle conservation initiatives. The network will facilitate learning, coordination of efforts, and open new opportunities for members of the public to engage with local organisations to help ensure turtle population recovery.

With approximately 100 individual organisations working across the province to help protect turtles, the creation of the Ontario Turtle Conservation Network will help bring these organisations together with an internal platform for conservation professionals to collaborate and share knowledge and research actions and results.

Members of the public can access the Ontario Turtle Conservation Network here. Organizations or individuals in Ontario working on turtle conservation that are interested in joining the internal network for conservation professionals can request access by contacting: otcn@ontarioturtle.ca.

“We are delighted to be working with Parks Canada on this new initiative, that will help connect turtle conservationists across the province, and facilitate collaboration and exchange of ideas.  We are very appreciative of their support, that made this project possible.”

Dr. Sue Carstairs, Executive & Medical Director, Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre 

“Parks Canada is pleased to work with partners like the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre to help conserve species at risk like the native species of turtles found in Ontario. By sharing knowledge and adopting a regional approach to conservation, we are in a much better position to achieve our wider conservation goals. We’re stronger together. After all, protected areas are not self-contained islands, but rather components of broader landscapes and ecosystems.”

Louis Lavoie, Executive Director, Ontario and Waterways – Parks Canada

Quick Facts

  • The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre is a registered charity whose goal is to protect and conserve Ontario’s native turtles and the habitat in which they live.
  • The OTCC operates the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre, a turtle hospital that treats, rehabilitates, and releases injured turtles. They also perform extensive research in the field to further conservation initiatives, and they run a comprehensive education and outreach program.
  • Parks Canada contributes to heritage conservation through its leadership in conservation and presentation and its participation with conservation organisations across the country to foster a better understanding of issues and take actions to help protect and restore healthy, resilient ecosystems, and contribute to the recovery of species at risk.

Related Links

Image courtesy of Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre

December 2020

MEDIA RELEASE – PDF Version Here

OTF Grant Boosts Conservation of Ontario’s At-risk Turtles and Wetlands

Peterborough – Over the past year, the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC) has been busy completing renovations to its hospital for Ontario’s at-risk turtle species. Thanks to a $143,500 Capital grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation in 2019, OTCC was able to make needed renovations and add 3,100 square feet to the hospital as well. The Centre, founded in 2002, is Canada’s leading turtle hospital and multi-faceted conservation centre for at-risk native Ontario turtles.

“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 single-handedly 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.”

This November, OTCC completed work at two buildings, completely renovating and re-designing them to house injured turtles in its care. In addition to substantially increasing capacity, the new facility ensures that turtles admitted to the hospital have larger enclosures that allow for maximum rehabilitative exercise, decreasing hospital stays and accelerating the turtles’ return to their source wetlands. Turtles play a critical role in maintaining the health of the life-sustaining wetland ecosystems upon which all of us 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.”

About the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF)

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. OTF awarded $115 million to 644 projects last year to build healthy and vibrant communities in Ontario.

About the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC)

Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre is a fully integrated turtle hospital and conservation centre for at-risk native Ontario turtles. OTCC measurably mitigates threats to Ontario’s declining turtle populations through a comprehensive multi-pronged approach which includes a teaching hospital, egg incubation and hatchling program, scientific research, and education and outreach.