A $125,000 donation has helped the Medicine River Wildlife Centre reach its fundraising goal for its new animal hospital.
“I still am a little bit overwhelmed. After all these years of struggling, I’m not sure my brain has totally comprehended that we’ve made it,” said Carol Kelly, the executive director of the centre.
The “long-time major donor,” who gifted the hefty sum, wishes to remain anonymous, Kelly added.
“They are just happy to see the hospital be completed,” said Kelly.
“It’s just nice to know a lot of people appreciate our hard work. … It clearly means a lot to all the people who have donated, followed us for years and know what we’re all about.”
A grand opening for the $1.2-million animal hospital is expected to take place next spring.
“We’ve always wanted to have a spring sandhill crane festival, because our sandhill cranes (a breed of bird) come back here to nest.
“They often nest right below the viewing tower – we’ve got some awesome shots of them. We were thinking about combining the grand opening of the new hospital with our first sandhill crane festival.”
The centre, which treats more than 2,000 patients and receives about 10,000 phone calls a year, opened its new reception room this past week.
An animal hospital is “clearly something that’s needed, because there are so many people using it,” said Kelly.
The educational aspect of the centre is popular as well, she added.
“Even now, people are saying, ‘Oh, you’re open to the public? When can we bring a school group?’ The demand for the education part is high,” she said.
This is the 35th year of the Medicine River Wildlife Centre.
“Not only is the building coming together, we put some finishing touches on the playground out front. We’re doing a new website, new brochures and new everything.
“Several communities have contacted us and said, ‘We understand the program you’re doing with skunks in Red Deer is quite amazing and we’d like you to help us.’ It just seems like everything has come together after all these years of work.”
The finishing details will be put on the new hospital during the winter, she added.
The new wildlife hospital will be double the size of the old building, with five intensive care units, a lounge and learning area, treatment centre, quarantine room, and a kitchen and storage area.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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