FortWhyte Alive kicks off donation-matching campaign to fund $35M expansion
FortWhyte Alive is taking its next step in its $35 million expansion by officially launching a new fundraising campaign.
To help fund the project, FortWhyte announced a new donation matching campaign, with Winnipeg philanthropist Bob Williams pledging to match all donations made up to $1 million.
“Every year, thousands of kids get their nature experience right here, and that’s the true value of this place,” said Williams.
The Your True Nature campaign will help fund a new state-of-the-art 18,000 square foot building called Buffalo Crossing.
The building would allow FortWhyte to offer year-round environmental education and outdoor recreation.
“After this development is complete, FortWhyte will be ready to welcome more school children, more day campers in all new sustainable ways,” said Liz Wilson, president and CEO of FortWhyte.
“This project is about preparing FortWhyte for the future and giving the community access to nature and the knowledge to protect it.”
FortWhyte said the building will use a climate-resilient design, achieving Passive House certification, making it the first commercial building in Manitoba to obtain the highest possible energy efficiency standard.
A selection of upcoming smaller projects such as pathway revitalization, increasing accessibility and creating a new home for its Forest School Program was also announced.
WORK ALREADY UNDERWAY
So far, FortWhyte Alive has completed two major projects in its expansion.
The nature facility has already done a green energy retrofit of its Richardson Interpretive Centre and built a woodworking studio at FortWhyte Farms.
FortWhyte said work has also started on wetland restoration, with the former Waterfowl Garden site being revitalized to restore wetland habitats.
It said the expansion of pond areas will create new winter recreation opportunities for skating, snowshoeing and outdoor active living.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
BREAKING Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Doctors visiting a Gaza hospital are stunned by the war's toll on Palestinian children
An international team of doctors visiting a hospital in central Gaza was prepared for the worst. But the gruesome impact Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children still left them stunned.
Crypt near Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner could fetch US$400,000 at auction
A one-space mausoleum crypt in the vicinity of Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner will go on auction Saturday, when it is expected to reach between US$200,000 and $400,000.
This Toronto restaurant is no longer accepting tips. Here's how it's going
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff – tipping is no longer accepted.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Premiers not being truthful about carbon tax, Trudeau says while sparks fly in Ottawa
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Conservative premiers across the country are 'not telling the truth' when it comes to the carbon tax. Trudeau's comments came as fresh sparks were flying in Ottawa at a recalled House of Commons committee.
Far North police 'dispatch' polar bear stalking schoolyard
Police and local hunters in an Ontario Far North First Nation community have “dispatched” a polar that was showing abnormal behaviour and treating the area as a hunting ground.
Cargo ship had engine maintenance in port before Baltimore bridge collapse, officials say
The cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore underwent 'routine engine maintenance' in port beforehand, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday.