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
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.