Environmentalists may not, in general, be friends with car dealerships because what they sell contributes to atmospheric pollution, but Medicine River Wildlife Centre (MRWC) found a perfect partner in Ponoka’s Chrysler dealership on Friday, July 18, when an owl was at display for kids as part of a fundraising effort for the environmental group.
As part of the effort, Chrysler invited the representatives of the group as well as many kids, who purchased books while also learning what MRWC does to protect the environment.
The centre is not only an educational facility but also serves as a wildlife hospital.
“Medicine River is a teaching facility, we travel central Alberta and we teach thousands of kids every year about being friends with the environment and responsible with wildlife,” said Sharon MacPherson, a volunteer with the centre.
“When we are not doing education programs, we also have a very active wildlife hospital, about 1600 patients a year are being accepted to our hospital,” she added.
The fundraising effort is mainly aimed restoring the wildlife hospital portion of the centre because the hospital the centre was operating was recently demolished due to its deteriorating structure.
“There is a lot of things we need in the new hospital we would like to build,” said Judy Boyd community liaison for the MRWC.
“Whoever would like to organize a fundraiser for us, a BBQ or pancake breakfast, we will be more than happy to work with them,” said MacPherson in an open appeal to lovers of the environment to support their cause.