Skip to content

Zoo’s day turns out ‘special’

The zoo was packed to capacity on their special day for persons with disabilities.
16908aldergroveZooCrowd2web
The zoo was packed to capacity on their special day for persons with disabilities.

The rain managed to stay away and even at times people got to see their shadows in the short periods of sunshine for another fun-filled Access Day at the Greater Vancouver Zoo.

It was the 14th year of hosting people with disabilities to visit the zoo at an extremely discounted price. We hear all the time about cut-backs in budgets and limited funding but the Greater Vancouver Zoo always has a place in their heart and wants to help where they can for people with disabilities.

Over 1,400 people participated during the day with such groups as the Development Disability Association, Bethesda Christian Association, Simon Fraser for Community Living, Bethesa Surrey, Langley Association for Community Living, Chilliwack Society for Community Living, Semiahmoo House, Autism Society BC, John Howard Society and many more.

The most common comment zoo staff kept hearing throughout the day was: “This is an annual event for us and we all look so forward to coming each year. We all love the zoo!”

In addition to the zoo staff, organizers were thankful for the numerous dedicated volunteers that came out to ensure that everyone that was coming through the gate received a warm welcome and some very cool animal stamps, colouring sheets and posters to take home.

The interpretative talks and feedings throughout the day included the Radical Raptor Birds of Prey presentation, meet a parrot, lion and tiger feeding, meet a reptile, giraffe snack, hippo snack, squirrel monkey enrichment and the very popular miniature train that goes around the perimeter of the zoo.