THUNDER BAY - Marguerite Lehtinen and her three-year-old grandson, Bentley, have made coming to the Chippewa Wildlife Exhibit part of their weekly routine, visiting almost every Wednesday during the season.
“We walk around and try to find the animals,” Lehtinen said. “Every Wednesday is something new. Sometimes we see the animals, sometimes we don’t. Then we have a picnic and play on the playground. It’s the best all-day spot.”
On Sunday morning, Lehtinen and Bentley were two of more than 120 people visiting the Chippewa Wildlife Exhibit for the Family Day weekend, and she, like many others walking through the gate, are upset that it may be their last time.
On Feb. 9, as part of 2017 budget deliberations, Thunder Bay city council voted in favour of permanently closing the Chippewa Wildlife Exhibit, saving the city $83,000 from this year’s budget. Council is set to vote on the final budget on Tuesday, and if the wildlife exhibit remains on the chopping block, it will close May 1.
Lorraine Lortie-Krawczuk, president of the Friends of Chippewa Park, said a petition to save the wildlife exhibit has collected more than 1,000 signatures online and more people were signing petitions available at the park on Sunday.
“We’ve only been here for less than half an hour and we’ve already probably got 30 or 40 signatures, so we are really excited that there are a lot of people coming out this weekend,” she said. “Everyone that I talked to this morning is very upset that city council has decided to do this.”
When Lisa Rioux first heard of city council’s decision to close the zoo, she said she was upset, very upset.
“I understand they want to close it because of money and cost, but at the same time, sometimes education is worth the extra cost and the money involved to keep it open,” she said. “I would love to see this expanded.”
Rioux came to the zoo on Sunday because she wanted to see the animals with her daughter before it closes.
“I am hoping that city council changes their mind because this is a wonderful spot to come and see these animals in the wild,” she said. “It’s good for the children to look at them and learn about these animals.”
For others walking the boardwalk at the wildlife exhibit, hoisting their kids up and pointing out the animals in the enclosures reminds them of when they were kids and used to visit the zoo, making the trip a family tradition.
“It’s something we like to do every year with our daughter,” said Shannon Spoljarich. “She’s three and a half years old and it’s something different that we can do in Thunder Bay.”
Spoljarich said the first thing that came to her mind when she learned the zoo was slated for closure was how another thing for kids in the city will soon be gone.
“It seems like they have things that come in to Thunder Bay and close pretty quickly,” she said. “Chippewa Zoo has been here for so long. It hits home a little bit that it’s something our kids won’t be able to do as they’re growing up.”
Rioux and Spoljarich both signed the Friends of Chippewa Park petition to save the wildlife exhibit that will be presented to city council. But Lortie-Krawczuk said calling or emailing councilors to express support for the zoo will have an even greater impact.
Lisa Ryder has been coming to the Chippewa zoo for more than 30 years and she said bringing her kids out to the zoo was a perfect way to do something local in the fresh air.
While she hasn’t called any member of city council to express her support, she said that might change now.
“Now I think I should,” she said. “It was very emotional today signing the petition and I’m sad I won’t be able to come back.”
Lehtinen also signed the petition and she said she will be making some calls to city council to express her support for the zoo. She added she was very upset when she learned the zoo could possibly close. Because for her and Bentley, visiting the Chippewa Wildlife Exhibit is not just a tradition, it’s part of a routine.
“We do this almost every Wednesday,” she said. “So I was thinking, what am I going to do Wednesdays now? There’s not really much in this city to do for small children.”
