About Zoocheck Canada
Zoocheck Canada is a national animal protection charity that was established in 1984 to promote and protect the interests and well-being of wild animals. For more than 25 years, Zoocheck has been a leading voice for the protection of wild animals. We are the only Canadian organization with a specific focus on captive wild animal issues and problems. Zoocheck works to end the abuse, neglect and exploitation of wild animals through investigations and research, through education and awareness campaigns, and through legal and legislative actions.
Over the years, Zoocheck's animal protection campaigns have resulted in the closure of some of Canada's worst zoos; improved the husbandry conditions for captive wild animals; new or improved bylaws across the country that control or prohibit the keeping and displaying of wild animals by private citizens, circuses and travelling shows; regional and national public awareness and education prorams; a greater awareness of captive wildlife issues; and support for projects that directly protect animals in the wild.
For more information about Zoocheck Canada, please visit our website.
About Keep It Wild!
Zoocheck's humane education program, Keep It Wild!, is a series of elementary school workshops that are designed to inform students about the needs and well-being of wild animals, and to encourage students to think critically about animals and their environments, including captive environments. Each workshop is carefully designed to meet specific expectations of the Ontario Science and Technology Curriculum, placing a special emphasis on sustainability and stewardship.
Keep It Wild! workshops are designed to be completely interactive, with activities that include hands-on scientific investigation, interactive games, engaging activities, and discussion. Through these workshops, students will discover the unique characteristics of specific animals - their needs, their adaptations, their habitats. At the same time, students will also discover how these animals cope with different environments, including captive environments. Most importantly, students will be encouraged to take action and to become ambassadors for wild animals.
Our Education Committee
Nadja Lubiw-Hazard
Nadja received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Guelph in 1993, and spent several years working in Toronto as a small animal veterinarian. For the past eight years she has volunteered as a Roots & Shoots coordinator at an elementary school, developing and delivering a wide variety of humane education programs. She currently presents science workshops in elementary schools in Toronto. Nadja has been involved with Zoocheck for over 9 years as a volunteer, and is currently a member of the Board of Directors.
Paige Ruggles
Paige is an elementary teacher for the Toronto District School Board. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from McMaster University and a Master’s of Science in Education from Medaille College. She has additional qualifications in Special Education and English as a Second Language. She has taught grades 2, 3, 5 and ESL (English as a Second Language). She has been a Zoocheck supporter since 2008.
Audrey McClure
Audrey is a former accountant. She recently completed an Animal Care Worker course at Georgian College, during which she did co-op placements with the OSPCA and the Midland Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. She currently volunteers her time with the OSPCA's Youth and Animal Program, which matches hard-to-adopt shelter dogs with youth in the justice system. Audrey did a co-op placement with Zoocheck in 2009, and has remained on as a volunteer.
Susan Fleisher
Susan is a former special education teacher with the Toronto District School Board. She left the classroom for 14 years to raise her two daughters. Presently, she is back in the schools where she works as a humane educator, teaching about kindness and empathy towards animals, as well as the responsibility of pet ownership. She is a long time supporter of Zoocheck Canada.
Andrea Bolton
Andrea graduated from York University in 2009 with a Honours Bachelor of Environmental Studies. In the past, Andrea worked as a camp councilor and a camp supervisor, as well as an event representative with the Summerhill Group, where she educated the public about various environmental issues, such as solar power and energy conservation. She worked for Zoocheck as a summer student in 2008 and 2009, and was Zoocheck's Education & Campaign Coordinator from 2010-2011.
Shelina Manek
Shelina is a Toronto-based, independent business owner with a passion for all living things. She has been volunteering for animal rights and animal protection initiatives ever since she can remember. Her most important event was the Elephant Walk, a Toronto fundraising and awareness event in the 1980s, that was an initiative of the Decade of the Elephants. She has recently joined Zoocheck as a volunteer.
