Funds Raised
$2,297,811
$4.5M+
As of December 20, 2024
The Need
Our old facility was small, lacked amenities, and beyond repair. With renting a large space being unsustainable and limiting, it was time for an upgrade to a new, modern, purpose-built facility. As birds are declining in staggering numbers, each bird's life saved can help the survival of its species. Therefore, the Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre's work is now more important than ever. Caring for tens of thousands of birds over the past 40 years, our goal is to ensure there is a wild bird advanced care facility in the Ottawa Valley Region that will provide life-saving treatment for orphaned, injured and ill wild birds, for generations to come.
The Vision
The construction of a new facility on 17+ acres of land will provide a state-of-the art, advanced care wild bird emergency facility and will include:
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A quiet, energy efficient building
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A modern medical suite and isolation spaces
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Free-flight areas, both indoors and out, enriched to simulate a more natural environment
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An interactive education/visitor area where the public can learn more about birds, their habitats, and environmental stewardship
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The ability to adapt to changing needs
How You Can Help
With construction costs now more than doubled and extensive site work to be done, more than $2M needs to be raised so that we can move in before the busy bird season starts next year and avoid costly delays and financing costs.
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You can help us by donating to our building fund today.
Naming Opportunities
We invite you to become an important part of the new Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre and our continuing mission of saving birds' lives by lending your name, your family's name or your business to an interior space or outdoor aviary.
For the most up to date information on various naming opportunities available and current pricing, contact:
Juliette Marczuk, Board Chair
Giving Level Recognition
With permission, and subject to the Centre's Gift Policy, all donors giving $500 or more may be recognized on a permanent digital display in the new building. All donors giving $100 or more will be acknowledged on the Centre’s website only. Named spaces will have additional recognition.
Build Progress
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August 2019: Site Plan application initial submission
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January 2020: Well drilled
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March 2024: Site Plan approved
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November 2024: Building Permit approved
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December 2024/Jan 2025: Phase 1 scheduled to be completed (Foundation & rough grading)
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Winter pause
The construction and site completion of the project will be completed in stages, subject to weather conditions and financing available.
Timeline:
Phase 1 of construction which includes rough grading and foundation work is currently underway on our property located at 8520 McArton Road. Completion of the main building is expected by the summer/early fall of 2025.
Site Supervisor, Dale and our Chair, Juliette standing "in" the building at footing level (Dec. 12, 2024), forms being laid and center supports marked (pink). Footings to be poured next week!
December 19, 2024: the first concrete truck arrives!
Bringing our Dream to Life...
We wish to extend a very special thank you to our architect and fellow bird-lover, Dr. Ammar Aldujaili, OAA, OAQ, Ph.D. Arch., for his dedication and commitment to this project. He has gone above and beyond to make this project come to life.
We wish to also extend a very special thank you to our civil engineer and also fellow bird-lover, Dr. Husham Almansour Ph.D., P. Eng, for his dedication and commitment to this project, and persevering with us through a very challenging site plan process.
We are excited to be working with Graebeck Construction whose many years of professional experience in the construction industry and work on complex projects such as ours will turn our dream into reality.
Groundbreaking Event
On June 1, 2024 we celebrated our ceremonial groundbreaking event that marks the start of a new chapter in the Centre's history. Speakers included:
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Karen McCrimmon, MPP Kanata-Carleton
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Councillor Glen Gower, Ward 6 (Stittsville)
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Juliette Marczuk, Chair of the Board, Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre
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Dr. Robin Roscoe, Veterinarian & Certified Avian Specialist
Although Kathy Nihei’s plans for the Centre were modest, declining bird populations are now demanding more action from us to stop this alarming trend. Especially for those species that are threatened or endangered of becoming extinct, each precious life saved can have a real impact on the survival of its species. We can help birds now and in the future. The new facility will provide an exceptional level of care, and a stable future for the Centre.
Due to increased pricing of construction, another $2M will need to be raised by December of 2024 to avoid construction-related delays.
With the Building Permit now in hand, the foundation and rough grading is being started in late 2024!