Inspiration from South of the Border

Given the great challenges facing your Zoo to grow and thrive, I couldn't help but find a bit of inspiration in last night's address to Congress by American President Obama. He spoke of laying a new foundation and identifying new resources in a time of crisis, of pulling together and confronting boldly the challenges we face. He talked of spirit and not being quitters ...and tkaing responsibility. Much of this applies to ensuring that the vision of those who created a Zoo in Saint John 30 years ago remains vibrant and that we do all we can, "inside and out of the box" to assure that the next generation will continue to be able to enjoy a Zoo - a vibrant Zoo - in our community.

Oh for a plow

Another Saint John winter day leaves the Zoo wondering when it will be able to afford a plow that actually works. Luckily there is that snowblower donated by Canadian Tire to clear pathways to the animals for feeding but as for the rest ... though not in our very small budget, we will have to bit the bullet for a new truck that can undertake tasks like clearing the 37cm that has filled up the parking lot and patways.

In the news ...Again

The Zoo has certainly been in the news of late. Unfortunately this has included some not so good news. The Zoo had applied for an 2009 operating grant from City Council for $175,000 ... that's around of one-third of annual cost of operating your Zoo and is very small compared to the Zoo budget given the Moncton Zoo at $1.5 million. Cherry Brook Zoo has received only $50,000 for 2009, a step up from the zero funding scene of 2003-2008 but so far short of what is needed ... and so far short of what the city agreed to provide the Zoo when it was invited to locate in Rockwood Park in the late '70's. The latest news is that the Zoo now will receive only $40,000 of the promised $50,000 as $10,000 is being held back by the City to go towards property tax, even though the Zoo neither owns nor has a lease on the property. The City of Saint John owns the Zoo land. The Zoo assets belong to the citizens of Saint John and are held in trust for the citizens by Cherry Brook Zoo of Saint John Inc., a charitable body that is administered by a volunteer Board of Trustees. The Zoo is in urgent need of continued public support.