Zoo Society History - 1904 to 1969

A Brief History of the Assiniboine Park Zoo and the Zoological Society of Manitoba

1904 City of Winnipeg, Parks Board purchased a number of native animals, deer, bison, and elk. 1908 Bear enclosure was built and followed in 1916 with another enclosure.

1909 The zoo had 116 different animals of 19 different species.

1929 The zoo budget was $8,000 ($1,800 for food, $4,200 for labour, and $1,158 for new construction). Today’s budget totals $2,497,173 ($161,800 for food and supplies, and $1,952,707 for labour). As of 1998, the animal collection has increased to include 77 different mammal species (390 animals), 151 different birds (700 specimens), and 14 reptiles (34 specimens). Total collection is approximately 271 species with 1,193 specimens.

1935 The Khartoum Shriners donated a female lion.

1956 The Zoological Society of Manitoba was formed. With the guidance of an Advisory Committee, they formed the first vision for the zoo and assisted it to become one of Canada’s most respected.

1957 The Society helped raise and develop the beloved children’s petting zoo “Aunt Sally’s Farm”.

1959 The Assiniboine Park Zoo became the official name of the facility. 1964 The gibbon/monkey house was completed.

1966 The snow leopard enclosure was added to the leopard enclosure.

1967 The bear enclosure was renovated to modernize it and the upper story was constructed. 1968 Construction began on the Tropical House.

1969 Construction of the Native Animal Exhibit at the South End of the zoo was completed. In addition, the completion of the South Gate allowed entry to the zoo from two locations.

Zoo Society History - 1983 to 1995

1983 The Zoological Society of Manitoba was revived. During the 1970’s and early 1980’s, the Society had lost nearly all involvement with the Zoo. With its revival, the Society began to have more input into zoo affairs. The Society began by providing money for new signage, exhibits, infrastructure and other projects.

1985 The concept of a new children’s centre within the zoo began. The Society enlisted the assistance of the Kinsmen Club of Winnipeg as its main partner in developing and building the Kinsmen Discovery Centre.

1987 The East Gate main entrance was reconstructed to include a new Gift Store operated by the Zoological Society of Manitoba. The Carousel Restaurant was also redesigned and renovated for better customer service.

1989 The Panda Project began to take form. It was a huge undertaking by the Society and was successful. After the panda’s left, the zoo placed spectacled bears in the new facility where they remained for over ten years.

1990 The Kinsmen Discovery Centre opened. The Centre won the Hal Rogers National Service Shield, the highest Kinsmen Club award.

1993 An admission fee to the zoo was instituted in March. Doug Ross was hired as the new Zoo Director in April. The “Winnipeg Down Under” Australian exhibit featuring koalas ran from May to September. The koalas were from the San Diego zoo, and when they went home Matchie’s tree kangaroos replaced them.

1995 New enclosures for the camels, yaks, and zebras opened in the northwest end of the zoo. A new “Camel Oasis” Interpretive Playground, which was designed and built by Osen Design, in conjunction with the Federal Government of Canada and the Zoological Society of Manitoba, opened at the same time. Also in 1995, Dr. Bob Wrigley was hired as Zoo Curator, to work with Doug Ross. And finally, the first “Lights of the Wild” special event, featuring animal light sculptures presented by the Zoo and the Society, opened for 3 weeks in the winter, and was a resounding success. Total Zoo attendance for 1995 was 70,000 during the event.

Zoo Society History - 1996 to 2005

1996 The Society and the Zoo opened the first “Boo at the Zoo” Halloween event, of which 40,000 people attended over a ten-day period.

1997 The “Saturn Playground” was constructed, in conjunction with the Saturn Company and the Society. Also in 1997, the Society assumed operation of the food services operations and renovated the main restaurant facilities, in co-operation with Hilderman, Thomas, Frank, and Cram.

1998 Limba, a female Asian elephant was the first animal to be highlighted as part of Animal Encounters, a summer educational show presented by the Society and the Zoo. Limba was a very popular animal to all the Zoo’s visitors. The Saturn Shuttle and Kiosk information booth projects were established. The Society, in co-operation with the Winnipeg Foundation, installed $70,000 worth of electrical infrastructure into the Zoo. The Society’s special events department held a corporate picnic for the Palliser Furniture Company for 5,000 Palliser employees, which was a Zoo first. The Boo at the Zoo was the most successful year to date with nearly 50,000 in attendance.

1999 The Carousel Restaurant was renamed the Animal Tracks Café. The Society and the Zoo initiated the first comprehensive Master Plan for development since 1960. The animal encounter entitled “Birds of Prey” ran for the summer.

2000 The decision is made to relinquish the Lights of the Wild and the lights are sold to Portage Island of Lights. Portage recognizes the Zoological Society and the Lights of the Wild in their new program.

The Society and the Zoo begin work on the development of a new Master Plan Development Proposal for the Assiniboine Park Zoo. Initial proposals are developed for the redesign of the existing Polar Bear enclosure. This eventually grows into a much larger Master Plan Development project with the securing of Ace Torres Incorporated and Economic Research and Associates as the lead designers and economists for the project.

With a generous grant from the Winnipeg Foundation the first Inner City Explorers (I.C.E.) Camp is held. Drawing from the Inner City Coalition and Child and Family Services over 150 inner city children have the chance to experience Zoo Camp. The camp was an overwhelming success and eventually runs for four years.

Boo at the Zoo returned to a more traditional Halloween theme and with strong attendance. The Mayors Award for Volunteerism is awarded to the Zoological Society of Manitoba for the work with volunteers at Boo at the Zoo.

A second corporate picnic for the Palliser Furniture Company is held. Again, 5,000 Palliser employees and their families are in attendance.

2001 A generous grant of $10,000 from the DeFehr foundation provides an opportunity to renovate the unused Bison Restaurant Kiosk into the Palliser Interpretive Center the headquarters for ICE Camp.

An alliance with the University of Manitoba Summer Camps initiates Mini U Zoo a sell out in the first season, where campers spend one week at the University and one week at the Zoo.

Summer Zoo Camp reaches capacity for most weeks of the summer – with a new themed format, new drop off and pick up procedures receives glowing accolades from both campers and parents.

The Society initiates the development of the first full colour zoo map, produced by Sherlock Publishing.

The Society assists in funding the publication of Polar Bear Encounters by Dr. Robert Wrigley, Curator of the Assiniboine Park Zoo. The book reaches the number one best seller at McNally Robinson Booksellers and is a popular purchase at the Zootique Gift shop.

Work on the Master Plan continues with public introduction of the concept at the Annual General Meeting of the Zoological Society in June. The Plan takes on new parameters with some specialized Park introductions including discussions with Partners in the Park about a Winnie the Pooh tie-in.

The Society hosts its first annual Breakfast with Santa as part of the Festival of Trees and Lights sponsored by the Friends of the Conservatory.

2002 In April, en route to the Baltimore Zoo, a tundra buggy is on exhibit at the Zoo for several days – education programs and general tours are a big hit with the Winnipeg population.

The Society provides the financial and marketing support to return Limba the Asian elephant to the Assiniboine Park Zoo for the summer – resulting in significant gate increases from prior years in July and August. A new Limba Kiosk was built with the generous donation of John Holman – the Kiosk replaced the old Prairie Dog Snack Shack after Limba returned to the Bowmanville Zoo. The Saturn shuttle was also operational as the Limba Express for the months of July and August.

The alliance with the University of Manitoba Summer Camps continues and Mini U Zoo continues to be a success.

"Fables, Myths and Legends" provides a successful theme for 2002’s Boo at the Zoo. Boo at the Zoo continues to be a popular event each year with approximately 35,000 visitors in 2002.

2003 The Zoo Education Centre hosts nearly 300 Girls Guides and their leaders for a sleepover at the zoo. The Girls Guides returned in 2005 for another early summer sleepover to wrap up their season of programming.

2004 Education Centre Design Build - as part of a joint venture with the University of Manitoba Architecture Department, the Society contributed to a substantial building enhancement to our Education Centre. One of the key roles of the Society is to promote the education value of the Zoo to the youth of Manitoba.

White (Bengal) tigers are the major attraction. The Society worked cooperatively with zoo staff and the City of Winnipeg to promote the education value and opportunity for Manitobans to visit this rare colour phase.

2005 Zoological Society of Manitoba partners with the Manitoba Museum, Imax and the Zoo to bring in Chimp Quest, which includes a visit to Winnipeg by Dr. Jane Goodall.

ZSM involved in the promoting the arrival of African lions and their new born cubs to all Manitobans.

ZSM Education Centre becomes an official APE Roots & Shoots chapter.

Boo at the Zoo celebrates its 10th anniversary with three new attractions (the Pumpkin Patch Maze, Area 54 and Boo Alley) plus many of the old favourites. A record 57,400 visitors attended!

2006