The Saskatoon Zoo Society was formed nearly 40 years ago to provide educational opportunities with and about the animals at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo and to help with providing new and improved enclosures for the resident animals. As time went on it became clear that fundraising for capital projects would require more than we, as a volunteer organization, could add to our plate. In time, the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation was formed to seek funding for capital projects such as the PotashCorp Ark and the Affinity Learning Centre as well as other facilities. It has become increasingly evident that in order to increase capital funding, an organization must demonstrate the educational value of that project. Education is an integral aspect of everything that happens at the zoo. We need to know why it is important to house an animal and the significance of that species. The Saskatoon Zoo Society and the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation believe that the above task can be accomplished with an amalgamation of the two entities so that we can present a unified voice to our funders. We want to ensure that capital projects and educational value work cohesively and ultimately improve the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo.

The Saskatoon Zoo Society Board has voted to pursue an amalgamation, but to formally do this we need the assent of our membership. Therefore we are calling for a Special General Meeting to take place at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28 in the Affinity Learning Centre, Classroom 3 for a vote on this and to provide half the funding to hire an Executive Director to help guide both organizations in the process of this joining.

From our bylaws:

– Any person who is eighteen (18) years of age or older and has been a fully paid up member for at least six (6) months shall be entitled to hold office in the Society.

– Each full member of the Society shall at all meetings of members, be entitled to one (1) vote, but he/she may not vote by proxy.

– Families taking out family memberships shall be entitled to two (2) votes at meetings.

We encourage all members of the Saskatoon Zoo Society to attend this special general meeting to vote on this important issue of amalgamation with the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation.