PRESS RELEASES

Toronto, ON - Your Toronto Zoo and the City of Toronto are launching a new pilot program offering complimentary school field trips to students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 across Toronto’s four publicly funded school boards: Toronto District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board, Conseil scolaire Viamonde, and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir. This initiative reflects a deep commitment to education, equity, and the kind of city-building that looks ahead - not just to the next year, but to the next generation.

In her 2026 budget, Mayor Olivia Chow included $100,000 for this program, with an additional $200,000 being added through the Council package to bring total funding to $300,000.

The pilot initiative is a key step in advancing the Zoo’s Guardians of Wild Strategic Plan, which prioritizes removing barriers to access and fostering lifelong connections to wildlife and conservation. The program supports the Zoo’s goal of ensuring that every student in Toronto has the opportunity to visit and learn from the Zoo.

“At your Toronto Zoo, we often talk about our responsibility not only to care for wildlife, but to inspire people to care about wildlife” says Dolf DeJong, CEO, Toronto Zoo. “That responsibility begins with access. When a child walks through our gates, sees a polar bear up close, hears the call of a Kookaburra, or locks eyes with a Masai giraffe, something powerful happens. Curiosity turns into connection. Connection becomes empathy. And empathy can grow into lifelong stewardship resulting in a new generation of guardians.”

“Every child in Toronto deserves the chance to learn, explore, and be inspired.” said Mayor Olivia Chow. “By removing financial barriers through this pilot, we are opening the doors of the Toronto Zoo to thousands of students who may not otherwise have this opportunity. This is about equity in education, and about making sure young people can build a meaningful connection to wildlife, conservation, and the environment we all share.”

This pilot project was inspired by the extraordinary legacies of two groundbreaking female pioneers in wildlife research - Dr. Jane Goodall and Dr. Anne Innis Dagg. Their fearless curiosity, compassion, and dedication to understanding animals paved the way for a new generation of scientists, explorers, and advocates. By honouring their legacies, your Toronto Zoo is creating a living classroom where students can step beyond textbooks and experience the natural world up close. Their legacies remind us that education is not just about information - it is about transformation. It is about giving young people the tools and the inspiration to ask questions, to care deeply, and to act.

“The Board is proud to support this initiative as part of our broader vision for community engagement and environmental leadership,” said Deputy Mayor Paul Ainslie, Scarborough-Guildwood and Chair of the Board of Management of the Toronto Zoo. “Ensuring that every student can access the Zoo aligns with our commitment to inclusivity, education, and stewardship of the natural world.”

Local leaders are also welcoming the initiative as a meaningful investment in youth and education.

“This is an exciting opportunity for students across our city,” said Councillor Neethan Shan, Scarborough-Rouge Park. “By making these field trips accessible to all, we are not only supporting teachers and families, but also helping inspire the next generation of guardians right here in Toronto.”

To support more access to the complimentary field trip pilot program, the Kiwanis Club of Scarborough has contributed $10,000 towards the cost of transportation for Scarborough based publicly funded schools. Details of how to access this funding will be announced in the near future.

The pilot will run during the 2026–2027 school year, with participating schools able to register through a booking process beginning in August. The Zoo will evaluate the program’s impact with the goal of expanding access in future years.