CONNECTING CANADIANS TO OUR NATURAL & CULTURAL WORLD MOTIVATES PARTNERSHP BETWEEN THE ROYAL CANADIAN GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY AND TORONTO ZOO

TORONTO, ON, Thursday, October 1, 2020: Your Toronto Zoo and The Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) are proud to announce an exciting new three-year partnership between their organizations. This partnership is founded upon the shared goal of connecting Canadians to our natural and cultural world, while building their awareness and commitment to protecting it for future generations. This agreement establishes objectives that the RCGS and the Toronto Zoo wish to collaborate on including:

• Connecting Canadians to our country, conservation and our stories
• Increasing geographic literacy
• Protecting the natural world and the animals and plants that live there

The RCGS was founded in 1929 with the important mandate of making Canada better known to Canadians and to the world. Under the patronage of the Governor General, the Society has, for 90 years, led the charge toward fostering a deeper appreciation of Canada’s natural, cultural and social heritage. While best known for its iconic publication, Canadian Geographic , the Society also publishes Géographica, supports Canadian geographical expeditions, and provides grants and scholarships for cutting-edge geographical research. In addition, the RCGS is active in building, promoting and supporting geographic education throughout the country, through its educational program, Canadian Geographic Education. One of the largest programs of its kind in Canada, Can Geo Education currently provides free geographic educational supports, products and materials to more than 25,000 member educators from coast-to-coast-to-coast, a number that is increasing rapidly.

“As Canada’s Centre for Geography and Exploration, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society is dedicated to fostering a greater understanding of Canada’s diverse human and physical landscapes — as well as the changes affecting its people, species and environment,” said John Geiger, CEO, RCGS and Canadian Geographic. “The need to work collaboratively to protect species, through broad public and classroom education, as well as through direct conservation initiatives, has never been more urgent. The Toronto Zoo is a national leader in conservation, and we are delighted to join forces to help protect species in Canada and abroad.”

“Your Toronto Zoo is a recognized leader in saving and protecting Canadian species,” said Dolf DeJong, CEO, Toronto Zoo. “We play a critical role as one of only few conservation breeding centres for many endangered species in Canada. With recent reports of the decline of a number of Canadian species, this new partnership with The Royal Canadian Geographical Society is an exciting opportunity to collaborate and connect people to the incredible conservation work that is happening to protect, conserve and increase the populations of endangered species worldwide for future generations,” he added.

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Toronto Zoo Media Contact:

Amanda Chambers
Supervisor of Strategic Communications
[email protected]

The Royal Canadian Geographical Society Media Contact:

Sarah Legault
National Director of Development
[email protected]