TORONTO ZOO HONOURS NORTHWEST MUTUAL FUNDS' PLEDGE BY GIVING SNOW LEOPARD EXHIBIT A NEW NAME!
For information regarding the Toronto Zoo please contact:
Peggy Hornell, Director
Toronto Zoo Foundation
(416) 392-9104
For information regarding Northwest Mutual Funds please contact:
Susan Willemsen
President, The Siren Group Inc.
(416) 402-4880
October 9, 2003, Toronto, Ontario: What's in a name? A big "Thank You!" - as the Toronto Zoo recognized when it renamed the Exhibit in a ceremony this morning. The new Northwest Mutual Funds' Snow Leopard Exhibit was christened to honour the niche fund company that pledged $100,000 to the Toronto Zoo over the next five years. The money will be used to support vital conservation and research activities at the Zoo.
Northwest Mutual Funds is a subsidiary of Desjardins Trust, a financial services industry leader with offices in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. As one of the fastest growing fund companies in Canada, Northwest differentiates itself by employing forward-looking strategies.
An enthusiastic class of Grade Four students from Meadowvale Public School cheered as Calvin White, Zoo General Manager and CEO unveiled a plaque bearing the new exhibit name. The only individuals who didn't seem to notice the name change, however, were the exhibits' inhabitants, Olaf (male, 14 years old) and Lena (female, 10 years old). A total of 15 snow leopards have been born at the Toronto Zoo. Found in the Arctic tundra regions of Asia, snow leopards are classed as ENDANGERED in the wild. The decline in their numbers can be attributed largely to illegal hunting, depletion of prey species, and destruction and fragmentation of their habitat. It's estimated that there are only 4,000 to 7,000 left in the wild.
"We are excited to pledge our support to the Toronto Zoo and its vital Species Survival Plan, to help conserve the endangered snow leopards while aiding ongoing research and conservation efforts," said Michael Butler, President and COO, Northwest Mutual Funds. "Our commitment underscores Northwest's approach to investments and in this case, a forward-looking approach to global conservancy," he added. "Today we are investing in our environment."
"The Toronto Zoo is grateful for Northwest Mutual Funds' generous donation." says Calvin White, Zoo General Manager and CEO. "Their gift will assist us in preserving this critically endangered species."
With an international reputation for conservation and research, the Toronto Zoo is currently involved in 37 Species Survival Plans (SSP). Species Survival Plans are programs amongst North American zoos to conserve animals at risk such as the Vancouver Island marmot, the black-footed ferret, the cheetah, Sumatran tiger, and many more.
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Toronto Zoo Hours, Sept.2 to Oct. 13 - 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Oct. 13 to Dec. 31: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Last admissions one hour before closing. General Admission 13-64 incl. is $18, Children 3 and under free, Children 4-12 are $10 and seniors 65+ are $12. Parking is $8. The Zoo is open year-round, except for December 25th. The Zoo is located at Meadowvale Road and Hwy. 401, Exit 389 east and west bound. For general information, call (416) 392-5929 or visit www.torontozoo.com
