PROJECTSÂ
TRANSFORMATION & CONSERVATION
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Valley Zoo Development Society
The Valley Zoo Development Society (VZDS) is a registered charity and friend of the Edmonton Valley Zoo (EVZ). The VZDS is proud to take a lead role in the EVZ’s stunning transformation into a special place that inspires love and learning of the natural world.
Impact of Your Support
Children are fascinated by the natural world, especially by animals. By providing them with a fun setting where they can learn about animals & nature, we can create life-long ambassadors for the long-term health of our planet.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATION!
Overview
The Valley Zoo Development Society has been a partner of the City of Edmonton and the Edmonton Valley Zoo since 1989. Our mandate is the continued awareness and development of the Zoo, including its conservation and education programs. We believe that a zoo is an essential part of a healthy community and that the City of Edmonton is particularly blessed with the Edmonton Valley Zoo at its heart in our spectacular River Valley.
The ‘Storyland Valley Zoo’ was leading edge in 1959. Times have changed. Today, the Edmonton Valley Zoo has gone from a 5-acre petting zoo featuring storybook characters to a 21st-century centre of learning, research, and conservation.
This enormous undertaking marks the beginning of a new direction that will continue to evolve and adapt, ensuring the protection of our future and the future of the animals we share this planet with. We aim to provide a space that inspires the love and learning necessary for saving these species.
Together with the City, we’re excited to build on the Zoo’s rich legacy—transforming it from its cherished Storyland past into a world-class, conservation-focused destination committed to delivering unforgettable experiences for guests of all ages.
Current Projects
Hover over the images or continue scrolling to learn more about our current and future developments. To view past projects we are proud of, click the button below.
Aspen Restoration
NATIVE HABITAT, IMPROVED WATERSHED
Red Panda Yard
AN OUTDOOR PLAY ZONE
Project Carnivora
Modern, Natural Homes
Coastal Arctic
Life at the Top of the World
The Aspen Parkland Restoration Project will transform the Edmonton Valley Zoo’s landscapes into vibrant, living classrooms. Moving beyond the City’s standard turf-based design, this initiative will re-naturalize 9,000 square meters with native plants from Alberta’s Fescue and Mixed Grass prairie types, enrich an open exhibit space with up to 55 trees and shrubs representing Boreal and Foothills forest ecosystems, and breathe new life into the ten-year-old green roof of the Arctic Shores exhibit.
These enhancements will immerse visitors in the beauty, diversity, and resilience of native ecosystems that once flourished in Edmonton’s river valley over a century ago. With every step through the Zoo, guests will connect with restored habitats, experience the sights and textures of Alberta’s wild landscapes, and leave inspired to protect the natural world.
The Red Panda Yard Landscape Project will bring fresh life and adventure to the Edmonton Valley Zoo’s red panda habitat. This initiative will design and install new plantings, boulders, and climbing features—carefully planned to minimize disturbance to the existing environment—while creating a dynamic, enriching space for these charismatic animals.
By increasing habitat complexity and weaving in natural elements reminiscent of the red pandas’ wild Himalayan home, the project will offer both the animals and visitors a more immersive experience. Guests will enjoy seeing the red pandas explore, climb, and interact with their revitalized surroundings, deepening their connection to this endangered species and its faraway mountain ecosystem.
Project Carnivora marks a defining moment in the evolution of the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Anchored by two iconic carnivore species — the Canadian lynx and the snow leopard — this initiative is transforming life for some of the zoo’s most charismatic residents while introducing a new generation of premier spaces that elevate the guest experience from the moment visitors arrive.
Positioned at the front of the zoo, these naturalized habitats will be among the first experiences guests encounter, immediately setting a tone of curiosity, conservation, and connection. Thoughtfully designed to mirror the wild landscapes these elusive carnivores call home, the habitats provide the highest standards of care and welfare while creating powerful opportunities for guests to observe, learn about, and connect with species that are notoriously difficult to spot in the wild.
The Valley Zoo Development Society is currently in the design phase of the Coastal Arctic Project. A part of the 2025 Master Plan, the Coastal Arctic Project will expand on the success of Arctic Shores with an immersive new experience unlike anything else at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Scheduled to begin in 2030, this project will bring guests closer than ever to the wonders of the Arctic’s wild coastlines—culminating in a breathtaking polar bear habitat as the pinnacle of the journey.
More than a visual spectacle, Coastal Arctic will educate visitors with powerful conservation stories about climate change, human impact, and the urgent need to protect fragile Arctic ecosystems. Through awe-inspiring encounters and engaging educational experiences, guests will leave inspired to take meaningful action for the future of this remarkable and rapidly changing region.
