OVERVIEW

We often hear it said that television is now the main medium for teaching children about wildlife. It is not difficult to argue with this proposition, but it cannot compete with getting closer to the real thing.

A visit to the zoo creates a lasting impression. Who could forget a Red Panda baby pouncing on her Mom as she walks past, or the way a prairie dog wriggles its nose while it chews, or the playfulness of a pair of otters? A face-to-face encounter with a Nubian Goat is unlike anything that television could ever offer. Only by getting up close do you realize just how large an elephant is, just how agile monkeys are, just how colorful the parrots are. There is something about a solid, three-dimensional living, moving animal, with all its smells and sounds that imprint upon the mind. For children, the distinction is even more emphatic. Something about the experience that children have when they see a live animal, in the wild or a zoo, cannot be replaced by other teaching aids. This is the key to the powerful educational potential of good zoos.

When you teach a child to be kind to animals, you help pave the way to a brighter future for all living beings. Animals benefit because the next generation has learned to treat them with respect and compassion, reducing instances of animal cruelty. Children benefit because learning about compassion and empathy early in life builds moral character, reduces violence, and builds a sense of empowerment and responsibility. And society as a whole benefits when its members are more caring towards each other and the animals who live among us.

Thank you for your interest in helping support the revitalization of the Edmonton Valley Zoo.

MEMORIAL GIVING

We extend our condolences to you and your family during this time of loss.  We know that not only your family, but also friends, coworkers, and neighbours share the grieving process, the search for answers, and the need to remember your loved one.  When you lose someone special, it may seem that no gesture is significant enough to recognize what that person meant to you.

But there is something you can do to honour your loved one’s memory in a meaningful way.  You can request that in lieu of flowers, you wish for memorial donations to be made to a charitable organization.  When you decide to request memorial gifts, you make a personal statement of remembrance and love.  Your funeral director can make the necessary notifications and arrangements for you and ensure that your wishes are included in the obituary.

Contributions to the Valley Zoo Development Society made in memory of your loved one will help create a special place that inspires love and learning of animals and nature. We, at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, have become an important focus for our visitors’ love of nature and their interest in living in a world where people of all ages are not only delighted by the diversity of the living world that surrounds us, but are committed to protecting the integrity of its wildlife and wild places.

It’s a simple and heartwarming way for others to pay tribute – and one that will have a lasting impact in our community and on our planet.

Please contact donate@buildingourzoo.com to learn more about how you can honour your loved one during this difficult time.

DONATE A CAR

The Valley Zoo Development Society gratefully accepts vehicle donations through Donate a Car Canada. Donate a Car Canada makes donating a vehicle simple.

To donate your vehicle to the Valley Zoo Development Society follow the link to Donate a Car Canada’s website. Once there, all you have to do is answer a few simple questions to see if your vehicle qualifies, fill out the donation form with your vehicle information and contact information, then select the Valley Zoo Development Society as the charity you wish to donate to. Review the details you’ve entered, agree to the terms and conditions, and submit your vehicle for donation. Check your email for further instructions regarding drop-off, pick-up, or towing. Donate a Car Canada will handle the rest!

FAQ - WHAT CAN I DONATE?

Donate a Car Canada accepts most vehicles including, but not limited to, cars, trucks, vans, SUV’s, trailers, RV’s, and boats. The following conditions must be met for your vehicle to qualify:

  • Donation must be made by the registered owner, or their legal representative.
  • Vehicle must be registered in Canada.
  • Vehicle must be in a complete state with no major parts missing (They do accept vehicles with body damage.)
  • Special conditions apply to boats, trailers, or RVs.
  • Vehicles with insurance claims against them are NOT accepted.
  • Vehicles with liens or encumbrances on them are NOT accepted.
FAQ - IS MY DONATION TAX DEDUCTIBLE?
Yes, you will receive a tax receipt from us. After the sale, or recycling of your vehicle, Donate a Car Canada will complete the accounting process and will send you an email confirming your donation has been sent to us. You should then receive your tax receipt within 4 – 6 weeks of us receiving your donation. Thank you.

PLANNED GIVING

There are several ways you can support the Edmonton Valley Zoo through your financial and estate planning. You can donate to, or name the Valley Zoo Development Society as a beneficiary through one of the following options:

STOCKS

Donate your stocks or securities and decrease your annual taxable income.

BEQUESTS OR CASH OR PROPERTY

A charitable bequest could be a gift of a specific amount or a percentage of your estate which is given after the estate debts and family needs are cared for. Your estate will receive a tax receipt for the full amount of your bequest and your executor can use the receipt to obtain tax credits to offset 100% of your income from the current and previous year.

REGISTERED RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLANS

Saving for your retirement is an essential part of a complete financial plan. In terms of your estate, there are no differences between RRSPs and RRIFs and making a charitable gift of either will provide tax benefits to your estate.

LIFE INSURANCE

There are three common methods to make a gift through life insurance. Each type provides different tax benefits which you should consider when deciding which option is best for you.

Charitable Registration Number: 88639 7595 RR0001

For other options and more information, talk to your estate planner or contact us at donate@buildingourzoo.com today.

HELP BUILD OUR ZOO!

It is through today’s zoos that future generations will come to a greater understanding of the human impact on the natural world and be motivated to preserve it and reverse the damage already done. Every donation, big or small, helps us revitalize our beloved Edmonton Valley Zoo! Thank you for caring for the animals, our children’s future and the planet!