For the past 25 years, the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) has been supporting Airdrie and area’s natural diversity by rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife in the area. To celebrate this milestone, the non-profit society is hosting a 25th Anniversary Celebration at the Bow in Calgary, April 21 at 7 p.m.
According to wildlife rehabilitator Jackie Annis, the event will honour the year the society was established, 1993, with 1990s-themed festivities and music. There will also be an extensive drink menu, she said, as well as a silent auction.
“Since we are a non-profit organization, all of the money that we need to make this place run comes from donors,” Annis said, adding donations help cover expenses like paying staff members, maintaining the clinic and enclosures, and purchasing medical supplies and food.
“Basically, that money helps with every aspect of what we do.”
In addition to wildlife rehabilitation, AIWC provides other essential services to the region through education and resources. Since nearly 90 per cent of the clinic’s patients require care as a result of human impacts, Annis said, teaching people about how much humans impact the environment and the animals that live there is vital.
“It’s really important that we recognize what’s going on and look at ways to try and mitigate human damage to the environment,” she said.
“The truth is, they’re there, so we need to look at how we can live together and how we can help each other. The more we understand that, the more people realize we need something like AIWC.”
Annis said AIWC is looking to increase its public presence and provide additional awareness and educational opportunities to area residents. The anniversary celebration, she said, will hopefully be a chance for people to learn more about what the organization can offer.
“This is a really fun way for us to introduce someone to AIWC and what we do here, so they can learn more about it while they are helping us – and then, they can find out what else they can do to keep helping even after the party is over,” she said.
“We really want to connect to the community like that and build those relationships.”
Tickets for AIWC’s 25th Anniversary Celebration are $60 per person, and can be purchased at aiwc.ca by following the link to the online shop. Donations can also be made through the website or by calling 403-946-2361.
