Caledon’s National Wildlife Centre invites you to an Evening for Wildlife Gala

In our increasingly urbanized world, wildlife, who were here long before urban sprawl, often find themselves facing negative outcomes in their interactions with people. Efforts to survive humans, as we push into and through their native habitats, are not always successful.

Reality is that everything is inherently connected. Those who understand that, already know that wildlife are an important part of our ecosystems and crucial to the planet’s health, and our own.

So, what can we do locally if we discover injured wildlife?

Caledon is truly fortunate to be the home of the National Wildlife Centre (NWC), a non-profit organization devoted to providing urgent medical care to sick, injured and orphaned wildlife.

From humble beginnings in 2014 with a donated van that was retrofitted to serve as a mobile hospital, the NWC has steadily grown in terms of boots on the ground, as well as impact. That mobile clinic is still used to service calls in the field, especially for larger animals (such as deer, moose and bears) that cannot be accommodated otherwise.

Today we will tell you how you can help that worthy effort continue.

NWC is a small organization with an impressively big reach, conducting itself on four pillars: wildlife medicine and rehabilitation, education and conservation, knowledge creation and research, and wildlife emergency prevention and preparedness, and response. Over 80 volunteers ensure availability seven days a week and 365 days a year.

Building on their success to date and their love for wildlife, Dr Sherri Cox, NWC co-founder and medical director, and her team set themselves a goal of launching Ontario’s first ever accredited wildlife hospital in 2014.

Phase one of their wildlife hospital dream became a reality in April of this year when the wildlife field hospital opened its doors in Caledon East. The team are now able to tend to sick or injured wildlife on site. Together, with external partners, NWC has treated over 878 patients since that opening.

Phase two of Project Evolution is to achieve an expansion and permanency that would allow the Caledon East location to become home to a 26,000 sq. ft. well-outfitted clinical unit that would also serve as a national headquarters and much-needed training hub.

And they’re just getting started.

Now, here is how you can help.

This is your chance to be a wildlife champion.

The NWC has planned a fundraising gala with purpose. The semi-formal event will be held on October 9th at the prestigious TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, the official host of the 2025 and 2026 RBC Canadian Open, in the beautiful Caledon Hills.

Guests will hear inspiring stories of wildlife rescue and recovery from keynote speaker Dr. Sherri Cox, as well as TV personality Hope Swinimer of Hope for Wildlife, and black bear experts Mike and Ella McIntosh from Bear with Us Centre for Bears.

There will be gourmet hors d’oeuvres, a chef-inspired dinner, open bar, and a live and silent auction led by radio and TV host Rob Pagetto.

This gala will raise critical funds to support life-saving medical, surgical, and rehabilitative care for injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife – both at the newly opened accredited wildlife field hospital and through the NWC’s broader work across Canada.