Awards of Excellence

This award recognizes excellence in the area of habitat design and development by a CAZA accredited institutional member. Success in this category will depend upon the applicant applying creative and unique approaches to animal care and welfare, enhancing public appreciation of the species and conveying meaningful educational messages.

Award Recipients:

• 2023 (Large Facility) Parc Omega – Drive among the Arctic wolves
• 2023 (Small Facility) Saskatoon Zoo – Small mammal house
• 2022 (Large Facility) Parc Omega – Sleeping with the wolves
• 2022 (Small Facility) Granby Zoo – Coming to the rescue of elephant and gorillas in Cameroon
• 2021 (Large Facility)Granby Zoo – Zoo de Granby – The New Rhinoceroses’ Multi-Species Habitat
• 2021 (Small Facility) Saskatoon Forestry Farm, Park & Zoo – Prairie Dog Exhibit
• 2020 (Large Facility) Granby Zoo – Zoo de Granby
• 2020 (Small Facility)Little Ray’s Nature Center
• 2018 Vancouver Aquarium -Stellar’s Bay Exhibit
• 2017 Toronto Zoo – Wildlife Health Centre
• 2016 Magnetic Hill Zoo – Amur Cat Project
• 2015 Assiniboine Park Zoo – Journey to Churchill Exhibit
• 2014 African Lion Safari – Artificial Reproduction
• 2013 Granby Zoo – South Pacific Odyssey Pavilion
• 2012 Edmonton Valley Zoo – Arctic Shores
• 2011 Ecomuseum Zoo – Research and Conservation of Reptiles and Amphibians
• 2010 Assiniboine Park Zoo – Pavilion of the Lions
• 2009 Toronto Zoo – Tundra Trek Program
• 2008 African Lion Safari – Cheetah Program
• 2007 Vancouver Aquarium – Aquaquest, The Marilyn Blusson Learning Centre
• 2006 African Lion Safari – Asian Elephant Program

This award recognizes outstanding achievement and innovation in education program design that enhances conservation knowledge and/or promotes positive conservation attitudes and behavior. Successful submissions will demonstrate creativity, innovation, goal setting and include a means to measure success.

Award Recipients:

• 2023 (Small Facility) Edmonton Valley Zoo – Pay it forward for the planet subsidy
• 2022 (Small Facility) Edmonton Valley Zoo – Urban Ecology Education Exhibit
• 2021 (Large Facility) Assiniboine Park Zoo – Beluga Bits
• 2021 (Large Facility) Toronto Zoo – Climate Action Learning & Leadership (CALL)
• 2021 (Small Facility) Saskatoon Forestry Farm, Park & Zoo – Interactive and Online Environmental Education Programs
• 2020 Toronto Zoo
• 2018 Toronto Zoo – Turtle Head Start Program
• 2017 Ecomuseum – Nature Camp Program
• 2016 Edmonton Valley Zoo – 100 Voices
• 2015 Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo – Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo’s Mobile Zoo Exhibits
• 2014 Zoo Sauvage De Saint-Félicien – Amur Tiger Habitat
• 2013 Magnetic Hill Zoo – Keeper Camp
• 2011 Magnetic Hill Zoo – Education Program
• 2010 Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo – Zoo School Education Program
• 2009 Biodôme De Montréal – Temporary Habitat Project

This award recognizes institutional achievement in the field of in-situ conservation. Applications are encouraged for projects in areas of in-situ species, habitat or biodiversity support, recovery and/or restoration. Types of support include, but are not limited to, fiscal, educational and personnel.   The successful applicant will demonstrate a long-term institutional commitment to the submitted activity.

Award Recipients:

• 2023 (Large Facility) African Lion Safari – Eastern Loggerhead Shrike recovery
• 2023 (Small Facility) Aquarium du Quebec – Impact of scuba diving activities on the fauna and flora of the diving sites surrounding Bonaventure island
• 2022 (Large Facility) Granby Zoo – Coming to the rescue of elephants and gorillas in Cameroon
• 2021 (Large Facility) African Lion Safari – Elephant Conservation
• 2021 (Small Facility) Little Ray’s Nature Centers – Wildlife Rescue
• 2020 Little Ray’s Nature Center
• 2018 Granby Zoo – Involvement of the Zoo de Granby in the preservation and enhancement of a local natural area: the Boisés-Miner
• 2016 Toronto Zoo – Giant Panda Conservation
• 2015 Greater Vancouver Zoo – Western Painted Turtle Recovery Program
• 2014 Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo Ottawa – Green Initiatives Program
• 2013 Zoo Sauvage De Saint-Félicien – Short Eared Owl Inventory in Saguenay Lac St Jean
• 2011 Vancouver Aquarium – Ex Situ Propogation of the Endangered Oregon Spotted Frog
• 2010 Aquarium du Quebec – Evitons Leur Disparitions
• 2009 Riverview Park and Zoo – Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre
• 2008 Mountain View Conservation Society – Northern Spotted Owl Captive Breeding Program
• 2007 Zoo de Granby
• 2006 Vancouver Island Marmot

This award recognizes achievement in ex-situ propagation and management programs that contribute to the long-term survival of animal species or populations. The successful applicant will demonstrate a significant institutional commitment to propagation or management programs that produce multiple or single births that have a positive impact on the sustainability of the species or population.

Award Recipients:

• 2023 (Large Facility) African Lion Safari – Eastern Loggerhead Shrike recovery
• 2023 (Small Facility) Aquarium du Quebec – Impact of scuba diving activities on the fauna and flora of the diving sites surrounding Bonaventure island
• 2022 (Large Facility) Granby Zoo – Coming to the rescue of elephants and gorillas in Cameroon
• 2021 (Large Facility) African Lion Safari – Elephant Conservation
• 2021 (Small Facility) Little Ray’s Nature Centers – Wildlife Rescue
• 2020 Little Ray’s Nature Center
• 2018 Granby Zoo – Involvement of the Zoo de Granby in the preservation and enhancement of a local natural area: the Boisés-Miner
• 2016 Toronto Zoo – Giant Panda Conservation
• 2015 Greater Vancouver Zoo – Western Painted Turtle Recovery Program
• 2014 Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo Ottawa – Green Initiatives Program
• 2013 Zoo Sauvage De Saint-Félicien – Short Eared Owl Inventory in Saguenay Lac St Jean
• 2011 Vancouver Aquarium – Ex Situ Propogation of the Endangered Oregon Spotted Frog
• 2010 Aquarium du Quebec – Evitons Leur Disparitions
• 2009 Riverview Park and Zoo – Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre
• 2008 Mountain View Conservation Society – Northern Spotted Owl Captive Breeding Program
• 2007 Zoo de Granby
• 2006 Vancouver Island Marmot

This award recognizes innovation and significant contribution to the zoo and aquarium field by permanent staff employed at a CAZA institutional or educational affiliate member.

Award Recipients:

• 2022 Little Ray’s – Paul Goulet
• 2021 Zoo de Granby – Rock Boily (Veterninary Technician)
• 2018 Greater Vancouver Zoo – Tony Guenther
• 2017 Vancouver Aquarium Dr. John Nightingale
• 2016 Calgary Zoo – Charles “Rick” Wenman
• 2015 Parc Safari – Richard Mireault
• 2014 Magnetic Hill Zoo – Cathy Simon
• 2013 Bowmanville Zoo – Robert Crawford
• 2012 Edmonton Valley Zoo – Sandy Helliker
• 2011 Magnetic Hill Zoo – James Carson
• 2010 Zoo Sauvage De Saint-Félicien – Mailis Caron
• 2009 Magnetic Hill Zoo – Bernard Gallant

This award will recognize the valuable short or long-term contribution a volunteer has made to a member Institution of CAZA.

Award Recipients:

• 2023 BC Wildlife Park – Caroline Reichenback
• 2023 Honorable mention – Edmonton Valley Zoo – Doug Warren
• 2021 Toronto Zoo – Pam Paterson
• 2020 Calgary Zoo – Diane Ramsay, Ann Johnson, Bernard Kohrs, Jean Clark
• 2018 Toronto Zoo – Henny Bernards
• 2017 Greater Vancouver Zoo – Elfie Ringrose
• 2016 Toronto Zoo – Lynn Wylie
• 2013 Vancouver Aquarium – Nikki Clouthier
• 2012 Edmonton Valley Zoo – Barb Chapman
• 2011 Toronto Zoo – Annette Simms
• 2010 Calgary Zoo – Cedric Stapleton
• 2009 Edmonton Valley Zoo – Mark Smith
• 2006 Assiniboine Park Zoo – Darlene Stack

This award is given at the discretion by the CAZA Board of Directors to someone who has exhibited a lifetime commitment to the sector and to CAZA. Successful submissions will require an essay detailing outstanding accomplishments to the sector and volunteer time to CAZA. This award can be given posthumously.

• 2023 Matthew Paul Korhonen (May 5, 1980 to May, 11 2020)