We wanted to celebrate the wonderful people we meet who contribute so much to our work to connect people to nature, protect habitats, big and small and give wildlife a voice. We are fortunate to have so many remarkable people in our ‘wildlife family’, many have been involved for decades, often dating back to our rehabilitation days. 

Doctors, diplomats, artists, homemakers, members of parliament, farmers, teachers, and a tech company CEO who fostered baby rabbits, were involved in our program.  A litter of baby raccoons were actually fostered at one of the embassies in Ottawa.

This diverse group all share a concern and passion for wildlife and nature. One of these remarkable people is Anita Utas. 

We first connected with Anita over a decade ago when she worked tirelessly to challenge the City of Ottawa’s outdated and inhumane practice of trapping beavers. She met with councillors, arranged community meetings, applied tree protection, and even assisted with school presentations to educate children about the value of coexisting with wildlife. 

We knew that Anita was an artist but did not realize the role that nature and wildlife played in her work.

Anita received her honours degree in Art History as well as her Bachelor of Education at Western University. After working as an art teacher with the public school board, Anita traveled overseas and spent seven years teaching in international schools in South East Asia and South America. She has traveled extensively and draws upon these experiences as inspiration for her landscape paintings. Her love for animals is expressed in her continuing series of wildlife paintings.

“My landscapes often capture ephemeral moments as viewed in nature; the quiet magic when the day moves to dusk, the reflection of a forest in a lake, the softness of a misty morning. I am drawn to the calming forces of far-off vistas; landscapes that are beyond simple visual identification.”

Anita’s connection to wildlife is evident in her art, we are so impressed not only by her talent but her ability to capture the spirit and soul of the animals she paints. 
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Anita has been painting professionally for over 12 years. She is represented in galleries across Ontario, and her work is included in corporate and private collections in Canada, the U.S.A., and Europe. To view her work you can visit www.anitautas.com
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Anita continues to be an advocate for wildlife and nature and is always on alert. She connects with community members on a range of wildlife issues, actively challenges outdated practices that harm wildlife, such as the coyote killing contest in Belleville and the on-going trapping of beavers in Ottawa.

Working with people like Anita, and seeing their passion and commitment serves as great inspiration to us, particularly on some issues that are decade-long battles. 

The Centre’s slogan “Nature…Discover, Enjoy, Protect” encourages people to get outdoors and appreciate the green spaces available to us in the Ottawa Carleton region. When exploring nature, it is important to do so safely. Following these guidelines will ensure your nature walk is a positive experience.

The best way to avoid contact with plants such as Poison Ivy and Wild Parsnip that can grow along trails is to stay on the trail and avoid picking flowers. Furthermore, being cognisant of their shape is also important (see infographics below). If you are intending to go off the trail, or are looking to be safer, wear long pants and close-toed shoes. The fabric will prevent the sap from coming in contact with your legs. Should contact occur, wash the affected areas with cold water and soap. If a rash develops contact your doctor for further treatment. 

Lyme Disease is of concern in the Ottawa region. Lyme disease can be contracted from the bite of an infected black legged tick (Deer Tick). Ticks like to live in long grasses and are prevalent in the Ottawa area. To limit your exposure to ticks, remain on the trail and wear long pants. Long pants can be tucked into tall socks for added protection. Furthermore, the use of insect repellant containing DEET can also deter ticks. Upon completion of your hike, do a quick scan to see if you’ve been bitten. For more information, review the infographic below.

​*Click the images below to view them at a larger scale. These infographics were created for use on the Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre trails. 

In partnership with TD Park People, the Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre provided free nature resources and activity booklets to the public for an event at Andrew Hayden Park. From July 4-5th people were encouraged to participate in our Explore Nature Near You Event. Participants explored the park and captured their best nature moment for a chance to win binoculars and a field guide!
The event was a great success with activities for all ages. From bingo, to nature riddles, to a Bio Blitz, there were lots of opportunities to learn about urban wildlife. 
Need some nature inspiration? Check out some of our favourite nature moments below including a submission from Anita, the winner of our draw! 

Anita picking up her binoculars and field guide, she "just loves her regular walks through that park with its variety of wildlife & beautiful scenery!"

​​Thanks to a generous $8000 grant from the TD Friends of the Environment (TD FEF), the OCWC was able to purchase snowshoes, binoculars, and field materials to allow community groups and families to enjoy safe and sustainable exercise in nature. By connecting with their local environment, participants can become stewards for protecting Ontario’s beautiful Greenbelt and meet many local species like White-Tailed Deer, Black-Capped Chickadees, Red Cardinals, and North American Porcupines. This new lending library will be used for years to come by visiting families, individuals, and community groups like the Girl Guides and Boy Scouts. Thank you, TD FEF!

A beautiful card featuring the acrylic on canvas painting “Fortunate to Have You Here” by Nicole Parent was just one of many in the Artists of Stonebridge 2019 Wildlife & Habitat Painting Collection that was gifted to the Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre (OCWC). Kate MacNeil, the OCWC’s Executive Director, accepted the cards along with a donation to the OCWC at the Artists of Stonebridge’s 10th Anniversary Art Show in December 2019. The focus of the show was to promote the wildlife and habitat in our communities, a perfect fit for the OCWC that has been operating in the Ottawa community since 1987.

The sentiment behind the Collection, according to organizers, is to recognize, “it is essential that humans live in harmony with the natural world. We know, although we often forget, that proximity to nature is an immense benefit to our mental and physical well-being”.