This summer, Assiniboine Park Zoo piloted a new volunteer program called the Inclusive Park Upkeep Program (IPUP), where volunteers with a disability are assigned to some out-of-the-box tasks to help us improve our facilities at the Zoo. It was such a success over the summer that we’ve been able to extend into fall and are continuing to run it through the winter.

Over the summer, you might have seen them outside painting post and chain fences, buildings, fire hydrants, and more. With the temperatures cooling off, they’re still working hard – just indoors, painting enrichment boxes and objects for the animals as well as giant blackboards for Zoo Lights (opening this Friday, November 22 - get your tickets today!)

This program aims to provide skills-based volunteering experience for individuals with a disability who have aged out of school programming and aren’t part of a day program to continue keeping them engaged. The new skills and experience gained in this program can also be put on their resume as experience if they seek paid work in the future. This project also helps support the upkeep of the Zoo to ensure we provide a fantastic space for the animals and the guests that visit them every day.

In addition to this program, we also run the Partner Volunteer Program, where students with a disability and their educational assistants can volunteer their time by cleaning windows in the animal exhibits and zoo pathways and signs. This year, the Manitoba School for the Deaf was one of our partners that joined the program.

“Every volunteer is welcome at Assiniboine Park Zoo, regardless of who they are. Everyone has something they can contribute to help make this place a great space to come to year-round. Our volunteers are part of our Assiniboine Park Conservancy team, where they can join social activities, earn rewards for their hard work, and be part of our community,” says Shaun Leonoff, Manager, Volunteer Resources.

Currently, IPUP is closed for new applications, but we are working towards expanding the program so that more people in the community can join. Spots are available in the Partner Volunteer Program. If you are interested in learning more, contact the Volunteer Department at 204-927-6074.

If you’d like to learn more about being a year-round volunteer, applications open in March 2025. So, make sure to keep an eye out on our website and social media for when those applications are live.