Forages Rouillier plays a part in welcoming the bears to the Refuge Pageau
06 septembre 2011
Amos, August 29, 2011. Thanks to the measures taken by the Board of Directors of the Refuge Pageau and the involvement of the President, Mario Rouillier, the Refuge Pageau received financial support from the Amos company, Forages Rouillier, in order to meet infrastructure requirements needed to welcome the bears, Kody, Mary and Toupie, who had been without a home since the closing of the former Jardin zoologique du Québec in 2006.
A large-scale project
Facilities that meet the needs of the three bears will be put in place at the Refuge Pageau before their arrival in the fall thanks to a public/private partnership between Sépaq and the Refuge Pageau. The Refuge financed its contribution through fund raising activities that were held among the major players in the mineral exploration industry of l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue as well as the mining industry in their area. Forages Rouillier, the Québec Mineral Exploration Association and Royal Nickel Corporation all gave generously. The SEPAQ will donate $300,000 and the Refuge’s sponsors are donating a total of $130,000, a construction project totalling close to $430,000.
A significant gesture
Mario Rouillier sits on the Board of Directors of the Refuge Pageau since 2006 and it is with great enthusiasm that he is involved in this project: “I am particularly proud to contribute in this way to the Refuge Pageau which is an unmatched asset in our area. We had been talking about this project for a long time and I had sincerely hoped that it would come to fruition. The bears will most definitely attract visitors to the Refuge and create awareness about the condition of animals in captivity”.
Refuge Pageau’s Mission
Since 1986, the Refuge’s mission has been to welcome, care for and rehabilitate sick or injured animals from the Boreal forest, create awareness among the public regarding the protection and care of animals and build a tourist attraction and educational centre for the population. The three bears that are approximately 30 years old, will not be relocated like the other animals that are cared for by the team at the Refuge.
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