Wildlife interpretive centre the product of planning and community support

By Christy Marsters

The Hants Journal/NovaNewsNow.com

The Hants West Wildlife Interpretative Centre is nestled in a wooded area along the Bog Road in Falmouth. With endangered lady slipper blossoms blowing in the back yard breeze, newly laid turtle eggs buried in the front yard, a two-kilometer walking path trailing along the property and Aikins Marsh nearby, the grand opening of the new facility was a dream come true for many working years to bring the building to reality.

Hants West Wildlife Association president Mike O’Brien says the facility took a lot of community support and was a project encompassing many years of planning.

There were probably some faces smiling down from above today as many were involved with the vision of this building, O’Brien said. “It’s a 28-year-old dream in the making.”

This area will be used to teach different wildlife programs, but will also be made available for various community groups, O’Brien said. “We’re a non-profit group that shares what we got…You can interpret this building to be for all kinds of different things.”

Association founding president Laurie Saulnier said the environment and everything connected with it are important and something that needs to be shared with the youth of today. “When you take children out and teach them how to hunt and fish, you can see the expressions of joy on their faces.

“I’ve hunted and fished all my life with my father,” Saulnier added. “And we got along more like close brothers than like father and son. The outdoors really bonded us.”

Anyone interested in booking the facility can contact O’Brien at 798-3684 or by emailing byonderdogs@ns.sympatico.ca.

Those interested in joining the wildlife organization can attend meetings held the second Wednesday of the month at the Interpretative Centre.