about

Building Critter Care

Gail Hall

Critter Care Wildlife Society as we know it today began many many years ago in the heart and soul of a 5 year old girl in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan named Gail Hall.

This young girl, along with her family, moved from Prince Albert to Britannia Beach, a small mining town on British Columbia’s West Coast. Back then the only way into this community was by boat. Her home there was teeming with wildlife which pleased her so much. Gail began feeding her favorite critter, the raccoon, peanut butter sandwiches in her nightie no less, much to her mom’s chagrin. The raccoons never had it so good.

A few years later Gail moved to Vancouver where she met and married her true soul mate, Richard Martin. Two supportive sons later, Richard & Gail moved first to Surrey and then to Langley, settling in the Brookswood area.

Shortly after settling in, Gail’s passion for wildlife got the better of her and so she decided to volunteer at Monica’s Wildlife Shelter (since closed down) where she looked after some of the smaller mammals that came in. This shelter took in and looked after more birds than mammals which told Gail that there was a critical need for a more specialized care facility for mammals.

Gail started to do some extensive reading and research on some of the many mammal species. While doing this, slowly but surely injured and orphaned critters were starting to show up at her door. Especially once her neighbours got wind of her efforts, more and more critters were brought to her for help.

Bigger Accommodations Needed

Gail’s husband, Richard, had to have been the most understanding husband in the world to allow his wife to turn their basement into a wildlife nursery. So with family and friends they set about finishing off a portion of their basement and the infancy stage of Critter Care began. Eventually even Richard got involved in the feeding and caring of babies.

It didn’t take long till Gail’s knowledge exploded and larger critters like the fawns began needing her help. At that point it became clear that her basement nursery was just not going to serve the need and with Richard’s continued support and help the search for bigger accommodations began.

At the same time Gail was looking for more space she also realized the need for financial help in funding this project and to have the capability of doing fundraising and therefore applied to Revenue Canada for registered charity status. Critter Care Wildlife Society became a registered charity in January of 1993 (89643 9387 RR001).

In the matter of a couple of months, Gail came across an area near 4th Avenue and 216th Street in Langley that looked promising with a 70 year old farm house sitting on it. It was on the rim of Campbell Valley Regional Park that is controlled by the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD). Gail contacted them in regards to this space and was allowed to make a presentation to them of her plans for a wildlife centre and her hopes to be able to lease 5 acres of the park.

Then on Friday, November 13th Gail picked up the keys to the home of Critter Care Wildlife Society. Gail, being a little superstitious, was somewhat apprehensive but it being coincidently Richards’ birthday as well, he told her it was going to be a lucky day for Critter Care and the animals.

The Old Farm House

Renovations Begin

Office and School Space

On top of the hospital and caging there was the need of office and school space. So in comes two back to back portables that will house those needs. The school space in the beginning will take up most of this portable with a small area for Gail’s office. Of the early years of Critter Care, Gail and her friend, Joan Staicue from the basement days, felt educating the public, namely young children, on wildlife and their needs of help and understanding would be a good thing in many ways. Joan taught many children on the various wildlife babies and showed them that their kindness to the animals was greatly needed.

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Education and Growth

Joan kept the education program going or many years till she retired but to this day she continues to help in many ways when she can. Since her retirement, Critter Care’s education program has been suspended.

As Critter Care continued to grow at an amazing rate and more and more animals coming in, Gail realized that staff and volunteers were just not enough help to raise all the babies coming in and started an internship program. This program brought many young people from around the world, from places like England, Belgium, USA, Canada and many other countries, with the interest to learn about British Columbia’s wildlife as well as to help the animals and experience the honor of being a mom or dad to an orphan baby. To look into the eyes of these helpless babies and to say “I’m here for you little one”.

Some of these young people come back two or three times to further their knowledge but more to enjoy the experience all over again and to make more new friends in the process. Some interns go on to become veterinarians or vet techs and others just for the joy of knowing they have made a difference and have helped the animals they love.

They come for a minimum of two months and live on site in our bunk houses. The work is hard and the hours are long exceeded only by the heart-warming experience of being a mom or dad.

A Dream Fulfilled

Though additional building, constant repairs and other expenses and needs are an ongoing entity of Critter Care Wildlife Society it is a haven for wildlife that a 5 year old girl from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan dreamed of and has full-filled.

The pictures below show what a dream and supportive husband can do...