The Beginning of Aspen Valley

Audrey Tournay, from her first exposure as a young woman to the Muskoka region and its bounty of wildlife, Audrey became hooked on all the creatures of the wild. When she purchased the old “Crawford Farm” in 1969, little did she realize that her quiet efforts to help the helpless would become nationally and even world renowned. Audrey bagan her career as a teacher in St. Catharines and then made the move to live in Rosseau in 1972 where she continued to teach high school art in Parry Sound, Audrey would teach her classroom students about wildlife and dispel the many myths about raccoons, porcupines, skunks, and especially beavers. It was not unusual for Audrey’s students to share their classroom with a beaver kit or a baby skunk that had to accompany Audrey to school in order for it to be fed every couple of hours. Since the first time Audrey was presented with her first rescue, a raccoon delivered to her by an MNR Conservation Officer literally thousands of wild animals have been directed to her care. In 1982, Audrey retired from the world of formal education and then chose to completely dedicate her life to the care of orphaned and injured animals. Audrey’s role at the Sanctuary is that of an ambassador of wildlife and Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. She continues to teach the young and not so young through her weekly newspaper articles, her books and in a new classroom, that of The Sanctuary Schoolhouse. Those of us who work daily with Audrey consider it a privilege to be in the company of such a remarkable woman. It is Audrey and her legacy that drive us to care for the animals and to promote the need to respect and cherish our environment. Aspen Valley’s reputation as a refuge has grown from these humble beginnings. In 2004, the International Fund of Animal Welfare awarded Audrey with an Animal Action Award for her dedication and love for all creatures.

Aspen Valley is a non-profit, non-government funded, registered charity which survives solely on donations from individuals who care about the preservation of our wildlife and believe in the work legacy of Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary - Audrey's legacy.