A Sunderland sanctuary is part of renewed local attention to a proposal that would require Ontario zoos to hold provincial licences and undergo annual inspections.
Daily Durham’s October 15 report features Suzanne Boucher, a long-time volunteer with Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary, discussing gaps she sees in the province’s zoo oversight. Her comments are attributed to her as a volunteer, rather than presented as a new formal decision by the sanctuary’s board.
The proposal is Bill 35, the Captive Wildlife Protection Act, 2025. The Legislative Assembly’s current record shows it received first reading on May 29, 2025, and was ordered for second reading. It has not become law.
What the bill would change
The proposed legislation would establish a provincial licensing framework for zoos. Applicants would have to provide information about animal care, staff qualifications, facilities, animal inventories and emergency planning.
Annual inspections would be part of that framework. The bill also includes powers to address unlicensed operations and impose penalties for specified offences. These are proposed requirements, not new rules already in effect.
Boucher told Daily Durham that the issue extends beyond animal welfare to public safety, including containment and emergency preparedness. The outlet identifies her as a sanctuary volunteer since 2015 and a former board member.
A local education campaign
Story Book Farm’s own website confirms its Sanctuary Futures education and advocacy initiative launched on September 8, 2026, with support from the Animal Welfare Foundation of Canada. The programme focuses on the treatment of captive primates.
The Sunderland sanctuary lists 16 monkeys and six lemurs in a resident count dated July 14, 2026. It describes its role as providing long-term safety and care for animals from a range of backgrounds.
The sanctuary also has a separate fundraising campaign for a new building. That project should not be confused with passage of the provincial bill or with a new government funding announcement.
The October 15 reporting adds a local advocate’s perspective to an ongoing legislative proposal. Readers interested in the Sunderland sanctuary or the proposed licensing system can consult the sanctuary’s education resources and the Assembly’s bill record for the current status.
Sources
- Daily Durham report, October 15, 2026
- Legislative Assembly of Ontario: Bill 35 and its current status
- Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary
- Sanctuary Futures education initiative
Featured image: original editorial illustration, not documentary photography.
