Mayor Naheed Nenshi, Frank McKenna, Deputy Chair, TD Bank Group, student and community members on-hand at gift announcement and unveiling of future educational facility

CALGARY, April 2, 2014 /CNW/ - At a celebration at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, TD announced today a $500,000 donation to The City of Calgary Parks to restore flood damage and enhance the sanctuary through the construction of a new outdoor classroom. The area is a federally designated migratory bird sanctuary attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. It also caters to student and youth groups to provide nature‐based educational programs. The future outdoor classroom will be an open‐walled structure with special conservation features and natural aesthetic.

"The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary is a protected area offering a respite for birds and other animals alike. It is also an important educational facility offering programs engaging young Calgarians around nature, conservation and environmental protection," says Anne Charlton, Parks Director. "This generous donation towards the construction of an outdoor classroom will be enjoyed by all visitors and provide essential outdoor learning facilities for children and bird-watching enthusiasts of all ages."

While much of the sanctuary and pathways are currently closed due to flood damage, the Nature Centre and Colonel Walker House are open to visitors until the rest of the sanctuary can be restored.

To officially announce the donation, Mayor Naheed Nenshi, TD's Deputy Chair Frank McKenna, representatives from Parks and TD employees gathered at the sanctuary to celebrate and view renderings of the future educational facility.

"TD is committed to investing in the communities where we operate and through our TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, we have a long history of contributing to organizations and causes that preserve or improve our natural environment," says Frank McKenna. "Following the devastating floods last spring, we wanted our donation to make an impact where we could help repair damage and contribute to an area for all Calgarians to experience and enjoy."

As part of their gift to The City, TD also committed to a three-year sponsorship of the newly launched Parks Litter Cleanup Kit Program. The Litter Cleanup (TLC) Kit is a new City program that aims to put simple tools in the hands of Calgarians to inspire them to become stewards of their parks and natural areas. Grade four students from St. Thomas More School and TD employees spent the morning assembling hundreds of TLC Kits which are now available to Calgarians by contacting 311.

TD Community Giving
TD invests in communities to make a positive impact where it does business and where our customers, clients and employees live and work. In 2013, TD donated over $74.7million to support community organizations in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. In Canada, we focus on Education and Financial Literacy, Creating Opportunities for Young People, and the Environment. For more information, visit www.td.com/corporateresponsibility.

SOURCE TD Bank Group

Image with caption: "Frank McKenna, Deputy Chair, TD Bank Group presents Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Anne Charlton, Parks Director, with a rendering of a future outdoor classroom at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. TD announced a $500,000 gift to the City today for the classroom and to restore flood damage, along with a commitment to sponsor the City's new Litter Cleanup Program. (CNW Group/TD Bank Group)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140402_C8429_PHOTO_EN_38780.jpg