Lisa Tretiak, a founding member and President of the Prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre (“PWRC”), started her career in wildlife rehabilitation in 1994. She worked summers at a wildlife rehabilitation facility, answering phones and giving medical attention to wildlife patients. In 1998, Lisa graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Zoology from the University of Manitoba. Sh
e gained permanent employment in the wildlife rehabilitation field as a rehab supervisor, and later moved into the position of Rehabilitation Director. Over the years, Lisa has put on many hats in a non-profit organization, from presenting and coordinating education programs, creating and implementing fund raising campaigns, writing grants, being a media liaison, and overseeing the medical care of wildlife patients. From years of experience working with raptors, and successfully completing a training course, Lisa became permitted as a Master Bander for rehabilitated raptors. Banding rehabilitated raptors allows for the assessment of current rehabilitation methods and techniques, to improve the quality of care and survival rates of animals released back into the wild. Lisa has traveled throughout Canada and the United States for courses and conferences allowing her to keep up to date with her techniques and current issues affecting wildlife. Lisa decided to start up the PWRC with the intent of improving the care of Manitoba’s injured and orphaned wildlife. In spring 2008, Lisa became the first Manitoban, and only the fourth person in Canada, to be a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator (CWR) through the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council. Sheila Smith is a founding member and current volunteer of the Prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre (PWRC). She got her love for animals from her grandfather (Lionel Hupe). He encouraged her in all her endeavors and reminded her she could do anything she put her mind to. Wanting to make a difference in the lives of animals, Sheila began volunteering at a wildlife rehabilitation facility in 1999 where she cleaned enclosures and fed wildlife patients. In 2005, she gained permanent employment in the wildlife rehabilitation field as a rehabilitation supervisor, and later moved into the position of rehabilitation director. She is still learning daily in her current position as a zoo keeper at Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park Zoo. In the spring of 2008, Sheila became the second Manitoban, and only the fifth person in Canada, accredited as a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator (CWR) through the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council. In line with PWRC’s progressive vision, Sheila takes courses and attends wildlife-related conferences enabling her to keep up to date with the newest rehabilitation techniques and current issues affecting wildlife.
