Calgary, AB - An exciting new green space is opening at the Calgary Zoo today, thanks to the incredible generosity and support of the Brawn Family Foundation. 

The Calgary Zoo announced earlier today that the renovations to the zoo’s oldest resident are complete and they are thrilled to welcome visitors to once again gather under Dinny’s watchful gaze. The Brawn family’s special memories of Dinny led them to generously cover the costs of Dinny’s restoration project. 

“As a wildlife conservation charity, the support of our community means the world to us. The Brawn family shares our passion for conservation and connecting people with nature in meaningful ways” said Steven Ross, Calgary Zoo’s Chief Development Officer. “Their support not only helped us to preserve an iconic piece of the Calgary Zoo’s past, but also helps us to continue to give hope to endangered species, locally and globally. With their help, we will continue working towards confirming our place as Canada’s leader in conservation.” 

In addition to the renovations to Calgary’s favourite larger than life Brontosaurus, a dedicated green space has been created around Dinny which includes a family gathering place, a natural play space complete with a ‘mini Dinny’, and a picnic area – all of which is surrounded by beautiful landscaping. 

For generations, the Brawn Family Foundation have been proud supporters of the Calgary Zoo. The Brawn Family Foundation’s legacy of philanthropic giving and their passion for conservation has inspired them to generously donate over $2.4 million to the Calgary Zoo to create amazing experiences for visitors to enjoy including a $1 million donation for the Brawn Family Foundation’s Bugtopia which opened in 2020, and most recently a $1 million contribution to the restoration of Dinny and his surrounding green space recognized by the Brawn Family Foundation Dinny’s Green.  

Thanks to the incredible donation by the Brawn Family Foundation, investment from the City of Calgary Public Art Fund, and the generous support from the community to Dinny’s Legacy Fund, Dinny will continue to inspire visitors to take a stand for wildlife. Although extinct is forever, together we can give hope to other species and continue to build a world-class facility for families to enjoy for years to come. 

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For more information contact |
Alison Archambault, Director Brand & Engagement
Phone: 403.232.7766 | 403.919.9482 | [email protected] 

The Calgary Zoo is a globally recognized conservation organization that guides, innovates, and applies scientific solutions to restore some of the world’s most endangered species.  Locally and globally, we take action in the wild every day to yield powerful benefits for nature and for people.  Our over 1,000 employees and volunteers are passionate about inspiring people to take action to sustain wildlife and wild places, welcoming over 1.3 million guests annually. As visitors discover the rare and endangered species that we love and care for at our facilities, they are directly contributing through admission and on-grounds sales to a not-for-profit charitable conservation organization that works to fight extinction of plants and animals worldwide.