Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre
Overview
TMWC visiting the OTCC Education Centre for a tour of the facility with Education Coordinator, Lisa Browning.
The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre is a registered non-profit charity dedicated to protecting and preserving Ontario’s native turtles and their natural habitats. At the heart of their efforts is a specialized turtle hospital, where injured turtles receive expert care, rehabilitation, and are released back into their native environments. In addition to hands-on medical treatment, the Centre conducts vital field research to support conservation strategies and runs an extensive education and outreach program to inspire public awareness and action.
A baby turtle waiting to be released once the time is right.
On April 27th of last year, we had the opportunity to visit the centre at its previous location. Our guide for the tour was Lisa, who began volunteering in 2020 by cleaning turtles and later became a valued member of the team. During our visit to the education centre, we learned about seven native turtles that, despite extensive rehabilitation efforts, were unable to be released back into the wild. Read on to discover more about these remarkable turtles!
X-ray image of a female turtle with eggs
During our visit to the centre, Lisa gave us an insightful overview of how their dedicated team and volunteers work tirelessly to protect and conserve Ontario’s native turtle population. The hospital operates seven days a week and, during the peak spring season—when turtles are most active and nesting—it can receive up to 50 injured turtles a day from across the province. Once a turtle’s origin is identified and it shows promising signs of recovery, it is carefully released back into its natural habitat. [2]
The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC) also relies on a passionate network of volunteers who assist with transporting turtles to the hospital and returning them to the wild. Remarkably, OTCC is the only facility of its kind in Canada doing this vital conservation work!
The OTCC has moved into their forever home!
Former facility of OTCC, Google Maps
The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC) has recently relocated from its former site to a sprawling 100-acre property generously donated by Mary and Gerry Young. In recognition of this remarkable gift, the entire property has been named the Margaret Mary Young and C.J. Gerry Young Conservation Farm. With access to significantly more space for turtle hospitals and facilities—and no longer bearing the cost of leasing—the OTCC is now better equipped to focus its resources on caring for and protecting Ontario’s native turtles. [3]
Artist depiction of the new facility, courteous of OTCC.
Construction was completed, and the hospital officially relocated to its new site by August 2024. The facility is now open to the public, and visitors are welcome to explore the newly reopened education centre onsite!
From May through July, turtles return to nest, with most eggs laid in June. After an incubation period of 60 to 90 days, the hatchlings emerge in the fall. Be sure to keep an eye out next spring, when both adult turtles and their tiny hatchlings begin their journey from nest to the nearest body of water.
For more information on how to help turtles, protect turtle nests, or how to report injured or deceased turtles, check out this link for more information! Please note the location where the turtle was found if removing them from their habitat area.
OTCC’s Hotline : 705-741-5000
Panya the Painted Turtle
Over the Victoria’s Day long weekend, we unfortunately came across an injured Painted turtle that had been struck by a car. Learn more about the story on blog below.
Written April 27th, 2024
Last Updated April 19, 2025
OTCC Membership
Our team recently became a member of the OTCC and signed up to volunteer by assisting with transporting and releasing turtles in proximity to our home. In addition to supporting the OTCC through our GoFundMe campaign, we encourage you to sign up as a member and learn more about how you can get involved by visiting their website.
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Consider supporting the OTCC through our GoFundMe Campaign and learn more on their website.
[1] Devlogin-Steven. “Homepage.” Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, ontarioturtle.ca.
[2] Devlogin-Steven. “Fieldwork Program and Blog.” Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, ontarioturtle.ca/fieldwork-blog.
[3] Ontarioturtle. “Capital Campaign Update, August 2023.” Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, 7 Jan. 2022, ontarioturtle.ca/2023/08/capital-campaign-aug-2023.