The Greater Vancouver Zoo in Aldergrove will celebrate its 45th anniversary on Saturday.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. activities at the zoo, at 5048 264 St., will include a finger painting and colouring contest, face painting, a scavenger hunt, bouncy castle, obstacle course, giant slide, children’s performers and more.
All activities will take place in the main picnic area, which is in the centre of the zoo across from the baboon and jaguar enclosures.
A birthday cake will be served at noon.
The 120-acre site opened as the Vancouver Game Farm on Aug. 20, 1970.
It was operated as a family business by Pat Hines and his wife Ann, then their daughter Eleanor and husband Hugh Oakes until it was sold to new owners in 1991.
The Game Farm then became known as the Greater Vancouver Zoological Centre, adding new animal enclosures, the miniature train, picnic park and other features.
In 1999, the name changed again to the Greater Vancouver Zoo.
The zoo website says the “focus for the future is on further enhancements to our animal care management, animal enclosures, conservation efforts, education and all environmental aspects.”