History of the Magnetic Hill Zoo
The Magnetic Hill Zoo first opened in 1953 as a game farm which housed orphaned and injured indigenous species such as bears, owls, and deer. Over the years, the City of Moncton took ownership and began acquiring more exotic species which eventually caused a change in name from the Magnetic Hill Game Farm to the Magnetic Hill Zoo. In 1993, the Magnetic Hill Zoo first acquired its accreditation status from the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums, (CAZA).
Transforming the Game Farm into a Zoo demanded a lot of repairs and improvements. Therefore, the Zoo needed other revenue sources other than the money offered to them by the City of Moncton. Three individuals started the “Friends of the Zoo” in 1989, with the prime objective of raising funds to improve animal habitats at the Zoo. The group was very small, consisting initially of Shirley Dingley, Deborah Fisher, and Bruce Dougan. In the first year, Carolyn Dunlop also joined the group and they concentrated on developing the “Adopt-A-Friend” program.
After the Adopt-a-Friend program was created, other activities and fundraisers, such as elephant shows, outreaches, in-touches, “Safari Night,” an auction night called “Lions & Bears at the Fox & Hound,” a golf tournament, the Easter EGGstravaganza, Sunday March Winter Openings, and Boo at the Zoo, etc. were put in place to raise even more funds.
In 1992, the Friends of the Zoo decided that the development of education programs was much needed. Under the directorship of Deborah Fisher and with the help of Pat Bourgeois and Greig Longaphie, these programs were launched in the attic of the old operations building. The Education Programs continued to expand over the next few years, and eventually a separate education facility was required. At that time, the City of Moncton was offered a large industrial arts trailer in Richibucto for $1.00 which was relocated to the Zoo and became the first Education Center.
In 1995, the Zoo saw the beginning of a 10-acre expansion called the African Oasis. By adding this large piece of land to the already fairly sized Zoo, it gave the opportunity to add more animals to the Zoo family and to expand the variety in types of animals. At this time, the Primate Conservation Center, the frog bog, the koi pond, the bird garden, the Camel-Zebra exhibit, and a children’s playground were added to the Zoo.
Shortly after, in 1997, the Insectarium was also built. The bears were moved to their new exhibit, which permitted them to live in a natural habitat for the first time. Also, the new and improved Entrance Building was built. In addition to all of these accomplishments, the Zoo’s education programs were given an Achievement Award by CAZA and their programs were modified to offer full week camps instead of one day camps.
Chukula, a food facility, was added to better meet the public’s needs. Only one year later, Chubuku, a second food facility, was opened to sell cold drinks, ice cream, and snacks. The barnyard was also remodelled that year. 
The former bear “pit” was transformed into a reptile house. This new exhibit was opened in 2003 and called the Ecodome. The Ecodome was awarded the Environmental Enrichment Award by CAZA. That same year, a few other exhibits were rebuilt for the Barbary sheep and the bison.
In the following years, many other exhibits were expanded or refurbished, including the otters, the deer contact area, the wolves, the watusi, and eland exhibits. Animal feeding presentations, presented by the zookeepers, were also added to the daily schedule during the peak summer months.
Within a few years of the relocation of the first Education Center, the education programs outgrew the building once again. Therefore, in 2003, the Friends of the Zoo build the current Education Center complete with 3 classrooms, washrooms, an office, kitchen, first aid room, and Discovery Center.
The construction of the Pridelands, for lions and ostrich, started in 2005 and the grand opening took place in July of 2006. The Zoo won the Environmental Enrichment Award for this exhibit. That same summer, the food concession stand was also renovated and the Zoo was awarded the New-Brunswick Top Attraction Status.
With all these awards and improvements, the Zoo received its re-certification of accreditation from CAZA in 2006, and was given the opportunity to display the 2006 Robert Bateman National Writing and Art Contest winners.
After the construction of the aforementioned exhibits, the Zoo concentrated on making the Zoo more accessible to the public. The first step was to name the pathways and have signs put up in order to help the public find their way around the zoo.
The year 2007, was the Friends of the Zoo’s 10th anniversary for their annual Boo at the Zoo fundraiser. To celebrate this anniversary, the Board of the Friends of the Zoo decided to add a 10th venue to the Boo at the Zoo Halloween fundraiser to make it an even bigger event.
In 2008, the new Cougar Country Exhibit was built which was awarded the Environmental Enrichment Award, now the third time the Zoo has won this award. The Zoo also received two new acknowledgements: rated fourth of the top ten zoo’s in Canada and rated in the top ten great places to take the kids before they grow up in Atlantic Canada.
In 2009, a new Jaguar Exhibit was built to resemble the Cougar Country Exhibit built the previous year. The Zoo’s animal collection was expanded to include mandrills, a colobus monkey, and two African lion cubs. Because of the continued successful breeding program of the Zoo’s black and white ruffed lemurs, the construction of a new enclosure for these monkeys was started. This new enclosure is located between the eland and watusi, and will display two sets of breeding pair of black and white ruffed lemurs. The former insectarium was renovated and reopened as the “Container.” The Container is a representation of a shipping container to display the Zoo’s invertebrate collection.
The Animal Care Service Foreman position was also created in 2009. The Animal Care Service Foreman is responsible for the management of the animal collection and the animal care staff. At the annual CAZA conference, Mr. Bernie Gallant was awarded the first ever Animal Care Professional of the Year award for his 20 years of significant contribution to the development of both the animal care and educational aspects of the Magnetic Hill Zoo.