Staff Profiles

Scales Nature Park requires the hard work and dedication of many people, from paid staff to volunteers. Here you will find some brief profiles of current staff and longstanding volunteers that helped make Scales the place that it is today.

Jeff Hathaway

Jeff grew up in Innisfil, on the shores of Lake Simcoe. At the University of Guelph (1989-1994) he specialized in Fisheries Biology, but took many wildlife-related courses as well, including Herpetology with Dr. Bogart. Initially intending to pursue an M.Sc., Jeff chose a different path because his summer field seasons were all occupied by operating Kiddin’ Around Day Camp, which he started with other family members in 1991. With two other friends, Jeff helped Jenny Pearce to found Sciensational Sssnakes!! in 1994.

When the camp closed in 1996, Jeff took a job with an aquarium, pond and fountain company giving him a wide range of experience designing and overseeing the construction of water features and filtration systems. His projects included the 400-gallon saltwater tank at the Varsity Cinema in Toronto, the 1200-gallon saltwater tank (with 2¼"-thick glass) at Chapters in Vancouver, and the baboon waterfall and rhino pools (500,000 gallons) at the Toronto Zoo. Next, he took a new position at Kenloch Company (part of The Pool Group), which designed and supplied filtration and computer control systems, primarily for the commercial swimming-pool market. Eventually, he left to focus on operating Sciensational Sssnakes!! with Jenny, the development of Scales, and the creation of the  Reptiles at Risk on the Road project.

It is with this expertise that Jeff co-ordinated the creation of Scales Nature Park, and while it may be operational, there is a lot more still to come!

In addition to his role here, Jeff is actively involved in various conservation efforts locally, and around the province. He also co-ordinates an annual biology student trip to the Florida Everglades, and expects to undertake more such trips in the future.

 

Jenny Pearce

Jenny is the owner/operator of Sciensational Ssnakes!! While not a paid staff of Scales Nature Park, the facility depends heavily on her dedication to animal care and husbandry. Jenny started her interest in reptiles at a very early age. In the summer of 1983, Jedi, a very large Eastern Milk Snake, entered the scene. With Jedi, Jenny began a public speaking campaign about snakes. Finding much misinformation and animosity towards these animals, Jenny was spurred on to attempt to reach the public with a more truthful and positive message. With lots of support from friends and family, Sciensational Sssnakes!! was born during Jenny’s university career. After leaving university, with a degree in Biological Science, Jenny discovered very few career opportunities in the herpetological field and so decided to create her own position. Today Jenny has high hopes for changing the general negative attitude towards snakes, and hopes to continue the success of Sciensational Sssnakes!! for many years to come.