Woodside Square — Attraction in Toronto

Dear Woodside Square Mall management,

You must discontinue the live bird displays kept in various locations within your shopping mall.

The mall environment is completely inappropriate for the birds to exist in for the entirety of their lives. Between loud music from shops, shouting/screaming/crying by children, mall staff yelling, the noise level of the mall environment is stressful and unnatural for the birds who require a quiet environment to feel comfortable. Some birds do not have access to natural light and some birds are exposed to bright, bold, flashing lights. The wild tropical bird species’ aviaries do not provide enough space or enrichment considering these birds naturally spend most of their lives up high in rainforest canopies. You have kept owls, a typically elusive and shy species, in displays with no place to hide.

The mall cannot realistically provide the quiet noise level, enrichment, and space these birds require to have a decent quality of life in captivity.

These displays are a poor example for our children to learn about compassion for all beings. Please consider removing the live birds from the mall environment and discontinue hiring the live animal shows to attract customers. In 2025 we should not be using animals for anything. Please work with local municipality and welfare/rescue organizations to rehome these birds to a bird sanctuary and remove the bird displays permanently.

Sincerely, Sabrina

“Birds have long been denied having mental and emotional capacities possessed by mammals. However, today, there is scientific recognition of a unitary vertebrate common model of mind and brain that includes birds. Past models of avian neuroanatomy (brain structure and cell architecture) incorrectly implied that brain evolution progressed from reptiles to birds to humans where older, less complex regions of the brain (e.g., paleostriatum and archistriatum) were separated from newer portions (e.g., neostriatum). Models of avian neuroanatomy have been revised to create an alternative terminology that positions birds comparable to humans.” -Animals and Society Institute: Parrot Breeding and Keeping: The Impact of Capture...

Woodside square used to be this regular old mall that you would only visit for grocery shopping, dim sum, or to pick up some books from the library.

They used to let old folks play tai-chi in the mall early morning before the stores opened - I actually really like that idea since the old folks can get some good exercise and social time at a location that’s convenient to them.

Unfortunately that all stopped because of covid. I heard that the mall also changed owner/management around the pre-covid time, and I must say they have done a good job revitalizing the mall.

They renovated the interior, introduced new (better) tenants, and they have created many “activations” such as the weekend antique market, the dinosaur show, and the most recent light show.

I love all they have done to this place even though I felt sad the old folks can no longer dance and play tai chi there anymore.

The only downside is that I find they haven’t done a good job with the “hygiene factor” (pun intended) since I have seen more than once the washrooms are not well maintained. Toilet paper on the floor, clogged basin etc.

I hope the management will pay attention to the details. I also see their future development of condos. Wonder when that would happen. Just hope the facilities can keep up with the increased traffic.

updated on Feb 18 They have these dinosaur tours indoor for kids. And almost all the dinosaurs and animals can move and make...

The mall environment is completely inappropriate for the birds to exist in for the entirety of their lives. Between loud music from shops,

shouting/screaming/crying by children, mall staff yelling, the noise level of the mall environment is stressful and unnatural for the birds who require a quiet environment to feel comfortable. Some birds do not have access to natural light and some birds are exposed to bright, bold, flashing lights. The wild tropical bird species' aviaries do not provide enough space or enrichment considering these birds naturally spend most of their lives up high in rainforest canopies. You have kept owls, a typically elusive and shy species, in displays with no place to hide.

The mall cannot realistically provide the quiet noise level, enrichment, and space these birds require to have a decent quality of life in captivity.

These displays are a poor example for our children to learn about compassion for all beings. Please consider removing the live birds from the mall environment and discontinue hiring the live animal shows to attract customers. In 2025 we should not be using animals for anything. Please work with local municipality and welfare/rescue organizations to rehome these birds to a bird sanctuary and remove the bird...