A Peek at the Canvas: January
by Frank Caracciolo
The most recent episode of The Blank Canvas with Frank Caracciolo is out now. Released on December 5thth, the episode features a conversation with Michelle Painchaud, who talks about her new program The Curious Critters Classroom Corner for schools, where she innovates Science and the Arts in interactive workshops for students, bringing in critters and sharing her expertise with our teachers and students.
Frank Caracciolo: But can you just tell us a little bit about your background, your education, where you come from, and where you may do your travels, etc.
Can you let us know?
Michelle Painchaud: So, the company is called Curious Critters because I love to bring in my well-trained ambassador animals, and this passion comes from like ever since I was a child.
I grew up in Cancun, and I grew up right next to an exotic animal zoo. So ever since I was a baby, I’ve been holding baby alligators, iguanas, turtles, you name it. So these animals were super normalized to me, and that later developed into a passion. So when I later on came to Canada that turned into volunteering at vet clinics, then working at vet clinics.
And now currently, I’m so happy to say that I’ve been working for McGill for over five years in the animal laboratories.
Frank Caracciolo: I mean, Cancun, I have a lot of memories about Cancun, but this sounds amazing. And so, you grew up near these kinds of, I would say, animals, reptiles, all kinds of… things that are not really indigenous to where we live here in the minus whatever it is today out there.
But you do bring some of these creatures into the classroom, is that correct?
Michelle Painchaud: Yes, I have them very well trained and accustomed to large groups before I even think about bringing them in. So, I mainly focus, my huge passion is on animal welfare. I work for McGill currently in the Animal Ethics and Welfare Committee. So I wanted to advocate for animal use in any kind of department, whether it be in laboratories or in schools or in zoos, any kind of animal use.
I wanted to make sure that people have the right certifications. So, I went out of my way to get optional certifications with a company called CALAS. It’s the Canadian Association of Lab Animal Use. So once you take this course, you’re able to show people, hey, I know what to do with these animals.
I’m certified by this board that I’m able to use them in a proper ethical way.
Frank Caracciolo: Teachers out there, pay attention. We’re going to be bringing an alligator to your class. That’s going to get the kids in the seats, let me tell you.
Michelle Painchaud: I’ve got a bunch of critters. I’ve got a bunch of fun ones. And they’re all adopted. They’re all rescues.
Listen to the entire episode on Spotify here:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2xO1WN8SKyPHjLw3A59Uw9?si=CuioMauCTluDuy_JQXOYXg
…or on Apple Podcasts here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-blank-canvas-season-5-ep-6-with-director-general/id1548791725?i=1000696371231
