Staff Feature: Viola McPhee and Amanda Billeter

May 24, 2020

Black Creek Pioneer Village

TRCA’s Livestock team cares for over 60 heritage breed animals at BCPV. The largest group, the Border Leicester Sheep, are a rare at-risk breed that has been nurtured at BCPV for over 30 years. Many are registered with the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation. They are arguably the most precious of TRCA’s rare breeds because of the careful genetic selection for desirable physical and health traits. The sheep at BCPV are a vital link in the chain of supply for genetics that serves to improve the health and viability in Canadian sheep industry.

Every April is lambing season, which requires intensive around the clock care including: monitoring the birthing process, facilitating proper bonding of mother and baby, ensuring that there is enough milk and that feeding is going well, and troubleshooting when there are issues such as lack of milk or illness in new lambs.  As one of the ewe’s did not produce milk this year, the Livestock team have been bottle feeding two lambs for several weeks.

Viola McPhee, Head of Livestock, has been working for TRCA for 26 years. She holds a degree in Agriculture, majoring in Equine Technology. Her team member, Amanda Billeter, Livestock Assistant has been working at BCPV for 24 years. Amanda is an expert in animal care and has developed valuable skills in sheep shearing and carriage driving.

Viola and Amanda are enthusiastic, dedicated, and skilled in both animal care and visitor interaction. In addition to steadfast animal care, the Livestock team provides vibrant and popular educational programs for families and students visiting BCPV.  Lately, they have been a hit with BCPV’s online audience; their contributions have helped to grow a loyal following for BCPV’s new online lessons and family activities. Through their lessons, a mostly urban audience (in person and online) has the opportunity to interact with real farm animals, make connections with where their food comes from, and explore the importance of agriculture in our modern lives.