The Urban Gecko is proudly owned and operated by Craig and Lori Stewart.
Craig has had a passion for reptiles since he was a young boy and his
fascination for caring for these amazing animals has only intensified
over the years. As a young boy and teenager, Craig was an avid collector,
getting his first gecko when he was just 7 years old, then adding monitors,
colubrids and pythons as time went on. Craig kept as many reptiles as
his mother would allow in the house but once out on his own, it didn’t
take long for Craig to make the jump from a collector to breeder and he
started dabbling in his first breeding projects.
Lori’s path to co-founder of The Urban Gecko was certainly very
different from Craig’s. Lori grew up on a farm so, naturally, animals
have always been a part of her daily life. While reptiles may not have
been her original passion, Craig’s over-the-top enthusiasm for them
was indeed contagious and her love for animals grew to encompass reptiles.
Not long after getting married and buying their first home, Craig and Lori decided to take the step that many herpers do, and they converted the basement of their home into a reptile breeding facility. In the early days, they had several smaller breeding projects in the works including leopard geckos, crested geckos and a group of colubrids, from which they sold offspring to local pet stores. But as the internet started to take off, the pair decided that it was the perfect opportunity for them to take their business to the next level. After methodically building up a world-class breeding program of leopard geckos, they opened their on-line store “The Urban Gecko”. From the very beginning, the pair gained a reputation for producing some of the most outstanding geckos around. Today, they continually strive to produce the most exotic geckos anywhere and have developed several original leopard gecko morphs, including the Sunglow, Tangerine Tornado and Phantom.
With their once-spacious basement facility bursting at the seams, Craig and Lori decided to take a major step. They moved into a 4000 square foot dedicated reptile facility and by doing so, realized a long-held dream. The extra space has allowed them to not only expand their existing breeding projects but has also given them the opportunity to start new projects they had only dreamed of in the past. Although their business has grown, Craig and Lori have taken every measure to ensure that their focus and the great pride they have in the care of all their reptiles continues.
What started as a business shared by a couple has expanded to a team of six. The pair feels very fortunate to be working with an amazing team of herpers who not only are the backbone of the company but always keep things fun and interesting! As committed entrepreneurs and the parents of two young children, Craig and Lori rarely have a quiet moment in their lives – but they wouldn’t have it any other way
For well over twenty-five years, he has worked with a wide array of species. Prior to turning his passion into a career, Craig worked in the corporate environment where he acted in a senior management capacity for a leading financial institution. He feels fortunate to have turned his hobby and a lifelong passion into a livelihood. Craig is co-founder of the company, and is actively involved in all aspects of the business.
As co-founder of The Urban Gecko, Lori brings to the company a wealth of business experience that she has gained as an analyst in the financial sector. While she is primarily focused on managing the business aspects of the company, she enjoys working with the collection as often as she can.
Cam has been working with Craig and Lori for many years. He is dedicated to the success of the business and shares the same company vision for excellence as Craig and Lori. As Craig's brother, Cam has been living with reptiles most of his life, however it wasn’t until he started working for the company that he realized his true passion for them. Cam is an active dad and can often be found coaching baseball and hockey in his spare time.
Having been friends with Craig for well over 30 years, Noel has been exposed to reptiles from a young age. After making the decision to leave his corporate career, Noel joined The Urban Reptile and brought with him a dedicated work ethic and a terrific sense of humor. Aside from his growing passion for reptiles, Noel has a great love for the game of hockey.
From an early age, Paul has been fascinated by all kinds of herpetological fauna. In joining the Urban Reptile Company, he adds over 20 years experience and knowledge in keeping and breeding a multitude of reptile and amphibian species. What started as a love of reptiles in the UK has now burgeoned into a passion in Canada. Paul is thrilled to be part of The Urban Reptile and is proud to be part of the team.
Brett may be the youngest member of The Urban Reptile team, but he brings with him an impressive knowledge and understanding of reptiles. He started out his collection with a ball python and a leopard gecko and has grown his collection over the last few years. Simply stated, Brett loves reptiles and we love the youthful enthusiasm he brings to the team.
