A major fundraising campaign to raise $14 million for the new Georgian Triangle Humane Society’s Regional Centre for Pets and People is underway, and this week, organizers asked Collingwood council to ask for a financial boost to help reach their goal.
Sonya Reichel, executive director with the GTHS, came before the strategic initiatives standing committee on Monday asking the town to waive fees for costs associated with the new development, such as building permit fees, development relationship costs and planning fees in 2023. According to town treasurer Monica Quinlan, the town planning fees for the new build would come out to approximately $315,000.
Reichel also asked the Town of Collingwood for an additional donation to the project of $250,000 over four years, to start in 2024.
The Georgian Triangle Humane Society serves Collingwood, Clearview Township, Wasaga Beach, Meaford, Saugeen Shores, Grey Highlands, Owen Sound and the Town of the Blue Mountains and during Reichel’s presentation, she said the GTHS would be attending the other municipal councils of the area they serve to ask for similar investments. In total, the GTHS is hoping to raise $2 million for the project from the municipalities it serves.
“Conversations are happening right now with these municipalities,” said Reichel.
The planned 19,200-square-foot facility at 135 Sandford Fleming Dr. will be located on five acres. The facility will include outdoor pet memorial gardens, dog enrichment parks, walking trails, an outdoor education centre and a fully-accredited companion animal hospital, and is intended to become a community hub for animal lovers.
The facility is expected to cost about $14 million and is slated to open in 2025.
The GTHS adopts an average of 1,300 pets to homes annually. They act as the pound for the Town of Collingwood as well as offering spay and neutering services.
During Monday’s meeting, the committee voted to have the request added to the 2023 budget discussions.
During discussion on the draft budget later in the meeting, council seemed uncertain about how best to budget waived fees, since it's not a traditional expense.
“I think there’s a lot of things we need to hear from our staff about where all of this is at,” said Mayor Yvonne Hamlin.
Coun. Christopher Baines raised concerns about the message it might send to other non-profits who are also undertaking large capital projects in the coming years.
“Like with the MURF (multi-use recreation facility), or the hospital – we should be careful in how we deal with this one because it could establish the precedent for all the others coming after,” said Baines. “I think we should be cognizant of this.”
“That being said, I’m fully in support of the humane society and their efforts, we just have to be cautious, I think,” he said.
The Town of Collingwood is currently negotiating the purchase the existing GTHS building, though the timing and cost are still yet to be determined.
Coun. Deb Doherty put forward a motion asking staff to report back on relief currently received by the GTHS through the town as it stands, and the impacts on the town budget of possibly waiving development fees for the new project.
Council voted unanimously in favour of asking staff to report back on the matter during discussions on the third draft of the budget. Coun. Brandon Houston and Coun. Kathy Jeffery were absent.
