The Georgian Triangle Humane Society (GTHS) has asked the Municipality of Grey Highlands to commit $195,000 over ten years for a new building.
Sonya Reichel, the humane society’s executive director, spoke with council at its meeting on Oct. 18. The society is planning to build a new 19,500-square-foot home on five acres of land in Collingwood. The new building will triple the space available for society programs and services.
Reichel explained that demand and usage of humane society services had been exploding in recent years.
“We’re faced with a pretty significant challenge,” she said.
In recent years, the organization purchased property in Collingwood for a new building. They plan to have shovels in the ground in the spring of 2024 with the new facility open the following year.
The society is currently in a $16 million fundraising campaign for the new facility. They are requesting $1.5 million commitments over ten years from the six municipalities – Wasaga Beach, Clearview, Collingwood, Meaford, Grey Highlands and The Blue Mountains –within the GTHS service area. Contributions have been calculated by combining each municipality’s population and assessment to come up with a percentage share.
The Grey Highlands share would be $195,000 (13 per cent) or $19,500 for the next ten years.
Once the new building is open on an annual basis, the GTHS aims to:
- Engage 6,000 youth through various programs
- Shelter over 3,000 animals
- Complete 8,500 spay/neuter surgeries
- Employ 50 staff and a further 600 volunteers
- Receive over 30,000 visitors
Reichel told council the humane society has a five-year business plan in place to ensure its operational funding is stable for when it transitions into its much larger new home.
“The building is designed so we don’t have to triple fundraising,” she said.
Following the presentation, council voted to refer the humane society’s request to the 2024 budget deliberations, scheduled to start in a few weeks.
