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Official Media Release
Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes: "We're Homeward Bound!"
The Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes (HSKL) is thrilled to announce they are well on the way to their goal of a new building in the Lindsay community.
The Humane Society is a Lindsay-based charity that serves the City of Kawartha Lakes. The HSKL operates through donations from the community and is a registered charity. Through a small staff and over 15,000 hours contributed by volunteers, including a volunteer Board of Directors, the society provides humane services for over 800 small animals on an annual basis. It is the only organization that delivers services to stray and abused animals, with a small animal population estimated to number over 25,000, in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
In addition to the one-time grant of $400,000 from the provincial and federal governments, the HSKL is also committed to raising a matching $400,000 for the new shelter. These funds will go directly to the construction of the new 6,000 square foot shelter on McLaughlin Road, Lindsay.
Despite the challenges faced at the beginning of the building campaign, HSKL was pleased to see the foundation laid for the new facility in the fall of 2010.
The HSKL has contracted the services of Independent Project Managers (IPM), a company that recently oversaw the successful building of a similar animal shelter in Durham, Ontario. Thanks to the collaboration between IPM, Construction Manager John Thomassen and the HSKL Board, they have a solid plan to successfully manage the completion of construction.
The HSKL is fortunate to have Gregory Clements, Manager of the Bank of Nova Scotia in Lindsay, take the Chair position of our Capital Campaign Committee. Under Greg's leadership, the campaign is growing rapidly. He is assisted on the committee by the following local residents; Marlene Nichols-Morrison, Angela Fox, Isaac Breadner and Andrew Wallen, Jane Junkin. Dr. Claude Morris, Dennis Smith and Chris Henley. The committee has garnered support from the CIBC, TD, BMO, Scotia Bank, Royal Bank and Kawartha Credit Union to lead the "Buy a Brick Campaign". Details on the campaign and pledge sheets are available at local financial institutions, at the HSKL shelter.
"The response [from the community] has been terrific," says Clements. "[As] awareness of the project grows, we know the citizens of the City of Kawartha Lakes will join the effort to make sure we have a great Humane Society within our borders to connect pets and people, and provide a safe refuge for innocent animals. We will be approaching local businesses, community leaders, and local service clubs asking for help. Individual donations and bequests are critical to the Humane Society's existence."
Keith Bray, a local resident and senior business executive, has come out of semi-retirement to adopt the role of Executive Director. Bray has over 20 years of senior management experience, followed by 18 years of entrepreneurial and not-for-profit leadership coupled with an extensive volunteering background. He is looking forward to leading the organization into a new and exciting era. "I believe in working in the community I live in for its betterment and have quickly grown a huge respect for the staff of the Humane Society and the compassionate and needed services they skilfully provide. We are a good organization who will become great."
Bray is available for individual or group meetings to discuss the Humane Society and share some of the heart-wrenching stories, as well as huge successes the HSKL has enjoyed while partnering people with pets.
The HSKL is evolving, in preparation for the new challenges and successes it will see in the future. It has faced unexpected setbacks and difficulties, but is now moving forward as this exciting new chapter unfolds. We urgently need the support of our community to raise the rest of the funds that will drive the project to completion. Board members, staff and volunteers are all looking to the future, confident that the Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes is HOMEWARD BOUND.
© Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes