Construction is underway on the new Ontario SPCA Cornwall & Region Animal Centre and Veterinary Clinic
On a crisp fall morning, shovels hit the ground at 2151 Second St. W. in Cornwall to officially kick off construction of the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society’s new 8,000-square-foot Cornwall & Region Animal Centre and Veterinary Clinic.
This groundbreaking marks more than the start of a building; it also marks the beginning of a brighter, healthier future for animals and the people who love them.
Meeting the growing needs of the community
When complete in 2027, the new animal centre will replace the aging Ontario SPCA animal centre on Boundary Road, which was built more than 30 years ago. With demand for services growing year after year, the existing space is unable to keep up with the needs of the community.
The new centre is designed with animal comfort, health, and happiness in mind. Every aspect, from room layouts to noise reduction, aims to minimize stress and shorten recovery times for animals in care. The Cornwall & Region Animal Centre and Veterinary Clinic will boost both animal intakes and adoptions by about 30% and will have the space to care for as many as 57 animals at a time – more than double the 24 spaces at the current centre.
“The size and state of our existing animal centre prevents us from responding to the animal care crisis in the communities we serve. The need is great, and it’s growing,” says Candice Gordon, Manager, Ontario SPCA Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Animal Centre. “This new facility will allow us to support the community with the tools to curb and ultimately solve the animal care crisis in our region.”
Expanding access to veterinary care
A major highlight of the project is the inclusion of a 1,400-square-foot, charity-based veterinary clinic operated by the Ontario SPCA. This in-house clinic will offer high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter procedures and basic veterinary services – care that many families in the region might not otherwise be able to access.
The clinic will include both a medical treatment suite for vaccinations and wellness care, as well as a surgical suite capable of performing thousands of spay/neuter surgeries each year.
“The veterinary clinic will be a first in the region,” says Dr. Jill Kirk, DVM, Chief Veterinary Officer, Ontario SPCA and Humane Society. “Intended to complement existing veterinary care in the region, it will help ensure underserved members of our community have access to basic care that their pets might not have otherwise received and will help curb the overpopulation issue of stray animals in the region. It will also help foster educational partnerships with Ontario colleges and universities with veterinary programs, giving students the practical knowledge they need while fostering the next generation of animal care professionals.”
Investing in the future of Cornwall
Designed by Ottawa-based Deimling Architecture and constructed by Grant-Marion Construction of Cornwall, the $8 million facility represents a major investment in the community and a significant driver of local economic growth.
Once completed, it will create numerous new permanent jobs and volunteer opportunities, contributing to employment and civic engagement. To date, the Ontario SPCA has secured $4 million through philanthropy for this project. A campaign leadership team will be inviting additional philanthropic support to make this transformative project a reality.
A legacy of care
The Ontario SPCA operates 14 animal centres across the province. For over 70 years it has served the communities of Akwesasne, Cornwall, the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry, and the United Counties of Prescott and Russell. It partners with local and regional organizations, including St. Lawrence College, The Agapè Centre and Centre 105 to support animals in the community, and the people who love them.
This new facility will carry that legacy forward, creating a space where animals heal, families grow, and communities thrive together.
To learn more or donate, visit ontariospca.ca/sdg
