Ontario SPCA Barrie Animal Centre welcomes new manager
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Barrie, ON (July 4, 2024) – The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society would like to welcome Edward Michel as the new manager of the Ontario SPCA Barrie Animal Centre.
Michel is a certified professional trainer and educator focused on creating and maintaining human-animal bonds. This motivation has led Michel to focus his career in sheltering, starting as an Animal Care Coordinator and now accepting the role of Centre Manager for the Ontario SPCA Barrie Animal Centre.
Michel earned his B.A. with honours from York University, where he was a highly sought-after tutor, mentor, and varsity athlete. A lifelong youth coach and organizer, he blends a dynamic leadership style with extensive knowledge of animal behaviour, focusing on mutual support, motivation, and relationship building. Michel and his family relocated to Barrie from Stouffville, Ontario, almost two years ago and have quickly integrated into the local community.
“Barrie has welcomed me with open arms, and I’m extremely honoured to be entrusted with such an important responsibility at a time when we are needed most,” says Michel. “Adoption centres and humane societies across Ontario are being inundated with requests for support or rehoming, and Barrie is no exception. We are a large, diverse community in need of a strong and active SPCA, and I am committed to ensuring we’re here for the animals, and the people who love them.”
Michel looks forward to meeting the community at the Barrie Animal Centre’s upcoming Pet-Oberfest on Oct. 6 at Tiffin Centre for Conservation. Planning is still underway, but expect a fun-filled event with vendors to celebrate all things related to our furry friends.
“Our goal is to increase traffic and engagement this summer,” says Michel. “We are returning to walk-in adoptions, we have a revamped community outreach program, and we are hoping to cap it all off with our Pet-Oberfest 2024 event in October.”
To learn more about the Barrie Animal Centre, and to view animals available for adoption, visit ontariospca.ca/barrie
Follow the centre on Facebook and Instagram for news, updates, animals available for adoption, and care tips.
##
Media Contact
Shannon Laflamme
Community Outreach Coordinator,
Ontario SPCA Barrie Animal Centre
(705) 791-4957
The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society
The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is a registered charity that has been changing the lives of animals for over 150 years. The Society provides care, comfort and compassion to animals in need in communities across Ontario. It values all animals and advocates to treat them with respect and kindness. The Society strives to keep pets and families together and do so through a variety of community support services, such as sheltering and adoptions, including emergency sheltering, feral cat management programs, animal transfers, food distribution, humane education, animal advocacy, and spay/neuter services.
The Ontario SPCA does not receive annual government funding and relies on donations to provide programs and services to help animals in need. To learn more, or to donate, visit ontariospca.ca. Charitable Business # 88969-1044-RR0002.
The Ontario SPCA Barrie Animal Centre is situated on the traditional land of the Anishnaabeg people. The Anishinaabeg include the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Pottawatomi nations, collectively known as the Three Fires Confederacy.