Ontario SPCA Breaks Ground on New Animal Centre and Veterinary Clinic
October 20, 2025Cornwall, Ontario – An official groundbreaking ceremony kicked off construction of the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society’s new 8,000-square-foot Cornwall & Region Animal Centre and Veterinary Clinic and marks the beginning of a brighter future for animals and the community.
Once complete in 2027, the new facility at 2151 Second St. W. in Cornwall will replace the aging Ontario SPCA animal centre on Boundary Road, which was designed over 30 years ago and can no longer keep up with the growing needs of the community. 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 facility has been designed for animal health and comfort to minimize stress and reduce length of stay.
“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.”
The building will also contain an in-house, charity-based veterinary clinic operated by the Ontario SPCA. It will provide high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter procedures and basic veterinary services, helping families access care for their pets that they might not otherwise have received. The 1,400-square foot veterinary clinic will have a medical treatment suite for vaccinations and basic care, and a surgical suite capable of performing thousands of spay/neuter procedures each year.
“The veterinary clinic will be a first in the region. 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,” says Dr. Jill Kirk, DVM, Chief Veterinary Officer, Ontario SPCA and Humane Society.
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.
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.
For more information on the Ontario SPCA, visit ontariospca.ca/sdg