New Collingwood facility under construction to shelter more than 5,000 animals annually

Construction is underway on a new state-of-the-art facility in Collingwood that will deliver five times more affordable veterinary surgeries and support five times more families in crisis.

The Georgian Triangle Humane Society (GTHS) has officially broken ground on the new David and Helen Capin Regional Centre for Pets and People (RCPP), a facility that aims to meet the growing demands of the region.

“Today’s groundbreaking is not just the start of a building project—it’s the beginning of a much-needed new chapter for our community,” said Karen Marsh, executive director of GTHS. “Our current facility on Tenth Line is overcrowded and stretched to its limits. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, volunteers, and partners, we are creating a space that will help thousands more animals and people each year, and we’re excited to build on this momentum as we focus on raising the rest of the funds needed.”

Thursday’s celebration, held at the future site at 135 Sandford Fleming Drive, marked a separate milestone in the capital campaign: $10.6 million raised toward the $17.6 million goal.

“This centre has always been about heart, compassion, and community,” said Monika Merz, chair of the GTHS Board of Directors. “We are proud to support this vital project, knowing it will provide urgent medical care and wellness services to animals and families in need and expand successful programs like spay and neuter, which are so essential to long-term solutions. Our hope is that this hospital will become a cornerstone of compassion for generations to come.”

The facility was designed entirely by Unity Design Studio and will be built by Bertram Construction.

The Southern Georgian Bay community stresses the urgent need caused by the region’s rapid growth, economic pressures leading to increased animal surrenders, and the limitations of the current shelter.

The GTHS is a non-profit charity that operates an animal centre serving the south Georgian Bay region by providing shelter for homeless animals and adopting them to caring families.