'We did it, we're here'

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The Simcoe and District Humane Society is getting a much needed makeover.

A ground-breaking ceremony for a new building took place at their 24 Grigg Drive Simcoe property on Tuesday.

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'We did it, we're here' Back to video

Serving animals in the community since 1953, the humane society has been run out of two trailers on the property that they purchased in 2004.

Since then, staff and volunteers have been trying to collect the funding to have a proper building on the site.

“It is a great day at the humane society,” said President Cathie Hosken. “We purchased this property in 2004 and we have been working so hard scrimping and saving and keeping our donations straight to make this happen.”

Hosken also wanted to thank everyone that has helped along the way to help get to this point.

“They have put up with me going through this process, being a nervous wreck and worrying about where the money is coming from,” said Hosken.

“We did it, we’re here,” Hosken said proudly to the crowd as she waved her hardhat in the air. “Today is the day.”

Community support has helped the group achieve its goal. The humane society recently  received $300,000 from the estate of Virginia (Gypsy) Moore of Simcoe, who died earlier this year.

Representatives of CDN Building contractors that will be constructing the new 3,200-square-foot shelter were on hand to take part in the ground-breaking.

“It’s been just under a year since Cathie and I and our company got together and started getting permits put together to see Cathie’s dream come true,” said Bill DenDecker of CDN Buildings. “I still remember the day we put pen to paper and Cathie just sat there and cried.”

After working out of trailers for a few years, the staff is more than ready to have an official building for the shelter to call home.

“We really, really need this shelter,” said master of ceremonies and long-time volunteer Linda Kane. “I’m glad that we’re having this shelter built, it’s going to be monumental for the community. It’s been such a long time since we’ve had anything other than these trailers; we’ve had to work under deplorable conditions for many, many years. Now it’s time for us to have a new building and a new start.”

The goal is to have the building complete in the spring of 2020. DenDecker is hoping for an open house in five or six months if the winter weather cooperates with their building plans.

astaylor@postmedia.com