Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer
Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides is launching what it calls the most urgent fundraising campaign in its history to address a $20 million shortfall that has paused construction on Canada’s largest dog guide training school in Oakville, and put the organization’s future at risk.
“This is our make-or-break moment,” said Bev Crandell, CEO of Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. “We have Canadians waiting for a life-changing companion – a professionally trained dog guide who can offer them safety, independence and freedom.
“But without the funding to complete our new facility, we may be forced to close our doors, and the future of our program and our ability to meet the need for dog guides will be in jeopardy.”
Turner Construction Company is the general contractor leading the build on behalf of the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. The design phase included:
- Artistry, the original architectural firm.
- Turner Fleischer, who later took the lead design role.
- BDA Architecture, specializing in animal care facilities
Construction on the project is about halfway to completion, but construction has been suspended due to the shortfall that is the result of several factors including a committed piece of financing did not come through in time as expected, the scope and size of the project expanded to meet the complex needs of a fully accessible, purpose-built facility.
Also, COVID-19 and economic uncertainty drove up construction and material costs.
The foundation has $60 million committed to the training school and is trying to raise $20 million by the end of October to complete the project, with $5 million earmarked from public donations. It said an attempt will be made to bridge the remaining gap through a plea to government, major donors, Lions Clubs, and corporate partners.
Click the links to help by making a donation, starting a peer-to-peer fundraiser or organizing an event.
The national charity in a statement notes that the demand for guide dogs is growing with one in four Canadians stating that they are living with a disability today, up five percentage points since 2017 according to StatsCan.
The new National Training School in Oakville, Ontario, is designed to increase the number of dog guides trained and matched by more than 65 per cent each year – reducing wait times for Canadians living with physical, medical, and developmental disabilities.
