The District of Maple Ridge and the B.C. SPCA are celebrating the grand opening of its $.37-million community animal centre today.
Maple Ridge Mayor Ernie Daykin and SPCA CEO Craig Daniell will join other dignitaries to open the new “green” centre.
In addition to incorporating some of the most progressive animal welfare designs in North America, the new facility will be B.C.’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accredited animal shelter and has applied to become Canada’s first gold-level LEED accredited animal centre.
The new shelter features two outdoor pens, and enclosed walking trail, 12 double-occupancy “dog apartments,” four single-dog kennels, four large communal cat rooms, a cat isolation room, as well as a meeting room to host school and community groups.
The building also will serve as an education centre for the community.
Daykin said Maple Ridge has been working on a new shelter for the last quarter century.
“It’s another example of working together with these guys.”
The district and B.C. SPCA jointly own the facility.
The four-legged residents occupied their apartments about a month ago and so far there have been no complaints from people in the suburbs nearby across from Jackson Road.
Coun. Craig Speirs doesn’t expect there to be either because of the design of the building.
He said thanks to new management, the volunteer base has expanded. Ensuring volunteers were happy helped influence the building design.
“This is probably the most satisfying project I participated in during my term as an elected official.”