More Than the News: Annette Hamm's Decades-Long Connection to the HBSPCA

For four decades, Annette Hamm was a familiar face and voice across Hamilton and Burlington, spending the last 21 years anchoring the news at CHCH. But long before she was behind the desk, Annette started at the station while she was still in college, working her way up through a career that never stopped surprising her. "Every day was really, really different," Annette said, reflecting on what she loved most about broadcasting. "When I was a reporter, you got to see somebody else's job, or somebody else's lifestyle, or situation, every day."

That curiosity and connection to community extended well beyond the newsroom.

Annette spent time volunteering directly with the HBSPCA, both as a dog walker and in the kennels, coming in for regular shifts to help however she could. "I used to come like once a week," she remembered. "They were like three hour shifts where you walk two dogs, play with cats, socialize."

Alongside her time on the leash, Annette also rolled up her sleeves in the kennels, helping care for the animals in a more hands-on, day-to-day capacity, work that doesn't always get the spotlight but keeps a shelter running.

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That hands-on connection to the animals eventually led to something bigger. Annette went on to join our Board of Directors, stepping in during a pivotal stretch of HBSPCA's history, around the time our Companion Animal Hospital was just getting off the ground, and our very first outreach van hit the road.

"It was just one van, and it was like a big deal," Annette recalled.

Today, that van has grown into a full fleet. Vehicles now support everything from adoption transport and foster placements to our Community Cat Program and TNVR (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return) efforts across the region, a scale of service Annette helped lay the groundwork for during her time on the board.

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Annette's impact on the HBSPCA wasn't limited to boardrooms and dog leashes, either. For years, she hosted a recurring segment on CHCH spotlighting adoptable pets, giving shelter animals a chance to find their forever homes right from viewers' living rooms.

"We had a show with Pam," she said. "At the time, it was like Hamilton Burlington (SPCA) was the only one that we were doing, and I think it was monthly we would do them." Over time, the segment grew well beyond a single shelter. "We kind of expanded the show to do all of the shelters," Annette explained, eventually including Niagara, Lincoln, and Flamborough alongside the HBSPCA, helping even more animals across the region find their way home.

Check Out One of Our Favourite Segments With Annette:

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And then there's Dean.

While she was still working at the station, Annette adopted her very first cat from our Parkdale location, a decision that would turn into a 16-year friendship. It's just one more thread connecting her to the HBSPCA story alongside her time on the board, on air, and volunteering with our dogs and cats.

From her decades in front of the camera to the time she spent behind the scenes, walking dogs, working in the kennels, socializing cats, and helping guide our organization forward as a board member, Annette's connection to the HBSPCA has always come from the same place: genuine care for animals and the people who love them. So many staff and volunteers at the shelter still share stories about her kindness and her impact, long after her official roles have come and gone.

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We're endlessly grateful to Annette for everything she's done for our organization and our community over the years. She's advocated for animals in need, helped us share important stories with viewers across the region, and spent countless hours giving her time directly to the dogs and cats in our care. From walking dogs on her days off to sitting on our board during a period of real growth for this organization, Annette showed up for HBSPCA in ways that went far beyond what most people ever saw on their screens.

As she steps into this exciting new chapter, we couldn't be more thankful for the mark she's left on HBSPCA, and for everything she's taught us about what it really means to show up for animals in this community.

Do You Want to Advocate for Animals Like Annette?