Unleashing Love: A Historic Step Toward a Pet-First Future

On November 4th, 2025 more than 250 members of our community— donors, partners, supporters, and animal lovers — gathered at McMaster Innovation Park for a truly special evening: the official launch of the Unleash Love campaign and the unveiling of plans for the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA’s (HBSPCA) Pet-First Animal Welfare Campus.

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This transformational project marks a bold new chapter for the HBSPCA — one that will expand access to veterinary care, enhance enrichment opportunities for animals, and strengthen the connection between pets and the people who love them. More than four times the size of our current facility, the new Pet-First Campus will be a hub of innovation and compassion for the entire province of Ontario.

A Night to Remember

Guests were welcomed into an interactive space filled with energy, curiosity, and care. “Discovery Stations” staffed by HBSPCA team members and volunteers invited attendees to explore our signature programs, from Community Cat Care and Pet Health Outreach, to Animal Hospital and Veterinary Services and Shelter Care and more. Each station shared how the new campus will elevate their work — expanding space, improving accessibility, and creating more opportunities for pets to thrive.

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Throughout the evening, guests connected with HBSPCA leaders and learned about opportunities to get involved through both investment and philanthropy.
During a keynote presentation, John Gerrard, HBSPCA President & CEO, and Brad Grabell, Director of Strategy, revealed the vision for the new Pet-First Campus and shared what it will mean for the future of animal welfare. The crowd also enjoyed two exclusive video premieres — one honouring the HBSPCA’s 138-year legacy of compassion, and another offering a moving look at what’s to come.

You can view both of these videos at: unleashlove.ca

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We were honoured to welcome several special guests, including Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath, City Councillors Tom Jacksonand Mark Tadeson, and community leader Terry Cooke— along with members of the HBSPCA Board of Directors, who joined to celebrate this milestone moment.

A Pet-First Future

The new campus will be unlike anything seen before in Canada. At its heart will be a non-profit veterinary hospital, providing affordable care for the community’s pets. The hospital will feature three times the number of operating rooms currently available, allowing the HBSPCA to perform more lifesaving and preventive surgeries than ever before. A new veterinary education hub will train four times as many students, including a dedicated viewing suite that lets them safely observe surgeries and learn from shelter medicine experts.

Every animal in HBSPCA care will have access to the outdoors at the same time, thanks to thoughtfully designed cat catios and dog runs connected to every kennel. The campus will also include a Behaviour and Enrichment Centre, offering services like doggy daycare, grooming, and a thrift store — all of which help support the organization’s mission. An End-of-Life Care Centre will ensure pets and families have a compassionate, affordable space to say goodbye when the time comes. And, for community members, a 360°Spectrum of Care Walk-In Clinic will make veterinary care accessible for all companion animals, strengthening the bond between people and pets across Ontario.

Beyond the medical and enrichment spaces, the new campus will serve as a true community hub — a place for humane education, volunteerism, youth engagement, and connection. It will be a space where learning, healing, and compassion meet.

Join the Movement to Unleash Love

The HBSPCA’s future is being built on the same foundation that has guided us since 1887 — compassion, partnership, and the belief that pets and people are stronger together.

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Now, we’re inviting our community to be part of something truly transformational.
Visit unleashlove.ca to learn more about the new Pet-First Animal Welfare Campus, explore floorplans and videos from the event, and discover how you can Unleash Love by supporting the future of animal care in Ontario.