St. Thomas Council set to award tender for new animal shelter

After being put off for years, the city will build an animal shelter on Southdale Line at a cost of $4 million. (Source: City of St. Thomas)

The next step in construction of a new Animal Services Centre in St. Thomas is expected to take place Monday evening.

St. Thomas City Council is expected to award Tonda Construction Limited the contract in the amount of $4.066 million. Their bid was the lowest of the nine submitted.

However, by delaying this project by at least 18 months, it will now cost more than $1 million more than the lowest bid price just a year ago.

At that time, the existing budget price was $1.9 million, so with the estimate coming in way over that total, administration requested the tender be cancelled.

After sitting for more than a year, the project was put up for bid again two months ago.

The project has been in the works for years and looked like it was ready to go ahead in 2022 when local businesswoman Sara Teare donated $1 million.

“As our city continues to grow, I believe a facility like this will help cement our position as a top place to live and look forward to being a part of that future,” Teare wrote in a letter to council in 2022.

Teare and her husband own the multi-billion-dollar password management software business 1Password. She adopted her former dog from the local animal shelter and believes the current centre on Burwell Road is not up to today’s standards.

“After having the chance to see the new location and design, incorporating both a new dog park and the trails together, I feel that this new Animal Services Centre would be an excellent addition to our community,” Teare said.

Teare’s mother, Joan Rymal, a new retired city councillor, had championed this project for years and advocated for a new shelter while on council.

When the project was given the go-ahead in the 2025 budget, Rymal told CTV News, “I’m very happy with that, as it’s been a long time coming.”

While not thrilled at the high cost, she understands inflation.

“It has to be a nice building,” said Rymal.

“We’re hoping to add that educational component to the building. Having school kids come in, so by the time you have washrooms and things like that, things add up. That’s just the cost of things.”