KENORA – The people at Kenora Veterinary Clinic have big plans, and city council is right behind them.
The animal services business will expand its square footage to nearly four times what it is currently on Matheson Street, veterinarian Dr. Celine Ward told Newswatch this week.
“We’re operating our current clinic with about 2,500 square feet. This new space will be closer to 10,000,” she said.
Ward, co-owner of the clinic with fellow vet Dr. Jacqueline Harrison, said the extra room is sorely needed.
“In our current building, we’re kind of bursting at the seams,” Ward said.
“We’re at maximum capacity. We’ve outgrown it. So a new space is going to help us out.”
More space will allow for a wider range of services and mean “fewer referrals to city centres like Winnipeg,” she said.
“And that also could include the hiring of more professional staff.”
Ward said she and Harrison hope to start the 12-to-18-month build as soon as possible, though it might not commence until springtime.
They’ll have an up-close view of construction of the clinic’s future two-storey home as it will happen at 309 Matheson St. S., next to the clinic’s current address.
Kenora city council approved a $263,000 financial contribution in support of the project on Tuesday.
Mayor Andrew Poirier told Newswatch the vet clinic “does a lot of work for the city, and some of it is pro bono or at a reduced rate, so we’re glad to help.”
“We’re super grateful,” Ward said of council’s support. “It means a lot.
“We're really excited, we feel really grateful for the opportunity, and we're looking forward to starting this new project in our community. I think it's going to really open up access to veterinary care in our region.”
