Turner Construction has gone to the dogs. Or at least their trainers.
The Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, which provides service dogs to people with disabilities, tapped New York City-based Turner to build its 60 million Canadian dollars ($43.8 million) training center in Oakville, Ontario, according to a news release.
The 89,000-square-foot complex will feature classrooms and training rooms, 35 guest bedrooms to accommodate its client base and indoor and outdoor spaces.
The Lions Foundation trains its dog guides across seven distinct programs: canine vision, hearing, service, seizure response, autism assistance, diabetes alert and facility support, according to the release. After puppies are born, they are raised for 12 to 16 months before beginning dog guide training.
“This facility will better so many lives,” said Stuart Smith, vice president and general manager at Turner, in the release. “We’re building a world class facility which will directly benefit hundreds of Canadians with special needs lives every year.”
Smith added that the 35 guest bedrooms will serve as a hotel component for families to learn how to work with their guide dogs at the center.
Beyond building the structure, the onsite team decided to go a step further and foster a puppy, which it named — obviously — Turner. Members of the crew take turns caring for her, according to the release, ensuring she receives plenty of socialization and basic obedience training.
Those aspects are crucial for her role as a future dog guide, as well as desensitization to potential distractions like loud noises and frenetic activity. The team hopes to expose Turner to the sights, sounds and experiences of a construction site to help her develop into a well-rounded and confident dog guide.
Construction on the project is slated for completion in 2026.
