The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Brooklin man steers Durham humane society toward new vision Animal care will remain key focus: new president Parvaneh Pessian ppessian@durhamregion.com BROOKLIN -- Jamie Hall knows all about the joys of providing a good home for an animal in need. The new president of the Humane Society of Durham Region has adopted four cats from the shelter, including two that are diabetic and require insulin shots twice a day. "Our family has always grown up with animals, both myself and my wife," says Mr. Hall, who's lived in Durham for 20 years and settled in Brooklin eight years ago. "We couldn't imagine not having an animal at home ... there's a comfort factor in having an animal and it's the unconditional love that comes from an animal who is just always there for you." Mr. Hall has volunteered with the Durham humane society since 2009 and was recently elected to lead a group of eight new members on the organization's board of directors. With his passion for animals and experience as current chief financial officer of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, he hopes to take the shelter in a more financially stable direction. "We have had an operating deficit for the last two years ranging from $57,000 to $61,000 so one of the first priorities is to turn that around," Mr. Hall says. The new board plans to increase revenues by launching more fundraising initiatives on a regular basis, increasing membership numbers and establishing stronger ties with other organizations in the community. "Every time you turn around, you run into an animal lover and there's a huge opportunity for us to enhance the lives of people in the community by adding to their family with a pet that needs a new home," says Mr. Hall. Regardless of any upcoming changes at the Durham humane society, he adds that animal care will remain a top priority. "Every member of the board is an animal lover. They all have several animals that they own and animal care and decision-making around the animals is at the front and centre of every discussion at the board." Growing up in the small village of South River, Ont., Mr. Hall says he learned firsthand how the dedica- tion of people working toward a common goal can make a tremendous difference. "If somebody has a need in the community, it's incredible how the community rallies around and that's really what we want the humane society to become -- a community that rallies around the animals in need." The first major fundraising event being planned is a golf tournament, scheduled to take place on Thursday, Sept. 12. CaLL: 905-665-7430 E-MaIL: humanedurham@aura-com.com VISIT: www.humanedurham.com Reporter Parvaneh Pessian covers the town of Whitby for Metroland Media Group's Durham Region Division durhamregion.com The Citizen August 23, 2013 11 WHITBY -- Jamie Hall, with Brando the cat, is the new president of the Humane Society of Durham Region. Mr. Hall is a member of the previous board, an animal lover and a Brooklin resident. ryan Pfeiffer / metroland