The countdown is on for the opening of a new SPCA headquarters in Kamloops.

Community engagement manager Hayley Bennett says the $6.5-million-dollar building is expected to open in early April.

Bennett says the new space will be more accessible to the public.

“Our current shelter, while its served its purpose and we’ve been able to accomplish a lot of great work in there, it’s quite small and it’s hard for the public to be able to come in and see all the good work that’s being done,” Bennett says.

“With this new centre, we’re going to have a community room that will be open to the public to rent for events. It’ll also be used for some education opportunities and our summer camps. It’ll just be an opportunity to allow the public to come in more.”

Bennett also says the SPCA is still fundraising the final $300,000 for the project. The branch has had to raise $5 million for the project after receiving $1.5 million from the provincial government.