SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Northwest Territories SPCA is a top 30 finalist for a $100,000 to $500,000 grant to build an animal shelter in Yellowknife.

"It's very exciting," said Nicole Spencer, president of the NWT SPCA, about making it to the semi-finals of the Aviva Community Fund competition. "We're nervous, but we're psyched about it."

According to Aviva's website, the competition accepts ideas from all over Canada for projects that will make a "positive change in your community."

The fund is giving out three grants: one for projects worth up to $25,000, another for projects worth between $25,000 and $100,000, and one for projects worth between $100,000 and $500,000. The animal shelter is in the last category.

The winners are determined by how many votes the idea receives online through the Aviva Community Fund website.

Spencer said she heard about the grant in early October from Robin Weber, former vice-president of the organization.

"She e-mailed me saying this is something we should look into, so I did," said Spencer. "Two days before the actual competition I went on there and did a write up, not knowing a whole lot about it."

For the first round of voting, which started with 1,647 competitors nationwide on Sept. 27, the NWT SPCA received about 500 votes, just under 1,000 in the second round and in the third round that just closed last Friday, the organization received close to 6,000 votes.

"Incredible," said Wade Friesen, a volunteer with NWT SPCA, describing how it feels to make it into the semi-finals for voting. "It's a good feeling of accomplishment."

Yesterday, when voting started for the semi-finals, the group organized an all-day event at Javaroma with computers available for people to cast votes. The animal shelter was in first place as of 7 p.m. last night with 1,924 votes - over 600 more than its closest competitor.

Nicole Sveinsson was there to show her support.

"We definitely need a shelter," said the former technician for the Great Slave Animal Hospital, the only facility that accepts unwanted animals and one that is chronically at full capacity. "I know how many animals there are that need homes."

Cat lover Shane Keller was also there to vote. He said as the owner of two adopted cats, the SPCA's cause is one that pulls at his heartstrings.

"Animals are people too," he said. "They're furry little people that can't speak for themselves."

Spencer said the group is utilizing modern technology to gather support from people as far away as Sweden and Australia.

"From coast to coast and continent to continent we've got votes coming in," said Spencer. "It's amazing what e-mail and Facebook can do."

She said the new shelter will not only benefit Yellowknife but the entire territory as well.

"Great Slave Animal Hospital doesn't have the capacity," said Spencer.

"People realize that something needs to be done."

With the shelter the SPCA intends to comfortably house up to 30 dogs and 15 cats.

"We really need everybody's help to get in the top 10," she said. "Every vote counts."

Voting for the semi-finals started yesterday and ends Dec. 15.

If the NWT SPCA places in the top 10 in its category, it will move on to the judging round, which begins Dec. 20. The winners will be announced Jan. 25, 2011.

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