New CEO to start at Humane Society of Kitchener-Waterloo and Stratford-Perth next week

The board of directors for the Humane Society of Kitchener-Waterloo and Stratford-Perth has appointed a new CEO to take over from current boss Kathrin Delutis as she prepares to retire next month.

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With a passion for animals and having spent her entire adult life working in the non-profit sector, Victoria Baby will take on the top role with the local humane society as of Nov. 13.

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“I’ve always had a very deep passion for animals and animal welfare,” Baby said from her home in Kitchener-Waterloo. “My entire life, I’ve had a variety of different canines, felines, etc. I’ve always had a soft spot for animals and I also know that the humane society here has a fabulous reputation in the community. They’re very proactive, they’ve got some great programs that serve the community and also their vision of valuing and respecting animals really resonates with me.

“I guess I’m really impressed with the support, the community engagement and their commitment to serving the community and keeping people together with their animals through programs like the Pet Pantry program and low-cost spay and neuter veterinary services.”

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Over her 35-year career, Baby has served in numerous roles with provincial and national non-profit organizations, including stints as a chief operating officer, interim vice-president and regional director. She also has a passion for leading people and, just in the past year, obtained her public-sector leadership certificate from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

“It’s always been my desire to lead and be part of a team and motivate people and set strategic goals and priorities,” Baby said.

Angela Woods, the president of the society’s board of directors, said the organization was “very fortunate” in the response to its posting for a CEO.

“There was a large draw and, where we saw that Victoria really aligned was with her passion for animals, her passion for supporting community and experience with activities and programs in her past career,” Woods said. “The big thing on our end was she’s a passionate people leader, someone who’s going to be able to come in and continue in the footsteps that (Delutis) has made to bring the team together in a shared mission and shared direction, and then moving that out to our community.”

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As this post is her first chance to work at the local level and really serve her home community, Baby said she’s excited to refamiliarize herself with both the Kitchener-Waterloo and Stratford-Perth communities and get to know the teams she will be working with at both of the local humane society’s shelters.

While Baby is keenly aware of the challenges the humane society faces – the biggest being the sheer, and growing, number of animals in need of care – she says she looks forward to working with the humane society team and board to create a sustainable future for the organization.

“There’s no shortage of animals that need support and families who have animals who may need support,” Baby said.

On behalf of the board, Woods shared her appreciation for Delutis’ service as CEO over the past six years, half of which was complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions that hampered the society’s ability to offer programs and services in person.

“Through those three pandemic years, Kathrin was brilliantly strong, focused and really community minded in that she was thinking, ‘OK, there’s going to be a massive need,’ and we switched how we do things. It was, ‘How can we reach out to people because we know they’re going to be isolated and what does that mean for them and their families and their animals.’

“She was a great strength for us, and it is bittersweet that she is moving on, but we’re so happy for her in her retirement.”

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