THE HABITAT - Habitat for Humanity Canada

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Habitat for Humanity Canada
News & Views
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2011: A Year of Habitat for Humanity Anniversaries
RESTORE 20TH ANNIVERSARY
This year marks several anniversaries of Habitat for Humanity in Canada, including that of ReStores, a concept
first developed by five volunteers in Winnipeg 20 years ago. Quickly proving its worth, the idea caught on and
today there are 65 ReStores selling new and gently used building materials and home décor items in Canada,
with hundreds more spread across the United States.
Equally important to the deals that can be had at ReStores is their environmental and social impact. In 2010,
ReStores diverted over 20,000 lbs of material from landfill and recycled 2.1 million lbs of metal. As well, through
the sale of ReStore items, a lot of which is marked down by up to 75%, ReStores raise substantial funds for
Habitat for Humanity’s homebuilding efforts in Canada.
ReStores rely heavily upon their surrounding communities: on volunteers in their operation and on community
members to donate salable items. Visit habitat.ca to find and support your local ReStore.
PEI
15TH ANNIVERSARY
“As with any teenager celebrating
their 15th birthday, Habitat for
Humanity PEI is going to spend
it with its friends doing what it
loves – building homes for families!...
You’re invited to one of the biggest
parties in PEI this year. Come
help us celebrate!”
– Susan Zambonin, Executive Director,
Habitat for Humanity PEI
For their 15th year, Habitat for Humanity
PEI plans to build five homes, providing
homeownership to 34 PEI residents
currently living in substandard housing.
HAMILTON
20TH ANNIVERSARY
“Habitat for Humanity Hamilton
is looking forward to our next
twenty years with a vision that
will not only provide opportunity
to more families, but will contribute
to the redevelopment of one of
Hamilton’s oldest neighbourhoods.
While our early years were marked
with challenges, we look forward
to having learned from these
and building at a rate that will
place our affiliate as a leader in
providing homeownership to
hardworking families.”
– Bob McConkey, Executive Director,
Habitat for Humanity Hamilton
This year has already seen Habitat
for Humanity Hamilton dedicate
four homes, setting in motion a
transformation that will impact the lives
of four partner families for generations
to come. The homes are part of an
eight-unit townhouse development,
with the remainder of the units to be
completed and dedicated later this
year. With these homes, Habitat for
Humanity Hamilton is working towards
the city’s goal of making Hamilton the
best place to raise a child.
EDMONTON
20TH ANNIVERSARY
“We’re able to celebrate because
of the incredible vision and
determination of those who started
the Habitat program in Edmonton
twenty years ago. These folks set
the foundation for us to be able
to reach our current goal of
serving 100 partner families each
and every year by 2012.”
– Alfred Nikolai, President & CEO,
Habitat for Humanity Edmonton
Habitat for Humanity Edmonton
built approximately one home per
year during its first decade in
Edmonton. In 2011, they plan to serve
over 80 families with the hand up of
homeownership. Habitat for Humanity
Edmonton celebrated its 20th
anniversary with their second annual
Habitat Day in the Capital Region,
a campaign that saw five builders
each donate a home to the affiliate.
Governor General of Canada
Puts Hammer to Nails
On January 14th, His Excellency the
Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor
General of Canada, visited Habitat for Humanity
Toronto’s William’s Way build site to lend a helping
hand and mark his acceptance of vice-regal
patronage of Habitat for Humanity Canada (HFHC).
His Excellency arrived at the site eager to build,
despite the day’s frigid temperatures. After meeting
several Habitat partner families and volunteers,
His Excellency got to work, cutting floorboards
and nailing and sealing them into place.
Following this, His Excellency, along with
Stewart Hardacre, President and CEO of HFHC,
and Neil Hetherington, CEO of Habitat for
Humanity Toronto, addressed the crowd in
attendance, thanking them for their contributions
in making the William’s Way project possible.
The twenty townhouses that will be built at the
William’s Way site will provide safe, decent and
affordable shelter to 96 women, men and children
currently living in substandard housing in Toronto.
The build is also the site of Habitat for Humanity’s
first solar-panel technology homes in Canada,
which will meet GreenHouse® certified construction
standards and will be 25-30% more energy efficient
than those constructed to standard building code.
His Excellency, Carrying-on a
Tradition of Patronage
By accepting patronage of HFHC, His Excellency
is carrying-on the tradition created by the two
previous Governor Generals of Canada, the Right
Honourable Michaëlle Jean and the Right
Honourable Edward Schreyer. This public expression
of support will continue to bring significant
awareness to the critical issue of affordable housing
in Canada, and will further Habitat for Humanity
Canada’s work in breaking the cycle of poverty for
Canadian families.
“The enthusiasm and support already expressed
for our cause by His Excellency truly has been
remarkable,” said Hardacre. “I want to thank the
Governor General for his endorsement of our work
and encouragement of our efforts, and welcome
him to the Habitat Family.”
2011 Outstanding Contribution Award Recipients
In Honour of All of Our Fantastic Volunteers
As a way to honour all of our terrific volunteers, who every year give their time
and voice to advance our mission and raise awareness of Canada’s affordable housing
crisis, we recognized seven volunteers by posting their inspirational stories on our
website over the 2011 National Volunteer Week. These Outstanding Contribution
Award Recipients were: Joe Dauk, Wayne Helfrich, Martin Blake, Don and
Lynda Sellar, Noelle Nurse, Sarah Saso and Mario Zambonin. Thanks to
everyone who shared their volunteer stories with us – they were truly inspirational.
And thanks again to all of our fantastic volunteers!
Buy a Hammer,
Build Your
Community
Buy a $2 ‘paper
hammer’ from
June 2 to July 3,
2011, at your nearest
The Home Depot
location and support
local charities including
Habitat for Humanity.
The Home Depot
Canada Foundation
will match the amount
raised by the top
performing district.
Visit habitat.ca for
participating stores.
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4 THE HABITAT SPIRIT Spring/Summer 2011 To donate, participate or advocate visit www.habitat.ca 5