THE HABITAT - Habitat for Humanity Canada

THE HABITAT 

2010 

Fall/Winter 

News and Views for the Friends of Habitat for Humanity Canada 

The Need for a 

360 o Approach 

to Affordable 

Housing 

Habitat for 

Humanity 

Abroad 

Green 

Building: 

Saving Homeowner’s 

Money, Saving 

Everyone’s 

Environment

contents 

04 

05 

06 

10 

14 

16 

19 

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Habitat for Humanity Canada News & Views 

Habitat Partner Puts 

Pen to Paper 

Thanking Affiliate and Volunteers for 

Making Dreams Come True 

Moving Forward with 

Habitat’s Vision for 

Sustainable Communities 

New Partnership Program, 

Launching Spring 2011 

Habitat for Humanity Abroad 

Building Homes and Hope After Katrina, 

in Lesotho and for Haiti 

At the Street Level 

Habitat for Humanity and 

Partners Going Green 

We Can Because You Do 

Habitat for Humanity Canada 

Volunteer Award Winners 

Great Ways to Support Habitat for 

Humanity this Holiday Season 

Cover: Josh Smoke (5) hanging from the 

bunk bed in his Habitat for Humanity home, the 

first Habitat home to be built in a First Nations 

community, in Alderville, Ontario. 

The Habitat Spirit, a 

publication of Habitat 

for Humanity Canada, 

seeks to promote 

communication, discussion 

and networking among 

Habitat for Humanity 

affiliates, volunteers 

and supporters. 

Questions or comments 

should be sent to: 

HABITAT FOR 

HUMANITY CANADA 

477 Mount Pleasant Rd., 

Suite 105, Toronto, ON 

M4S 2L9 1.800.667.5137 

Fax: 416.646.0574 

habitat@habitat.ca 

www.habitat.ca 

PHOTO CREDITS: 

The photos contained in 

this newsletter were 

provided courtesy of 


Canada, its affiliates and 

HFHI unless attributed 

otherwise. 

We Want Your 

Feedback! 

Please visit habitat.ca 

to complete our 

newsletter readership 

survey and provide 

us with valuable 

information to improve 

our publications. 

SPECIAL THANKS TO: 

Nicole Dunsdon 

Kate Arnold 

Kim Sprenger 

Soapbox Design 

Communications Inc. 

RR Donnelley 

HFHI 

HFHC Resource 

Development Team 

I 

Stewart Hardacre was 

recently appointed 

President and Chief 

Executive Officer of 


Canada (HFHC). Stewart 

joined HFHC in 2008 

and since 2009 has served 

as President and Chief 

Operating Officer. 

Under Stewart’s leadership, 

HFHC has seen 

tremendous growth in 

terms of families served 

both domestically and 

internationally and in funds 

raised for the organization. 

Within the association, 

Stewart has lead the 

national office’s growing 

support of local Habitat 

for Humanity affiliates in 

Canada. HFHC welcomes 

Stewart into this new 

leadership role and 

anticipates continued years 

of unwavering leadership 

and guidance. 

A Message from our 

President & CEO 

Building on our 

Momentum, 

Home by Home 

t’s hard to believe that the end of 2010 and our 25th 

year in Canada has already arrived. This past year, 

Habitat for Humanity Canada (HFHC) and our 73 

affiliates have marked our 25th Anniversary by 

hosting a number of blitz builds, a house pull, 

hundreds of home dedication celebrations, and 

several World Habitat Day events on October 4th. 

The enthusiasm and commitment of HFHC and its 

affiliates has never been stronger. In 2010, we built 

the most homes we have ever built in one year: 235. 

When you think of the transformation that a new, 

permanent home creates for 235 families – about a 

thousand family members – the impact of our work is 

truly enormous. 

With this issue of The Habitat Spirit, we want to 

thank everyone for their passion and belief in our 

vision of a world where everyone has a safe and 

decent place to live. Sustainability is referred to a lot 

in this issue, as we want to celebrate and acknowledge 

the numerous ways that Habitat and its partners are 

bringing sustainability to life. HFHC is committed to 

building sustainable communities in all senses of the 

word: environmental, social, and physical. We thank 

our corporate partners for their ingenuity and 

generosity in the programs that they have developed 

with us in 2010. We also want to recognize our 

amazing volunteers, who make Habitat for Humanity 

such an inspirational organization to be part of, and 

who have kept sustaining us and our builds for the 

past 25 years. 

This is a time to look forward and plan for 2011 

and the years beyond. As we look ahead, we are even 

more excited about what the future holds. In 2011, 

HFHC will build its 2,000th (and 2,011th) house! 

We’re sure it will be another great year of 

accomplishments, thanks to the help of our donors 

and volunteers. 

Though we’re sure much lies ahead for us over 

the next 25 years, one of our challenges going 

forward will be how we sustain the growing drive 

and passion surrounding our cause, continuing 

to transform the lives of families as we build more 

homes each year. 

HFHC could not reach its goals nor continue on 

its mission without help. HFHC and its affiliates 

need the financial support of individuals to buy 

land and cover other hard costs incurred on builds. 

We are very grateful that you share the same 

devotion and passion for our cause as we do – it’s 

individuals like you that ensure Habitat for Humanity 

can remain on its course and allow us to help more 

families each year. 

We hope you and your family enjoy your home 

this holiday season. Again, thank you for your 

support in 2010; we look forward to another 

successful year in partnership, giving a hand up 

to transform Canadian lives and communities. 

Sincerely, 

Stewart Hardacre 

President & CEO 


P.S. You might notice that this issue of The Habitat Spirit has 

a new look; this is part of our effort to make communication 

with HFHC supporters more engaging, while also getting the 

most out of our dollar spent. In order to help us continually 

improve this and other publications, please go to habitat.ca 

and take our newsletter survey. We’d love to hear from you on 

what you’d like to read, know and learn about Habitat for 

Humanity in Canada and around the world. 

2 The Habitat spirit Fall/Winter 2010 To donate, participate or advocate visit www.habitat.ca 3

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News & Views 

Dates marked by 


World 

Habitat Day 

October 4th 

In 1985, the United Nations declared 

the first Monday of October to be 

World Habitat Day (WHD) in order to 

call attention to the state of the human 

habitat and push toward adequate 

housing for all. The hope is that by 

raising awareness and advocating for 

universal decent housing, the systems 

that reinforce and entrench poverty 

housing can be dismantled and 

affordable, decent places to live can 

be made a reality for all. 

Why WHD is important to 


In Canada, 1.3 million families are in 

need of decent, affordable housing. 

Federal support of the issue has been 

in decline and responsibilities have been 

shifted to the provinces, which have in 

turn offloaded them on municipalities, 

most of which lack the tax base and 

budgets to support significant housing 

initiatives. 

In March 2010, Miloon Kothari, the 

United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on 

the Right to Adequate Housing, released 

a report that found Canada to be in 

urgent need of a “comprehensive and 

coordinated national housing policy.” 

Of the countries that make up the G8, 

Canada is the only one that lacks a 

national housing strategy. 

Habitat for Humanity Canada (HFHC) 

marks WHD to bring attention to the 

issue of affordable housing in Canada 

and to promote the idea of a world 

where everyone has a safe and decent 

place to life. 

How WHD was marked by 

Habitat for Humanity in Canada 

HFHC 

HFHC ran a two-page insert in the 

Globe and Mail to raise awareness 

of the Canadian housing crisis and 

the work of HFHC and its 73 affiliates. 

The insert also recognized the 

generous contributions made by 

HFHC’s multi-year donors. 

Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg 

Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg launched 

their High Schools for Habitat (for 

Humanity) program, encouraging high 

school students and their communities 

to foster social consciousness by 

developing an awareness of Habitat for 

Humanity and encouraging cooperative 

involvement through educational, 

volunteering and fundraising opportunities. 

Habitat for Humanity Toronto 

Bruce Johnson, Chief Financial Officer 

of Habitat for Humanity Toronto, was 

joined by Stewart Hardacre, President 

and CEO of HFHC, Ed Clark, President 

and CEO of TD Bank Financial Group, 

Habitat for Humanity Toronto partners 

Antonio and Helen Garcia, along with 

others in the ringing of the opening bell 

at the Toronto Stock Exchange. 

Habitat for Humanity Toronto hosted 

a flag raising ceremony at Toronto’s City 

Hall as well as had the CN Tower lit with 

Habitat colours to commemorate WHD. 

For more information on WHD or to 

learn more about advocating for housing 

need, please visit habitat.ca. 

Waste 

Reduction Week 

October 18th – 24th 

Waste Reduction Week (WRW) aims 

to inform and engage Canadians 

about the environmental and social 

ramifications of wasteful practices. 

It strives to educate, engage and 

empower Canadians to reduce, 

reuse and recycle waste. 

Why WRW is important to Habitat 

for Humanity Canada 

While WRW encourages us all to 

be mindful of the amount of waste 

we produce, Habitat for Humanity’s 

ReStores in Canada provide the 

opportunity for Canadians to be 

waste-conscious year-round by 

accepting and reselling new and 

gently-used home improvement and 

building materials. In 2010 alone, 

ReStores will divert more than 20,000 

tonnes of materials from landfills. 

Public support of our ReStores is 

critical. Revenues generated fund 

the building of Habitat homes for 

local families in need. 

How WRW was marked by 

Habitat for Humanity in Canada 

ReStores across Canada used WRW to 

communicate how shopping at ReStores 

is both an environmentally and socially 

conscious decision. Affiliates delivered 

their message by holding open houses, 

hosting media events and sponsoring 

radio ads. As a result, Habitat for 

Humanity’s WRW messaging garnered 

local and national media coverage. 

Visit habitat.ca to find the 

ReStore location nearest you. 

Chantal Paquette: 

Writer, Orator, 

and Grateful 

Habitat Partner 

Chantal is 16 years old and is the 

daughter of Brenda and Yvon Paquette. 

The Paquettes have six children (five 

daughters, four of whom live at home 

and one son). I first met the Paquettes 

in 2005 when they were interviewed for 

a home that we built in Port McNicoll. 

The home unfortunately was too small 

to accommodate the family. 

When Habitat for Humanity North 

Simcoe was given the opportunity to 

build a fourth home in 2008, the Paquettes 

were interviewed again and determined 

as the best suited family for the home. 

They moved in June 2009. 

It has been a pleasure getting to 

know the many members of this amazing 

family. 

Chantal wrote a poem on behalf of her 

family to thank those who made their 

dream come true. After reading the poem, 

Thank You 

by chantal paquette 

I suggested that she present it at the home 

dedication ceremony. Chantal had never 

spoken in public, she was nervous, but 

read her poem – as a result there was not 

a dry eye at the event. When asked if she 

would read her poem at Habitat for 

Humanity Canada’s Annual General 

Meeting in April 2010, she put her nerves 

aside and said she would. 

I believe that the opportunity to read 

her poem “Thank You” at the AGM has 

been an experience that will shape 

Chantal’s future. She has been writing this 

summer and has a determination to 

explore outside her comfort zone. 

Chantal has grown immensely from the 

experience. Thank you Habitat Canada. 

Written by Kate Arnold, Chair, Family Selection 

& Partnering, Habitat for Humanity, 

North Simcoe 

A miracle happens only once in awhile, 

We just had to keep going that extra mile. 

We were patient and waited a whole seven years, 

Now we are filled with devotion expressing in tears. 

We now have something to call our own, 

We finally have this place called HOME. 

Overwhelmed, amazed, it’s hard to explain, we are shocked, 

Our emotions exactly the same. It’s a beginning to a brand new start, 

We are striked with amazement, this fills our heart. 

We are astonished that something like this, could happen to our family, 

It’s a crazy twist. This is the happily ever-after we were waiting for, 

It was only our choice if we opened that door. 

In the dark you showed us the light, 

We now have the courage; we now have the might, 

To take the next step in our brand new life. 

So I’m saying this to only be true, 

Habitat and Helpers we want to thank you. 

25 years 

of support 

2010: Over the past 

25 years, and with more 

than 10 million volunteer 

hours logged, HFHC has 

successfully provided 

almost 1,800 hardworking 

Canadian families with 

safe, affordable housing. 

Internationally, HFHC has 

helped build over 1,100 

homes in approximately 

90 countries. 

Looking Back: 

Early Milestones 

1985: First Habitat home 

is built on Canadian soil 

in Winkler, Manitoba. 

1987: First Canadian 

affiliate is established in 

Winnipeg, Manitoba. 

1990: Habitat for Humanity 

Canada head office is 

established in Waterloo, Ontario. 

1991: World’s first ReStore 

opens in Winnipeg with the 

help of five volunteers. 

1993: Canada’s 100th Habitat 

for Humanity home is built in 

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. 


By Annette Verschuren 

President, The Home Depot Canada 

By Paul Ostrander 

CEO, Holcim Canada Inc. 

The Need for 

a 360 º Approach 

to Affordable 

Housing 

Growing up in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, 

I was relatively insulated from the realities 

of Canada’s affordable-housing crisis until 

I moved to Toronto in the mid-1980s. 

A 

cross Toronto, in 2009, 71,000 families were on the waiting 

list for subsidized housing. And looking at Canada’s numbers, 

an estimated 1.3 million families are in need of affordable 

housing right now. 

A number of public, private and non-governmental 

organizations are hard at work to provide Canadians with 

homes that meet their needs. But we must move faster. 

And our solution must be more holistic, taking the entire 

picture into account: environment, community connection, 

volunteerism, education, corporate social responsibility, 

employee engagement and more. 

Since 1996, The Home Depot Canada has provided tens of 

thousands of skilled, volunteer labour hours, and more than 

$20 million in cash and in-kind donations to Habitat for 

Humanity Canada’s (HFHC) housing projects across the 

country. Through our experience, we have found Habitat’s 

program does more than build homes; it empowers families 

and builds a sense of community. It gives families a hand up 

rather than a hand out. 

Now, The Home Depot Canada and its foundation are 

making a long-term, three-year commitment of $12 million in 

cash and in-kind donations to support sustainable community 

development with HFHC. We’ll achieve this through a new 

program HFHC is launching in 2011 

with our support; the 360 Built Smart 

Partnership, which will: 

• help families in need access and 

succeed with homeownership; 

• reduce Habitat’s environmental footprint 

by funding more environmentally 

sound building practices; 

• rally communities and volunteers 

in Habitat’s work; and 

• more strategically engage public 

and private partners in affordable 

housing solutions. 

The Home Depot Canada and its 

foundation are making this contribution 

in recognition that an investment in 

affordable housing is more than an act 

of charity; it is a strategic investment 

in our society. 

Research has proven that affordable 

housing improves the health of children 

and adults, helps children achieve better 

grades, keeps family units stronger and 

improves an individual’s job prospects. 

As Canadian businesses, we can all 

help provide affordable housing by 

getting involved and contributing to 

organizations like HFHC. 

This article originally appeared in a Habitat 

for Humanity special information feature in 

The Globe and Mail newspaper on Oct 4, 2010. 

Produced by RandallAnthony Communications Inc. 

Reprinted with permission. 

The 360 Built Smart Partnership 

Program is an exciting new program 

that will launch in the spring of 2011 

that plans to transform the face of 

communities across the country. 

Through the program, we will 

demonstrate that an investment in 

affordable housing provides tremendous 

economic returns to society in the areas 

of better educational, economic, and 

health opportunities for families at risk. 

The results – healthier families and 

communities, and ultimately a more 

productive nation. 

Invest in the 360 Built Smart 

Partnership, and become a leader in 

the field of sustainable communities. 

By doing so, you will not only help 

families in need access affordable 

housing, but you will also make a 

lasting impact on the communities 

where you live and work. For more 

information on the 360 Built Smart 

Partnership, please call (416) 644-0988 

x353, or visit habitat.ca. 

Long-term corporate investment 

Creates Change, 

Builds Communities 

In an age where Corporate Social 

Responsibility is an expected business 

practice, rather than a rarity, it is 

important for Canada’s businesses to 

look more closely at what it means to 

“give” in this environment. 

No longer does corporate giving involve 

an arm’s-length financial donation that 

gets logged in the books as another 

transaction and nothing more. Today, 

companies are creating partnerships that 

have a multi-layered benefit that extends 

beyond the handing over of money. 

Take Holcim Canada’s strategic, 

longterm partnership with Habitat for 

Humanity Canada (HFHC) as an example 

– a partnership that began in 2003. 

Not only does our partnership allow 

Holcim to achieve our own business 

objectives in areas such as employee 

engagement, environmental stewardship 

and community investment, it also 

places hardworking families into homes 

of their own. 

More recently, Holcim joined the 

HFHC 360 Built Smart Partnership 

(launching 2011), making a three-year 

pledge of significant monetary and 

in-kind material donations to be put 

toward the building of sustainable 

communities across the country. 

Our employees will be actively engaged 

in hands-on volunteer work to further 

define what a sustainable community 

looks like by putting hammers to nails 

and carpets on floors. 

This definition of a sustainable 

community certainly includes 

environmental considerations such as 

energy efficiency, green material use 

and reduced carbon emissions, but it 

extends far beyond that. 

Our vision of a sustainable community 

is one where children in stable homes 

get better grades and have fewer health 

problems, adults have better future 

prospects and higher self-esteem, and our 

company’s employees connect with the 

communities in which we are located 

through meaningful volunteerism. 

Holcim Canada’s relationship with 

HFHC has raised our profile in local 

communities, establishing a deeper 

relationship between our company and 

the people we do business with every day. 

As well, this type of longterm, multi-year, 

strategic partnership will also lead to 

brand recognition, employee retention 

and help with recruitment. 

Holcim has paid a lot of attention to 

improving environmental performance 

and community relations in recent years, 

and our involvement with the HFHC 

360 Built Smart Partnership will allow us 

to continue to do that as we go forward. 

We are a visible leader in our industry; 

Holcim is one of Canada’s largest 

producers and suppliers of products and 

services for the construction industry, 

employing 3,500 Canadians and serving 

customers across the country. But we 

choose not to stop there. 

Our leadership extends into 

commitment to sustainable building, the 

environment and community, and 

empowering working families towards 

homeownership. 

This article originally appeared in a Habitat 

for Humanity special information feature in 

The Globe and Mail newspaper on Oct 4, 2010. 

Produced by RandallAnthony Communications Inc. 

Reprinted with permission. 

6 The Habitat spirit Fall/Winter 2010 

To donate, to advocate or participate visit www.habitat.ca 7

2010 

National Partners 

single 

YEAR 

DONORS 

PLATINUM Partners 

MULTI- 

YEAR 

DONORs 

Thank you to our partners that have committed multi-year support to Habitat’s work. 

By investing over the long term, you are helping us to better achieve our mission 

and build sustainable communities across Canada. To learn more about partnership 

opportunities with Habitat for Humanity Canada, contact Matthew Gustafson at 

416-644-0988 ext. 352 or mgustafson@habitat.ca. 

legacy Partners 

GENEROUS 

CONTRIBUTIONS 

FROM OUR 

CORPORATE, 

INDIVIDUAL AND 

GOVERNMENT 

PARTNERS 

CONTINUE TO 

BE THE KEY TO 

OUR SUCCESS 

AT HABITAT 

FOR HUMANITY 

CANADA. 

GOLD Partners 

SILVER Partners 

PLATINUM Partners 


Humanity 

Canada is 

fortunate to 

have many 

committed 

partners – 

not all could 

be listed here. 

To view the 

complete list 

of donors, 

please visit 

habitat.ca. 

bronze Partners 

gold Partners 

silver Partners 


International Feature: 

Habitat for Humanity Abroad 

HAITI: 

Earthquake 

Response 

Since the massive earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, 

Habitat for Humanity has committed to helping 50,000 

low-income families rebuild and recover from the 

devastating disaster. 

The earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 struck the Caribbean 

nation of Haiti just 10 miles west of the capital, Port-au-Prince. 

The U.N.-sponsored Shelter Cluster estimates that 105,000 

houses were destroyed, and more than 208,000 were damaged. 

Millions of people were affected, and nearly 1.5 million people 

were left displaced or homeless. 

More than one million people now live in temporary 

shelters in Port-au-Prince, though 600,000 have left the 

affected areas to seek shelter elsewhere in Haiti. The damages 

and losses are estimated at nearly US$11.5 billion. 

Habitat for Humanity has implemented immediate relief 

efforts and is addressing long-term shelter solutions. 

Reconstruction and development is aimed to initiate projects 

that address the structural causes that allowed this 

earthquake to affect the country so greatly. Habitat’s 

particular focus is on six cities: Cabaret, Léogâne, Jacmel, 

Carrefour, Port-au-Prince and Croix-des-Bouquets. 

Based on current information and past experience 

with international disasters, Habitat for Humanity has 

developed a multi-phrase strategy of response. 

United States: 

Hurricanes Katrina 

and Rita 

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita made landfall in late 2005 and 

became one of the most destructive disasters in United States’ 

history. The two hurricanes displaced more than a million 

residents, inflicted major damage to nearly 550,000 homes 

and demolished hundreds of square miles of coastal land. 

Within weeks after Hurricane Katrina barreled across the 

U.S. Gulf Coast, Habitat for Humanity started building 

houses and rebuilding lives. Operation Home Delivery was 

the first response to the devastation, helping low-income, 

hurricane-affected families in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas 

and Alabama achieve simple, decent and affordable housing. 

In May 2008, more than 5,000 volunteers joined the Jimmy 

& Rosalynn Carter Work Project at sites along the Gulf Coast 

from Mobile, Alabama to Beaumont, Texas. Their effort 

helped move 250 more families closer to living in a secure 

home once again. 

The Gulf Coast region is still dealing with the aftermath 

of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Although Habitat’s initial 

Gulf Coast disaster response program, Operation Home 

Delivery, is officially complete, Gulf Coast affiliates continue 

to build houses in the hurricane-affected areas as part of 

Habitat’s long-term recovery program. 

Lesotho: 

CIDA and Habitat 

for Humanity Canada 

Safe Space Project 

In response to Lesotho’s rising number of widows, orphans and 

vulnerable children (OVC), for the three-year period beginning 

in June 2007 and ending earlier this year, the Canadian 

International Development Agency (CIDA) and Habitat for 

Humanity Canada funded the Secure Tenure and Safe Space 

for Lesotho Widows, Orphans and Vulnerable Children Project. 

Implemented by Habitat for Humanity Lesotho, the purpose 

of the project was to secure tenure and inheritance rights 

of widows and OVC who have been made vulnerable by 

HIV/AIDS and to reduce incidents of abuse and sexual 

molestation of widows and female OVC. 

Due to the current trend of property grabbing by male 

relatives of deceased fathers and husbands, the project first 

focused on an educational campaign to disseminate 

information regarding basic ownership and inheritance 

rights to vulnerable households. The project’s second phase 

sought to provide safe and adequate living spaces for females 

and OVC through the construction of new homes and 

additions to existing homes. 

50,000 

Safer, more secure, 

permanent places to 

call home for earthquake 

affected families 

Help Habitat rebuild Haiti 

Visit habitat.ca to learn more 

Commitment by the Numbers 

70 

Transitional shelters built 

a week to provide safe, 

dry housing for Haitians 

living in unhealthy, 

vulnerable conditions 

1000s 

Of emergency 

shelter kits 

distributed 

1000s 

Of structural damage 

assessments and 

home repairs needed 

100,000s 

Of Haitians in 

need of shelter 

Results by the Numbers 

6 

Weeks after Katrina, 

Habitat’s Operation 

Home Delivery began 

construction on its first 

hurricane-response house 

57 

Houses built a year by 

all Gulf Coast affiliates 

prior to Katrina 

400 

Houses built, repaired 

or rehabbed a year by 

all Gulf Coast affiliates 

since Katrina 

2,219 

Habitat houses built in 

total since 2005 as 

part of the hurricane 

recovery 

2,500 

Homes cleared of debris 

by Habitat volunteers in 

preparation for rehabbing 

150,000 

Volunteers have helped 

with rebuilding efforts in 

New Orleans alone 

Results by the Numbers 

60 

Paralegals trained to 

execute public awareness 

campaigns and provide 

support to communities 

250 

Safe and secure living 

spaces created for 

540 females and OVC 

150 

Ventilated latrines 

constructed to reduce 

health-related incidents 

resulting from lack of 

access to decent sanitation 

62,448 

Community members 

reached by public 

awareness campaigns 


To donate, participate or advocate visit www.habitat.ca 11

What 

Do 

You 

Love 

Most 

About 

Your 

Home? 

♥♥ 

Genworth Financial 

Canada’s Path to Home 

program supports 


Canada in its efforts to 

build affordable homes 

from coast to coast. 

For many Canadians, it’s not easy to 

answer the question, “What do you love 

most about your home?” 

In fact, 1.3 million Canadian families 

are in need of decent, affordable housing 

right now. 

In response to this Candian housing 

crisis, mortgage insurance provider 

Genworth Financial Canada is lending its 

voice, volunteer resources and financial 

assistance to a new program with Habitat 

for Humanity Canada (HFHC), called 

“The Path to Home.” 

A $1 million donation 

goes a long way to helping 

families in need 

The Path to Home is a three-year, 

$1-million commitment from Genworth 

that will go a long way towards positively 

impacting the lives of those in need of 

a safe, affordable home by providing 

cash grants, educational material and 

resources, and by engaging its employees 

in volunteer opportunities throughout 

each year of the program. 

“This new effort will expand our 

work with Habitat in helping Canadian 

families become homeowners,” says 

Peter Vukanovich, President and COO 

of Genworth Financial Canada. “We 

are proud to support Habitat’s efforts 

to break the cycle of poverty by 

building homes for those who need 

them the most.” 

This partnership comes following four 

years and over $1 million of support 

already provided to HFHC by Genworth. 

Meaning of Home 

contest engages youth 

for the fourth year 

In 2007, Genworth held their first 

Meaning of Home Contest in support 

of HFHC. This year’s marks the 4th 

annual Meaning of Home contest and 

asked grades four, five and six students 

from across Canada to describe, through 

a written submission, what they love 

most about their home. 

When determined, the winner will 

help build a Habitat for Humanity home 

in their neighbourhood of choice by 

deciding which Habitat for Humanity 

affiliate will receive a $60,000 donation 

from Genworth. 

Five runners-up will direct $5,000 

to their affiliate of choice, also provided 

by Genworth. 

“Not every child in the world is 

fortunate enough to enjoy a good home, 

but even the most modest quarters 

offer stability and love for a child,” 

Mr. Vukanovich says. “The Meaning of 

Home contest is a chance for us to raise 

awareness about the importance of a 

home and to gauge what is most special 

to children.” 

“We’ve been able to 

motivate individuals of 

all ages to get involved 

and have generated 

invaluable goodwill 

for Habitat and for 

our organization.” 

– Peter Vukanovich, 

genworth financial canada 

Last year’s winner, Kyle Dingle, from 

St. John’s Newfoundland, wrote that 

home is the transformation that takes 

place after a family moves into what 

is no longer just a structure made out 

of nails and wood. For him, “a family 

makes a house a home by living in it 

and making it special.” 

Genworth’s corporate leadership 

initiative with Habitat for Humanity 

Canada provides rich employeeengagement 

opportunities. The company’s 

employees have graciously donated 

over 800 hours nationwide to the cause. 

“By partnering with Habitat for 

Humanity Canada, we’ve been able to 

effectively engage the public in a 

discussion around the need for affordable, 

healthy housing and homeownership in 

Canada,” says Mr. Vukanovich. “We’ve 

been able to motivate individuals of 

all ages to get involved and have generated 

invaluable goodwill for Habitat and for 

our organization.” 

B 

Please help us transform the 

lives of more families like 

the Shea’s. Please give to 


Visit habitat.ca 

for more information on 

how to give 

Habitat Home 

Gateway for Transforming 

Family’s Future 

radley and Charissa Shea have four children; 

Caleb is seven, Joshua is five and the twin girls – 

Kayla and Kariann – are one. 

It’s hard to imagine this Port Colborne, Ontariobased 

family in a tiny, two-bedroom, mould-infested 

apartment, but that is where they were before 

purchasing their own home through Habitat for 

Humanity Niagara in June 2009. 

“We were living in basement suites; the first 

one was too small, and the owners of the next two 

decided to take over the whole house. We had no 

control,” says Mr. Shea, recalling the three times 

his eldest son moved within -his first year of life. 

Working in insurance sales to make ends meet, 

these living conditions were devastating for 

Mr. Shea. “I felt like, as the provider for my family, 

I had failed my kids, failed my wife. Habitat 

helped me provide for them the way they deserve 

to be provided for.” 

The Shea family put in 500 volunteer hours 

of sweat equity and took on a mortgage they 

could afford. 

“All we’ve ever wanted is a stable place where 

our children could be healthy and able to learn 

and play. Now they have a huge yard...and we know 

we’re not going to have to move,” says Mr. Shea. 

For this community-minded family, life has been 

transformed through homeownership. 

While Charissa is able to stay home with Caleb, 

who suffers from autism, and her other children, 

Mr. Shea balances three jobs and a few college 

courses. “I had too much on my mind before,” he 

says. “Now we can concentrate on what we want 

to do with our lives.” 

This article originally appeared in a Habitat for 

Humanity special information feature in The Globe 

and Mail newspaper on Oct 4, 2010. Produced by 

RandallAnthony Communications Inc. Reprinted 

with permission. 


Second Annual Great-West Life, 

London Life and Canada Life National 

Award for Leadership in Sustainable 

and Affordable Home Building awarded 

to help green building initiatives: 

Jim Carragher recognized for instituting 

and advancing green building practices 

for Habitat for Humanity Prince 

Edward Island 

Going 

Peter Mullins, Director, 

Business Development, 

Freedom 55 financial, awards 

Jim Carragher and Susan 

and Sarah MacCormac 

with the award 

Green 

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to his local affiliate, Jim Carragher, 

Board Chair for Habitat for Humanity Prince Edward Island Inc. (PEI), was presented 

with the Second Annual Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life National Award 

for Leadership in Sustainable and Affordable Home Building. 

The award is a $25,000 grant bestowed upon a Habitat for Humanity volunteer in 

Canada who then directs the funds to a Habitat sustainable building project. It was 

created in 2009 in an effort to encourage and inspire more individuals to champion 

the cause of affordable homeownership in their own communities. The award is also 

designed to encourage the adoption of sustainable building practices to help address 

“energy poverty” – an affordability issue that many households face in the wake of 

increasing utility costs. 

“Many low-income families living in affordable housing are facing financial 

challenges due to increasing utility costs. It is our hope that this award will continue to 

encourage individuals like Jim to actively support and engage in affordable sustainable 

home building as a means to help Canadians break the ‘energy poverty’ cycle,” says 

Jan Belanger, Assistant Vice-President, Community Affairs, Great-West Life, London Life 

and Canada Life. 

Carragher was recognized with this award on April 29th, 2010 at the HFHC Annual 

General Meeting following his instrumental role in instituting and advancing the use 

of green building practices at Habitat for Humanity PEI. Specifically, Carragher helped 

raise approximately $88,000 for Habitat for Humanity PEI to use towards the building 

of sustainable homes, while also playing a leading role at Habitat for Humanity PEI’s 

2009 Eco-Build. 

“Jim has been a wonderful advocate for Habitat for Humanity PEI. He has a minor 

in Environmental Studies and never misses an opportunity to educate our volunteers, 

partner families, and the general public about the importance of building more 

sustainable housing in PEI. Jim often schedules his work commitments around his 

passion for Habitat,” says Susan Zambonin, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity PEI. 

Following him receiving the award, 

Carragher directed the $25,000 to Habitat 

for Humanity PEI to help build an 

energy-efficient home for Habitat partner 

Susan MacCormac and her three children 

– Katie, Justin and Sarah. The home was 

dedicated on August 8th, 2010, and features 

such green/sustainable features as Energy 

Star rated windows and appliances, 

insulation levels 15 per cent above building 

code and an ultra-efficient heat recovery 

ventilation system. 

“Our home is a raised bungalow with 

an insulated styrofoam block basement, 

new energy efficient windows, water 

conserving toilets, energy efficient washer/ 

dyer set, high efficiency heating system, and 

more. We are very happy with the fact that 

our home is so energy efficient as it is good 

for our planet and we will save money 

that will in turn help us financially,” says 

Susan MacCormac. 

In 2010, approximately 50 per cent of 

HFHC’s builds have been enrolled under 

recognized green building programs, and 

HFHC expects this proportion to only rise. 

Going forward, the contributions made 

by organizations like Great-West Life, 

London Life and Canada Life, which are 

committed to promoting green building 

initiatives, will certainly play a large part 

in helping make this a reality. 

Great-West Life, London Life 

and Canada Life’s longstanding 

partnership with HFHC 

Great-West Life, London Life and Canada 

Life, along with their staff and distribution 

associates, have a long history of supporting 

HFHC, sponsoring multiple builds and 

contributing hundreds of hours to the 

cause. Great-West Life and its subsidiaries 

have made a five-year commitment of 

$250,000 to support this award. 

Green building: 

Saving Homeowner’s Money, 

Saving Everyone’s Environment 

Habitat for Humanity affiliates committed to using valuable and 

limited resources wisely in building affordable housing. 

W 

hen it comes to affording a house, Habitat for 

Humanity Canada (HFHC) is aware of the financial 

challenges. To help, Habitat offers pre-qualified 

families no down payment, interest-free mortgages 

that are geared to income. 

With today’s rising costs of energy, water, 

building materials and land – innovation is an important way 

to ensure homeownership is sustainable. As a result, HFHC 

created the National Green Building Program to provide 

leadership, support and funding to help affiliates build more 

energy-efficient homes and to save partner families thousands 

of dollars every year. 

By reducing the utility costs associated with homeownership, 

HFHC is hoping to prevent low-income families from facing 

what is known as “energy poverty.” 

With the support of organizations such as RBC Foundation – 

a founding member of HFHC’s environmental program – 

Habitat affiliates have already completed a number of green, 

affordable housing projects. 

RBC has been involved with HFHC since 1992, providing 

more than $2.5 million for home building needs in Canada, 

with RBC employees involved in Habitat for Humanity 

projects in over 40 communities nationwide. 

“We believe our success is tightly interwoven with the 

economic and social well-being of the communities in which 

we do business,” says Shari Austin, Vice-President and Head 

of Corporate Citizenship, RBC Foundation. 

There are more than 13 million homes in Canada with 

17 per cent of the energy consumed across the country being 

used to run them. But certified energy-efficient homes, such 

as ENERGY STAR homes, are 25 to 30 per cent more energy 

efficient than houses built to today’s building-code standards. 

In addition, energy efficient homes can reduce greenhouse 

gas emissions by up to three tonnes a year and reduce 

homeowner costs by up to 30 per cent. 

Last year alone, RBC helped 17 Habitat for Humanity affiliates 

adopt more environmentally sustainable building practices, 

reducing CO 2 emissions by approximately 380 tonnes per year. 

As well, seven affiliates undertook their first home(s) that 

were built to recognized sustainable building standards. RBC’s 

continued support will continue this legacy. 

Green Building at the Street Level: 

Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg’s Sir 

Sam Steele Housing Development 

Currently on the second phase of the Sir Sam Steele 

housing development, Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg’s 

Integrated Project Team has built about a third of the 

development’s 32 energy-efficient homes that will be 

completed by the end of 2011. 

All homes will be constructed to the Manitoba Hydro 

standard, but will also meet Leadership in Energy and 

Environmental Design (LEED ® ) Gold standards, with 

the potential to achieve the highest LEED ® standard 

possible, Platinum. 

“The energy and water efficiency of all these homes 

not only makes them environmentally friendly, but 

also more affordable by reducing the daily living costs 

for our hardworking families,” says Sandy Hopkins, 

CEO of Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg. 

HFHC and its affiliates have shown that responsible and 

sustainable building, in compliance with the most stringent 

green-building standards in Canada, can be achieved by 

affordable home builders. Green building is not just for 

the high-end, custom homes anymore. 

“As Director of Building Services for Habitat for 

Humanity Canada, green building is a very important 

focus for me, as I am convinced that not only will more 

families find more affordable housing solutions, Habitat 

for Humanity affiliates will gain stronger support over 

the long term, greater capacity to deliver on programs 

and also gain greater respect in their community,” 

says Terry Petkau. 

14 The Habitat spirit Fall/Winter 2010


2010 

Humanity Canada: 

Award 

Winners 

2010 

National 

Volunteer 

of the Year 

Award: 

Garnet 

Crossman 

A Real Gem Of A Volunteer! 

Much like the gem with whom he shares 

his name, Garnet Crossman is a much 

sought-after, resilient, and of course, 

brilliant addition to the Habitat for 

Humanity Toronto volunteer team! 

As the recipient of the Habitat for 

Humanity Canada (HFHC) 2010 

National Volunteer of the Year Award, 

Garnet is one of those unsung heroes 

that organizations such as Habitat for 

Humanity Toronto couldn’t survive 

without. He began volunteering with 

Habitat for Humanity Toronto in 

1998 and since then has proven to be 

an unassuming, yet tireless, life-force. 

Customer Satisfaction Ensured 

For the past 12 years, Garnet has been a 

quiet, dependable and dedicated volunteer 

at the Toronto ReStore. At the age of 75, 

he works one day a week, making himself 

available when the store needs him and 

often covering shifts whenever the store is 

short-staffed. Garnet arrives early, stays 

late and always ensures that customers are 

satisfied with their ReStore experience. 

The consistency and reliability Garnet 

provides makes him a one-of-a-kind 

volunteer and reflects his dedication and 

enthusiasm towards the cause. 

Here And Abroad 

As if his involvement with Habitat for 

Humanity in Canada was not enough, 

Garnet’s devotion has led him to volunteer 

for the organization internationally. He 

has participated in both a Global Village 

Build and a Jimmy Carter Work Project, 

building homes and hope in South Africa 

and Hungary. Following his travels, Garnet 

was delighted to share his experiences with 

schools, colleges, community groups and 

bystanders alike through outreach 

presentations and word-of-mouth. 

With his typical humility, Garnet feels 

very humbled to accept the 2010 HFHC 

National Volunteer of The Year Award. 

Congratulations, Garnet! 

2010 

Kenneth 

J. Meinert 

Leadership 

Award: 

Vern 

Coop 

Interested in 

Volunteering? 

Visit habitat.ca and click 

‘Local Affiliate Offices’ 

to find your nearest affiliate. 

To volunteer internationally, 

go to ‘Global Village 

Program’ under 

‘Our Programs’. 

We Can All Learn From Vern 

As a selfless and dedicated advocate for 

Habitat for Humanity for over 17 years, 

Vern Koop has been awarded the 2010 

Kenneth J. Meinert Leadership Award. 

The award is named after the volunteer 

Director of the Habitat for Humanity 

Canada (HFHC) Foundation. 

Vern’s commitment to assisting families 

in need with affordable housing has 

been called “unparalleled in Habitat 

Winnipeg’s 23 year history”. 

During his time working with Habitat 

for Humanity Winnipeg as volunteer 

Director of Construction, Vern has 

distinguished himself for his kind and 

unassuming nature. He is especially 

patient with new homeowners, 

answering their questions and providing 

encouragement. Vern believes strongly 

in giving Habitat for Humanity 

homeowners the tools they need to 

succeed…“if you give a man a fish, you 

feed him for one day. If you teach a 

man to fish, you feed him for life.” 

Committed to the Global Mission 

While dedicated to the Winnipeg affiliate, 

Vern has demonstrated his commitment 

to Habitat’s global mission through builds 

across the country and beyond – including 

St. John’s, Newfoundland, Americus, 

Georgia and Jamaica, as well as on Jimmy 

& Rosalynn Carter Work Projects in 

Hungary and Eagle Butte, South Dakota. 

He was also tremendously involved in 

the 1998 flood relief efforts following 

the “Flood of the Century” in Ste. Anne’s, 

Manitoba, as well as in important rebuilding 

efforts following Hurricane Katrina. 

Way to Go, Vern! 

Vern’s caring nature is also apparent 

through his foster parenting (along 

with wife Agnes) of 29 children, including 

many special needs children, all while 

raising his own three children. 

Congratulations, Vern, on receiving this 

important leadership award. Your selfless 

and passionate nature is an excellent 

reflection of HFHC! 


CreativeDrive 

CIPH Encourages 

Creativity in 

Member 

Fundraising 

by Offering 

CIPH Building 

Hope Trophy 

“CIPH members should 

be very proud of their 

association’s amazing 

contributions to Habitat for 

Humanity Canada – 

together our association is 

truly making a difference 

for many Canadian families 

in need of safe, decent 

and affordable housing” 

The 4th Annual CIPH Habitat 

for Humanity Week 

September 12th to 18th, 2010, marked 

the 4th Annual Canadian Institute 

of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) 

Habitat for Humanity Week, a week 

used by CIPH’s member companies 

to fundraise for Habitat for Humanity 

Canada (HFHC). Following each 

CIPH Habitat for Humanity Week, 

CIPH awards their Building Hope 

Trophy to the member or members 

that plan and execute the most 

creative fundraising initiative. 

CIPH members Sean Giberson 

(Taco Canada Ltd.), Jeff House 

(Jess-Don Dunford Limited) and 

Simon Blake (Plumbing & HVAC) 

answered CIPH’s call for creative 

fundraisers this year by organizing 

the first ever CIPH Ride for Habitat, 

a 166 km motorcycle ride that 

saw participants travel from Vaughn, 

Ont., to Newmarket by way of 

Brampton and Orangeville. 

“We had a great ride. The weather was 

fantastic, we had more than 30 riders, 

and we managed to raise more than 

$5,000 for Habitat for Humanity Canada. 

It was a great way to spend a Sunday,” 

said Sean Giberson, Taco Canada Ltd. 

To date, the 4th CIPH Habitat for 

Humanity Week has raised over $35,000 

for HFHC’s home building activities. 

Since CIPH began their partnership 

with HFHC in 1994, they have 

contributed over $6.3 million in cash 

and product donations. 

Support Fair Trade and 


Canada by Shopping at 

Ten Thousand Villages 

Between November 26th 

and December 12th 

Fruits & Passion Helping 

Make the Holidays Brighter 

for Habitat Families 

Purchase Cucina Arancia Dolce Purifying 

Hand Wash and Support Habitat 

This holiday season, Canadian retailer Fruits & Passion will continue 

their longstanding support of Habitat for Humanity Canada (HFHC) 

through sales of their Cucina Arancia Dolce Purifying Hand Wash. 

This limited edition product will be available at Fruits & Passion 

Boutiques across Canada during the months of November and 

December at the special reduced price of $8.50 – with every 

in-store purchase. 

Supporting Habitat Since 2003 

For the eighth consecutive year, Fruits & Passion will raise funds on behalf of HFHC by 

offering consumers a wonderful product that will support Habitat’s home building 

activities in Canada. Since 2003, Fruits & Passion has donated over $250,000 to HFHC 

through its seasonal product sales. Their goal this year is to raise an additional $45,000. 

– Charity Committee Chairman, 

John Hammill (Moen). 

CIPH, Also Working for a World 

Where Everyone has a Safe 

and Decent Place to Live 

CIPH is a non-profit trade association. Founded 

in 1933, the Association represents the interests 

of over 350 companies that manufacture, sell, 

and distribute plumbing, hydronic heating, PVF and 

waterworks products and services. By partnering 

with HFHC, CIPH is taking a hands-on, active 

approach to improving our Canadian communities. 

Over the past 16 years, CIPH has supported HFHC 

through the provision of monetary, in-kind and 

volunteer resources. 

PHOTO: Mechanical Business Magazine 

Ten Thousand Villages, Canada’s largest and oldest 

Fair Trade organization, will be celebrating its 

65th anniversary in 2011. To mark this milestone, 

Ten Thousand Villages is kicking off a year long 

partnership with Habitat for Humanity Canada (HFHC). 

The launch begins with a coupon which will direct 

10% of your Ten Thousand Villages purchase to 

HFHC, with no cost to you! 

Use this coupon at any of Ten Thousand Villages’ 

49 stores or online (coupon code: HABITAT2010) 

and help give a hand up to Canadian families in need 

while supporting artisans in developing countries. 

To shop online, find store locations or learn 

more about Ten Thousand Villages, please visit 

www.TenThousandVillages.ca. 

Watch for upcoming opportunities to raise funds 

for HFHC while supporting artisans in developing 

countries through Ten Thousand Villages. 

Offering a wide range of handcrafted home decor, 

personal accessories, food products and much more, 

Ten Thousand Villages is a non-profit retail organization 

that works with artisans and producers who would 

otherwise be unemployed or underemployed, 

providing sustainable income through Fair Trade. 

This income helps pay for food, education, health 

care and housing. Thousands of volunteers in Canada 

and the United States work with Ten Thousand Villages 

in their home communities. 


To donate, participate or advocate visit www.habitat.ca 19

spirit 

THE HABITAT 


upholds the highest standards of 

accountability and transparency. 

Our reputation is our most important 

asset, and maintaining strong and 

open relations with our supporters 

is a top priority. 

For this reason, Habitat for Humanity Canada 

is one of Imagine Canada’s Ethical Code 

Program participants, meaning that we commit 

to the guidelines set in Imagine Canada’s 

Ethical Fundraising and Financial Accountability 

Code. For more information, please visit 

imaginecanada.ca.

THE HABITAT - Habitat for Humanity Canada

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