dwell <strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Humanity</strong> <strong>Canada</strong> News & Views dwell 2011: A Year of <strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Humanity</strong> Anniversaries RESTORE 20TH ANNIVERSARY This year marks several anniversaries of <strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Humanity</strong> in <strong>Canada</strong>, 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 <strong>Canada</strong>, 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 <strong>for</strong> <strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Humanity</strong>’s homebuilding ef<strong>for</strong>ts in <strong>Canada</strong>. 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, <strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Humanity</strong> PEI is going to spend it with its friends doing what it loves – building homes <strong>for</strong> families!... You’re invited to one of the biggest parties in PEI this year. Come help us celebrate!” – Susan Zambonin, Executive Director, <strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Humanity</strong> PEI For their 15th year, <strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Humanity</strong> PEI plans to build five homes, providing homeownership to 34 PEI residents currently living in substandard housing. HAMILTON 20TH ANNIVERSARY “<strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Humanity</strong> Hamilton is looking <strong>for</strong>ward 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 <strong>for</strong>ward 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, <strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Humanity</strong> Hamilton This year has already seen <strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Humanity</strong> Hamilton dedicate four homes, setting in motion a trans<strong>for</strong>mation that will impact the lives of four partner families <strong>for</strong> 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, <strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Humanity</strong> 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 <strong>Habitat</strong> program in Edmonton twenty years ago. These folks set the foundation <strong>for</strong> us to be able to reach our current goal of serving 100 partner families each and every year by 2012.” – Alfred Nikolai, President & CEO, <strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Humanity</strong> Edmonton <strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Humanity</strong> 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. <strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Humanity</strong> Edmonton celebrated its 20th anniversary with their second annual <strong>Habitat</strong> Day in the Capital Region, a campaign that saw five builders each donate a home to the affiliate. Governor General of <strong>Canada</strong> Puts Hammer to Nails On January 14th, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of <strong>Canada</strong>, visited <strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Humanity</strong> Toronto’s William’s Way build site to lend a helping hand and mark his acceptance of vice-regal patronage of <strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Humanity</strong> <strong>Canada</strong> (HFHC). His Excellency arrived at the site eager to build, despite the day’s frigid temperatures. After meeting several <strong>Habitat</strong> 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 <strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Humanity</strong> Toronto, addressed the crowd in attendance, thanking them <strong>for</strong> 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 af<strong>for</strong>dable shelter to 96 women, men and children currently living in substandard housing in Toronto. The build is also the site of <strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Humanity</strong>’s first solar-panel technology homes in <strong>Canada</strong>, 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 <strong>Canada</strong>, 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 af<strong>for</strong>dable housing in <strong>Canada</strong>, and will further <strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Humanity</strong> <strong>Canada</strong>’s work in breaking the cycle of poverty <strong>for</strong> Canadian families. “The enthusiasm and support already expressed <strong>for</strong> our cause by His Excellency truly has been remarkable,” said Hardacre. “I want to thank the Governor General <strong>for</strong> his endorsement of our work and encouragement of our ef<strong>for</strong>ts, and welcome him to the <strong>Habitat</strong> 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 <strong>Canada</strong>’s af<strong>for</strong>dable 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 <strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Humanity</strong>. The Home Depot <strong>Canada</strong> Foundation will match the amount raised by the top per<strong>for</strong>ming district. Visit habitat.ca <strong>for</strong> participating stores. 20 11 4 <strong>THE</strong> <strong>HABITAT</strong> SPIRIT Spring/Summer 2011 To donate, participate or advocate visit www.habitat.ca 5