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
dwell
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
Habitat for Humanity
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
Habitat for Humanity
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
Habitat for Humanity Canada
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
dwell
Habitat for Humanity Canada
News & Views
Dates marked by
Habitat for Humanity Canada
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
Habitat for Humanity Canada
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.
4 The Habitat spirit Fall/Winter 2010 To donate, participate or advocate visit www.habitat.ca 5
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
Habitat for
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
8 The Habitat spirit Fall/Winter 2010 To donate, participate or advocate visit www.habitat.ca 9
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
10 The Habitat spirit Fall/Winter 2010
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
Habitat for Humanity
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
Habitat for Humanity Canada
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.
12 The Habitat spirit Fall/Winter 2010 To donate, participate or advocate visit www.habitat.ca 13
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
Habitat for
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!
16 The Habitat spirit Fall/Winter 2010 To donate, participate or advocate visit www.habitat.ca 17
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
Habitat for Humanity
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.
18 The Habitat spirit Fall/Winter 2010
To donate, participate or advocate visit www.habitat.ca 19
spirit
THE HABITAT
Habitat for Humanity Canada
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.
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