North Island Gazette, January 20, 2016

Page 1

Publications Mail Agreement No. 391275

51st Year No. 03

January 20, 2016

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NORTH ISLAND

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•MP VISITS...

MP Rachel Blaney visited the North Island last week. Page 5

• NIC NEWS...

Caitlin Hartnett is the new campus community coordinator. Page 9

Surveying the Realm

Neil Borecky Photo

Parkie Doug Sterns is a Nunavet Park Ranger who migrates south to Mount Cain in the winter. The Mount Cain Alpine Society is gearing up for the Cain Cup this weekend with the best snow conditions in four years. See story in Sports.

•ON TOP ...

The Midget Eagles finished first in the Division 3 league. Page 13 OPINION Page 4 ENTERTAINMENT Page 11 SPORTS Page 13-17 CLASSIFIEDS Page 18-19

Habitat home on the horizon?

By Kathy O’Reilly-Taylor Editor A Habitat for Humanity home could be built on the North Island. Representatives from Vancouver Island North Habitat for Humanity, Tom Beshr and Pat McKenna, appeared as a delegation at the District of Port Hardy regular council meeting Jan. 12 to talk about the program. Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), is an international, non-governmental, and non-profit organization, which was founded ■ ■ ■ ■

in 1976. “One of the common misconceptions is that people think we give away free houses,” said McKenna. That is not the case. “We sell our houses to our families.” Each house is built using volunteer labour, and each homeowner must complete 500 hours of ‘sweat equity’ in lieu of a cash down payment. “It’s quite a commitment,” McKenna said. The target group is those that earn between

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$20,000 and $40,000 a year, he said. The mortgage is interest free, “which really keeps the costs down.” The program is a hand up, not a hand out, with a goal of breaking the cycle of poverty. Studies have shown that it “really gives a hand up to the child as well,” McKenna said. In order to fund expenses for the builds on the North Island, Habitat for Humanity has two ReStore Donation Centres in Campbell River and Courtenay. See page 3

‘Pilot projects...’

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