Welcome Home Magazine - Pembroke Build 2014

WELCOME HOME

1543 Pembroke Drive, Oakville

ONE FAMILY. ONE NEIGHBOURHOOD. ONE COMMUNITY.

MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR “With your help, 1543 Pembroke Drive is now a part of this vibrant and welcoming neighbourhood, and for that we are incredibly grateful.”

After many days, weeks and months of hard work from hundreds of volunteers, sponsors, community members, corporate partners and our partner family, we are excited to present the keys to a new home at 1543 Pembroke Drive to a deserving family. To Christine, Curtis, Samantha and Madison, on behalf of everyone who has helped make this possible, welcome home.

Many of us take the word “home” for granted. But as prosperous as our region of Halton is, the fact remains that access to affordable home ownership in the area is becoming increasingly challenging for many hard working families like Christine’s. At Habitat for Humanity Halton, we believe that every family deserves an affordable place to live and we know that access to safe, decent and affordable housing is critical to making our communities healthy and livable for everyone. It is this belief that drives us to continue to help families build and own their own homes, working to end the cycle of poverty and making lasting, positive impacts on families, especially children, now and for generations to come.

No Habitat home is built without the support of a legion of selfless, compassionate, loving and generous men and women. From volunteers to community members and

corporate partners, to municipal government officials who support our projects, Halton Region continues to show its commitment to being one of the best places to live, work and raise families. And, for us, every level of support - from the time and effort required to acquire a property to the groundbreaking ceremony, to the first nail struck and brick laid, to the volunteers and sponsors who provide lunch and coffee for our crew members, to the partner families who volunteer a minimum of 500 hours of sweat equity - brings us closer to the finish line, presenting keys to a new home owner.

The project on Pembroke Drive experienced its fair share of ups and downs including setbacks due to a very cold winter and triumphs (the electrical wiring and roof were completed thanks to two generous partners whose help prevented our build from falling way behind). We also couldn’t have got the job done without our two main home sponsors, Genworth Canada and the Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board (OMDREB).

So again, welcome Christine to your new home. We know that you will fit right into this neighbourhood and that you will continue to pay it forward by helping other families realize their home ownership dreams.

We wish to thank the volunteers, crew leaders, architects and surveyors, corporate sponsors and donors, staff of Habitat Halton, Oakville Mayor Rob Burton, Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr, the neighbours of Pembroke Drive, and of course, Christine and her children for helping to build this fantastic family home.

ONE FAMILY. ONE NEIGHBOURHOOD. ONE COMMUNITY. WELCOME HOME. Hugh Hyndman John Gerrard Board Chair Executive Director Habitat for Humanity Halton Habitat for Humanity Halton 2

CONTENTS Rod McDonald, Volunteer Finding and then aquiring a suitable property for a Habitat home is not always an easy task. It can take months, even years. So when Rod McDonald, a realtor and volunteer on Habitat Halton’s Property Development Committee learned about the Oakville property on Pembroke Drive, he knew it was a perfect site for a new Habitat home.

After nearly three years of fact finding, negotiating and following up, the property was finally donated to Habitat by the Federal Government of Canada (Federal Surplus Lands Department). Thanks to Rod’s perseverence and expertise, 1543 Pembroke Drive is now home for a deserving Oakville family.

Thank you Rod!

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INTRODUCING OUR NEW PARTNER FAMILY: Christine, Curtis, Samantha and Madison YOUR HELP HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE Celebrate our community partners and volunteers THE MEANING OF HOME Genworth Canada Contest helps kids support Habitat for Humanity BUILT BY DESIGN From the site plans to the interior and exterior design, ensuring our new homes fit right into the community HIGHLIGHTS A look back at the Pembroke Drive build CONGRATULATIONS From the Halton Region Chair, Oakville Mayor and Oakville Councillors THANK YOU A special message from Samantha, Curtis and Madison

CREDITS: Writers: Nneka Onwualu and Victoria Skalin Editors: Deborah Everest-Hill , Roy Campbell and Baillie Halcovitch Graphic Designer: Andreina Camejo Photo Credits: Jamie Buisman, Maude Leger and Kelvin Chan Staff Marketing & Communications Manager, Habitat for Humanity Halton: Angela Goldrup 3

Introducing our partner family: Christine, Curtis, Samantha and Madison

ELCO HOM

For Christine De Koning and her family, Habitat for Humanity Halton has helped to make the dream of home ownership a reality. And for this mother of three who has called Oakville home for nearly two decades, the help could not have come at a better time.

“In the last ten years, my family and I had moved six times. I was living with a friend as rent was too high for me to maintain my own home along with my other bills,” says Christine.

Christine first became involved with Habitat for Humanity Halton four years ago when she applied to be a home ownership partner. She was later contacted by Habitat Halton and placed on the waiting list after a few routine procedures.

“It took three years but Habitat for Humanity Halton called me in the summer of 2013 and told me that I would have a new Oakville home,” she says.

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Thanks to Habitat, Christine, along with her teen-aged children Samantha, Curtis and Madison, have a bright future to look forward to. “Now we have long-term goals, which we hadn’t been able to make before,” she explains. “It’s very reassuring knowing that we finally have a house that is safe and that we can finally call our own.”

As with all Habitat home owners, Habitat for Humanity doesn’t provide a handout to the families, but rather a hand-up. Recipient families purchase their homes through an interest-free, no-profit mortgage held by Habitat Halton. Payments are adjusted to, but never exceed, 30 per cent of a family’s income.

“We have a unique, ‘give them a hand-up’ approach where the family commits to putting in 500 hours of sweat equity. We, in turn, provide them with a nointerest, no-profit mortgage on the fair market value

OME ME

By Victoria Skalin

of this home,” explains Hugh Hyndman, Habitat for Humanity Halton Board Chair.

Christine not only put in 500 hours of sweat equity to help build her dream home, she will also continue to volunteer to help build future Habitat homes. This commitment ensures that everyone continues to help others in the same position that they have experienced.

“I’ve become more aware of other families who are in similar situations as myself. It’s nice to be able to relate and bond with these families and to let them know that they are not the only ones out there struggling,” says Christine, “Habitat gives you the opportunity to get to the next level in your life that you never thought you could reach. I will continue to be a part of volunteering for Habitat for Humanity Halton well after I’ve moved into my new home.”

“Christine, Curtis, Samantha and Madison can now appreciate and enjoy living in and looking after their new home. We are proud to present this deserving family with the keys to their new home and to celebrate the lasting impact of this new home for one family, one neighbourhood and one community.” - Habitat for Humanity Halton Executive Director, John Gerrard.

While Halton is an amazing community in which to live, work and raise a family, many families in Halton are finding it difficult to make ends meet. In fact, according to Halton Region, there are over 4,000 families in the area who are in need of affordable housing options to be able to remain engaged in the community and live within their means.

By helping families like Christine’s, Habitat is helping to break the cycle of poverty and improve lives.

The impact it’s had on Christine’s children has been evident from the very beginning. “Since teaming up with Habitat for Humanity Halton, my family has had something to look forward to. It gave us a spring in our step, you know? I saw more smiles on their faces since the beginning of this process than I saw all of last year put together. I can’t thank you enough.”

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YOUR HELP HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE The names of individuals and organizations on this list share something in common. Like Habitat for Humanity Halton, they believe in a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. We are grateful for the support of these community partners; whether it is through cash, sponsorship, corporate team build days, ReStore donations and/or gifts in kind, their investments are helping to make Halton Region a stronger, more vibrant community.

On behalf of our partner family at Pembroke Drive, Habitat for Humanity Halton offers a heartfelt thank you for helping to make their dream of home ownership a reality. We salute you for your commitment to our community and welcome your on-going participation.

THANK YOU OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS* Kerri Aarts A1 Air Conditioning and Heating AGF Access/Steeplejack Services AKR Cabinet and Granite ALS Canada Ltd. AMJ Campbell AON Atlantic Masonry Ausenco Brenda Ballantyne Bernardi’s Building Supply Elaine Bernier Big Mike Landscape Design Born to Clean George Bortolato Boston Pizza Brampton Brick Ltd. Andre Breberina Eileen Burleigh Burlington Heating Trudy Cameron Caterpillar Financial Chantler Environmental Clarkway Construction Ltd. Classic Towing Closet Envy Cogeco Cable 6

Nancy Collins Warren Crowder Complete HVAC Design Complete Roofing Corporate Traveller John E Crowther Cumis Kelly Davidson Deker Electric Ltd. Steve Dunlop Bradley Elberg Electrical Safety Authority Encore Market Management Etobicoke Rentals Evangel Pentecostal Church Extreme Pita FlexLink Systems Canada Inc. Form and Build Supply Freedom 55 Tod Gelinas Lorie Gelsheimer Gentek Building Products Genworth Canada Gilbert Plumbing and Heating Brenda Gosse Government of Canada (Federal Surplus Lands)

Greyson Construction Tom Hallman Halton Rebar Hamilton Builder’s Supply Hamilton Equipment Rental Centre Hanson Brick Home Depot Foundation Home Lighting, Burlington HTT Signs Ltd. Hub International JAN Kelley Marketing Jet Inc. Ani Jones Joseph Haulage Canada Corp.

Richard Kopanke KNY Architects L-3 Wescam L.J. Barton Mechanical Inc. Lakeshore Roofing & Eavestroughing Lee Rocca Forming Ltd. Levitt-Safety Anita Lewis Lowe’s Canada (Appleby Line) Roberto Luison M & G Steel Maiella Contracting Ltd.

Maple Environmental Maple Hill Tree Services Carolyn Marczynski Mark’s Work Wearhouse Peter Marshall Mark McDonald Debby McEwan Tina Mcgrath Metroland Media Modern Crane Monastery Montfort Grill House MTE Consultants Munn’s United Church Louis Murray Monica Nagasuye Kim Narine Nelson Aggregate Neon Films Newalta Corporation Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board (OMDREB) Opal Bath & Kitchens Michael Sean Pelette Donald Pickthall Ken Pickthall Kenneth Pickthall

Adrienne Pitre Lance Pocock Pumpcrete Corporation Quality Kitchens RAHB RBC Mississauga Real Estate Book (the) Rehau Industries Andrea Renzella Roxul Inc. RS Electrical Supplies Sealed Air Sherwin Williams Paint Store Shipway Stairs Kevin Silver Johannah Sokic Speers Flooring St. Johns, Oakville Starbucks, Oakville Stephenson’s Rental Subway Super Save Fence Rentals Inc. Alain Tadros Tamarack Lumber Inc. Tapworks Kitchen and Bath Ltd. Terrafix Thomson Metals and Disposals Brianna Thornborrow - Arborist Troy’s BBQ Turtle Jacks TV Cogeco Van Beek’s Garden Supplies Robert Van Slyck Brian Vanstone Wardco Windows and Doors Manufacturing Inc. Weather Network (the) Ian Wells Whirlpool Whole Foods Clay Williams Williams Cafe, Oakville Williams Scotsman Wine Rack *Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list and we apologize for any errors or omissions. Please let us know if you would like to be recognized in future publications. Thank you.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS Thank you to our two main sponsors: The Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board (OMDREB), and Genworth Canada for their generous gifts of $50,000 each to make the Pembroke Drive build possible. Genworth Canada employees also volunteered their time alongside the family during the building phase.

Hewitt client manager and owner of Pinnacle Posts and Columns, donated a high-strength, light-weight post to the project’s building materials. Thank you for your support.

Humanity Halton thanks MTE for their support on our build project surveys and excavations since 2013.

Thank you to our major sponsors

Clarkway Construction provided an urgently needed excavator operator for our Oakville build site.

If it wasn’t for Clarkway Construction, we would The build, which began on have had to stop our March 3, suffered several entire excavation. delays due to inclement weather. To help us make Employees from the home move-in-ready, Caterpillar gave us a several Deker Electric helping hand installing employees came in floor joists and laying the on a day off in May to plywood sub-floor. help finish preliminary wiring. The same month, Nearly two dozen Complete Roofing Metroland Media finished shingling the employees from across entire roof. Thanks to all departments, both of these generous including editorial, sponsors, we were able to circulation, advertising stay on schedule. and production donned work boots, hard hats, AON Hewitt’s Global and Habitat t-shirts on Service Day was a great a bright and early April success for the build morning to help finish the site. On June 12, thirty sub-flooring of the threeAON Hewitt employees bedroom bungalow. donned helmets and picked up hammers MTE Consultants at the Pembroke Drive provides services in build site. In addition to the fields of civil and CLARKWAY CONSTRUCTION donating their time and structural engineering, JOSEPH HAULAGE energy, the company building and MAIELLA CONTRACTING contributed $10,000 to the environmental science, QUALITY KITCHENS build site, while Dominic toxicology, and land SEALED AIR DiClemente, an AON surveying. Habitat for 7

THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS* To all of our volunteers, thank you for opening your hearts, giving of your time, and for helping us continue to build safe and affordable homes for families in need. Together, we provide life-changing experiences for both those in need and those who help. Thank you!

Crew Members Cyrus Azarcon Allen Baard Babak Bakhtari Peter Baronowsky Amir Bassirinejad Jennifer Bax Daniel Bider Ron Board Karan Boparai Heather Brooks Anthony Brosky Colter Browes Kim Catalano Robert Catani Tony Corrie John Cronin Joe Davis Jennifer De Feo Christine De Koning Gerrit De Koning Kim De Koning Mark De Koning Danielle De Sousa Gina D’Errico Carmen Didiano Cynthia Dobie William Dobie Curtis Drexler Samantha Drexler Thomas Dugard Tim Duggan Alexander Fujiwara *Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list and we apologize for any errors or omissions. Please let us know if you would like to be recognized in future publications. Thank you.

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Nicholas Fujiwara Ron Ganis Eric Glibbery Brandon Gowers Aaron Heyland Justin Hii Adrian Johnson Kathy Jones Diana Josey Steven Kerr Samnang Kim Alexander Klusek Oktay Koc Gregory Kruzel Maude Leger Jonathan Long Tracey McKinley Sherriden Mclelland Meeting House Faris Mumtaz Justin Myers Pinremola Olufemi Walter Pehora Louis Pennachetti Randy Price Patti Quigley Brinderjit Rai Bruce Randall Edward Regan Paul Riddolls Kimberley Rowledge-Nixon Jill Rudderham Praimnath Sankar Shaarei Beth-El Congregation Bruce Smith Dan Smith Dave Soock Zoran Stanic Mario Toupin Herman Voss

Doug Wade Colleen Weber Louise Wilson

Crew Leaders Donald Arsenault Erik Bartos Guillaume Boulanger Darlene Braxton Kimberley Catalano Andrzej Chrzaszcz Colette Cummings Gail Davenport Thomas Dugard Tim Duggan Laszlo Erdosy John Farquharson Ron Ganis Simon Gazzola Eric Glibbery Beata Goodrich Brandon Gowers Jamie Graham Michael Kaptein Gregory Kruzel Naomi Kubota Jonathan Long Tom McFadden Jeff Nugent Leandro Pedra Barry Quartermaine Joseph Riczu Hoa Truong Trevor Van Arragon Brian Vella Jonathan Wahab Alivia Walker Ulrich Wickardt Irfan Yassar

Hospitality volunteers Paul Basha Wendy Belcher Deborah Castracane Beverley Davis Jessica Davis Gerrit De Koning Dwayne Doerr Barbara Irwin Margaret Lee Samantha Lloyd Robyn Michell Faris Mumtaz Jaclyn Peluso Edith Pulido Brinderjit Rai Bruce Randall Praimnath Sankar Philip Spink

A good neighbour is a priceless treasure.” – Chinese proverb.

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY

Being welcomed by neighbours matters a great deal to partner families who are moving into a new home in a new neighbourhood.

That’s why Habitat for Humanity Halton wishes to thank Carol, one of Pembroke Drive’s most lovely and welcoming neighbours.

Throughout the entire build project, Carol was very patient, understanding and co-operative, especially during construction

and the installation of fencing.

Carol had lived right next door to the property for many years without a neighbour to the north of her in this already wellestablished neighbourhood. But right from the start, the partner family felt Carol’s warmth and was delighted when she made a point of attending the groundbreaking ceremony last year. Thank you, Carol!

Brandon

Jon (on the left)

Tom and Jenny

Christine’s Construction Crew

We wish to give a special thank you to some of our very special volunteers for their tremendous spirit and dedication in helping make the Pembroke Drive home a reality:

Darlene was promoted to crew leader for her efforts. Thank you Brandon, for traveling by bus from Burlington and for your eagerness to learn and help anyone in need.

Thanks to Darlene for always having a smile on your face and for your contagious positive attitude.

knowledgeable and patient help with crew members and volunteers was invaluable.

to work and build a home for our partner family.

Darlene and Brandon are new to Habitat Halton this year.

Both volunteers contributed an incredible amount of hours towards the Pembroke Drive build from start to finish, with Darlene working 24 shifts and Brandon working 62 shifts. Brandon developed his crew leading skills throughout the project and Darlene

Everyone on site loved when our frequent mascot, Jazz, visited the site, even when stealing food from our crew members!

Tom, aka The Real Deal Santa, always surprised us with gifts of tools and materials or candy paid for out of his own pocket. A veteran of Habitat builds, Tom’s incredible expertise was a great asset to the Pembroke Drive build.

Thank you to Jon, our gentle giant and crew leader. His

We always knew that when brother and sister dynamic duo, Heather and Randy, were on site we were going to get a lot done.

These siblings were always eager

Jon Crew

Heather and Randy

This build was always fun when Christine’s Construction Crew was on site. Made of family and friends, the team would come on weekends to build the home.

Priam, both a hospitality and crew member since the beginning, was dedicated to helping others as well as on the build in any way possible.

Jenny, also a ReStore volunteer, always joked yet was one of the hardest workers on site.

Priam

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SHELTER. COMFORT. FAMILY.

Genworth Canada helps kids support Habitat for Humanity by celebrating the meaning of home

“Through Genworth Canada’s The Meaning of Home contest, students like Arvin and Denver are able to help Habitat for Humanity family partners experience the joy, security and comfort that a safe, decent and affordable home provides.” - John Gerrard, Executive Director Habitat for Humanity Halton

Since 2007, Genworth Canada has held The Meaning of Home contest in which students in Grades 4-6 from across Canada are invited to submit a written essay or poem about what home means. Contest winners have a chance to allocate a total of $60,000 in awards to benefit Habitat builds throughout Canada.

In 2012, Denver Winch, a Grade 5 Oakville student at Rotherglen Oakville Elementary Campus, was one of five runners up in the annual contest. Denver chose Habitat for Humanity Halton as the beneficiary of his $5,000 award.

In 2013, Arvin Bal, a Grade 6 Oakville student at Heritage Glen Public School, was the first place winner. Arvin’s poem was chosen among more than 7,000 entries from all parts of Canada. Like Denver, Arvin chose to direct his $60,000 winnings to Habitat for Humanity Halton.

Both Denver’s and Arvin’s donations went directly towards the Pembroke Drive build with Arvin’s donation covering 50% of the cost for us to build a new home.

Thank you Denver and Arvin and all of the students from schools across Burlington and Oavkille for supporting your community.

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First Place, Genworth Canada writing contest “The Meaning of Home” 2013

Happy Homes for Everyone

By Arvin Bal, Grade 6, Oakville

Seeing all of my friends with iPods was very tough I didn’t think I had enough But when I came home to the warmth of my family I knew that was more than enough for me Some people have nowhere to keep them warm In the middle of a dangerous winter storm Everyone should be an equal The start of every life deserves a sequel This may not happen until a future time And may feel like an endless wall to climb Right now we can give that dream a start Only if we have kind warm hearts Each individual should have a cozy place to spend the night Where they can be sure everything will be alright When somebody feels like all hope is lost They should have a retreat to keep them from the frost This shelter should make unforgettable moments spring Make you so joyful that you’ll just want to sing Where you’ll always feel like a winner And a safe place to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner There is a name for the adjectives listed above That should be treated with lots of love …Home A home is mistaken for just a house A home could be an apartment, a mansion or a hole for a mouse As long as it’s loved by one’s heart and soul It’s a home in a person’s life that plays the greatest role But if it’s not It’s just a building left to rot That makes a potential home a waste Which leaves most people with a bitter aftertaste Because some people have no home for keepsakes to be stored It’s a clear fact that is commonly ignored Since a human’s soul is greater one of a garden gnome Every human should rightfully be entitled to a home

Runner Up, Genworth Canada writing contest “The Meaning of Home” 2012

What is Home?

By Denver Winch, Grade 5, Oakville A dog barking, A splash of kids in the pool, The ding of fresh food ready in the oven, These are the sounds of...

Home!

The smell of smoke of a warm fire, And smell of Thanksgiving dinner on the table, And the smell of mud from your dog.

These are the smells of...

Home!

Playing football in the backyard after dinner, And playing hockey at eight o’clock in the morning, Or jumping into the pool at midnight.

These are memories that you have at...

Home!

Feeling secure and not having to worry, And joyful and happy and a smile that is so big it goes around the world.

These are the feelings of...

Home!

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BUILT BY DESIGN

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SPECIAL THANK YOU TO… TAKING PRIDE IN OUR WORK AND OUR NEIGHBOURHOODS When we build a home, our focus is not just on our partner family; it’s on the whole community. We take care to ensure every home meets the highest quality standards possible and that its style resembles other homes in the neighbourhood.

On every build site, our work is descreet, unobtrusive and low-waste. We keep the construction site clean, safe and enclosed with fencing in accordance with zoning bylaws and permits issued by the municipalities in which we build. Nothing is left behind except beautiful homes built with care and strong community ties.

1543 Pembroke Drive is a 1,200-square-foot, threebedroom brick bungalow fashioned to blend seamlessly into a well-established Oakville neighbourhood.

BUILDING DIFFERENTLY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR PARTNER FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY Today’s Habitat homes are including more interior features than ever before to meet the needs of today’s home owners and to resemble the interior and exterior features of homes in the community.

This ensures that Habitat families and their neighbours feel connected as one big community.

Whirlpool, Corporate Partner Whirlpool has demonstrated its commitment to our community through its partnership with Habitat for Humanity International. Its support began in 1999 with the donation of a range and an ENERGY STAR® qualified refrigerator to every Habitat for Humanity home built in North America through a five-year, $25-million commitment to the organization.

Since then, Whirlpool has donated more than 140,000 appliances globally, an estimated commitment of $78 million.

Through their distribution centre in Milton, Whirlpool is currently donating a fridge and stove for every new Habitat for Humanity Halton build including the new home on Pembroke Drive.

The company has also contributed $100,000 locally. All these numbers continue to grow, demonstrating the company’s commitment to making a difference in the world in which they do business.

On behalf of our partner family, thank you Whirlpool for your generous support and commitment to ensuring our families have topnotch appliances in their new home.

Being a part of the neighbourhood that they call home is important to Habitat partner families.

Supplying the amenities they need is critical. This includes ensuring that each home is equipped with air conditioning, a new fridge, stove, washer, and dryer, and that exterior features like brick and siding, windows, garages, paved driveways and landscaping are designed with the same attention to detail found inside the home.

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THANK 14

K YOU! 15

ELCOME MESSAGES FROM DIGNITARIES On behalf of Regional Council, I am delighted to congratulate Christine, Samantha, Curtis and Madison on their new home in Oakville.

Welcome to Halton Region!

As strong supporters of affordable housing, we appreciate Habitat for Humanity’s efforts to provide safe, decent, affordable housing to wonderful families like this one. The volunteers, sponsors and residents supporting these projects help make Halton a great place to live, work, raise a family and retire.

Gary Carr Regional Chair Regional Muncipality of Halton 16

Christine and family - on behalf of Town Council, we are delighted to welcome you to the Town of Oakville, where newcomers are always welcome and where we cherish our heritage and small town feeling. I encourage you to make the most of both! I’m certain you will join me in thanking the partners, dedicated Habitat for Humanity Halton volunteers and sponsors who helped make your move to our great community possible.

Rob Burton Oakville Mayor

Welome to College Park, an older neighbourhood featuring many great parks and schools, wonderful local merchants, a short trip to the mall, grocery stores nearby and easy access to major transit routes and trails.

We’re diverse in all ways – religion, ethnicity and income – with families young, growing and mature, working together to create a welcoming community, making this the perfect Habitat for Humanity home location.

Oakville is a charming town and College Park – to my mind – is one of its best communities. Congratulations.

I was privileged to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony last summer.

Christine and her family were very excited then and I am sure even more so today.

Welcome home. Welcome to your new home in Oakville.

It was an honour to attend the groundbreaking for your new home and to support the work that Habitat for Humanity Congratulations on your new Halton is doing to provide home, Christine. I wish you families like you with safe, and your family many years of decent and affordable housing. happiness on Pembroke Drive. As you prepare to truly make this new house your home, I And to Habitat Halton, keep extend very best wishes. up the good work! You bring change and hope to many Pam Damoff families. Congratulations.

Oakville Councillor, Ward 2 Alan Johnston Oakville Councillor, Ward 1

Marc Grant Oakville Councillor, Ward 5 17

Halton Region is a beautiful and prosperous area in which to live, work and raise a family but the fact is there are families in Halton who still need our help. Did you know that:

According to a Halton Region report, as of 2011, there were 3,153 people on a waiting list for assisted rental housing. Today, that number has grown to 4,000 families in Halton who are currently in need of affordable housing options to be able to remain engaged in their communities and live within their means.

Halton Hills

The average price of a home in Burlington and Oakville is $400,000 - more than many can afford.

According to Community Development Halton, the number of low-income families living in Halton was 8,700 in 2006 and over 10,000 in 2009 – that’s an alarming 19% jump in low income families in just three years.

Of the 501,699 people in Halton, 8.5% live under the poverty line. That’s 43,000 people.

Milton

Oakville

According to the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association, the number of households on an affordable housing wait list was at an alltime high of 141,635 in 2010. Over 20% of Ontario home owners had housing affordability issues in 2010. In Halton, approximately 2,000 families are on the social housing wait list.

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Burlington

Currently, 1 in 9 children in Ontario lives in poverty. Forty per cent of these children have at least one parent employed full-time yearly.

Poverty isn’t just on the street. Thousands of Halton families live below the poverty line, including families with one or more family member in full-time employment. With your help, we can end this.

When you support Habitat for Humanity’s HomeOwnership Programs, you help to build new hopes and opportunities for hardworking and low-income families throughout Halton.

ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IMPROVES LIVES

Habitat for Humanity has always believed that access to affordable housing improves lives and in 2012, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), with assistance from Habitat Humanity Canada, conducted a Canada-wide survey of Habitat homebuyers that revealed when lower-income families are able to afford a home in a safe neighbourhood, there are clear benefits to their health and wellbeing.

The survey, “Building Families’ Futures and Opportunities Through Habitat Homeownership” found that of the 300+ families surveyed across Canada:

78%

reported improved health, including reduced colds, flu, allergies, asthma symptoms and stress, 31% reported less frequent visits to the doctor, and about 25% reported fewer days of work missed because of illness

89%

said that their family life had improved

Over 80%

identified that having a home that they could call their own gave them a sense of stability

58%

reported that they were better off financially now than before they moved into their Habitat home

Family participation in volunteering increased from 52% to nearly 61%.

This included additional volunteer hours related to involvement with Habitat activities.

65%

86%

reported that they were happier since moving into their Habitat home

said their children’s confidence improved. There were also across-the-board improvements in children’s school performance, behaviour, grades, enjoyment of school and school attendance.

68%

saw increased children’s participation in activities outside of school, including sports, music, arts and volunteering

To learn more about how Habitat helps families, or for the full CMHC family impact report, visit www.habitat.ca.

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM SAMANTHA, CURTIS AND MADISON: Dear volunteers, partners and Habitat Halton, When my two younger siblings and I found out we were getting a new home thanks to Habitat, it almost wasn’t real. So many mixed emotions and questions came to our minds. Once it actually started to hit us that this was real, that this is happening, that we were going to get a new home to start a new journey in, it was like winning the lottery. Not only because of the fact that we were getting a decent home, but because of the smile and excitement in our mother’s eyes. Our mother was always the one to support us and make sure we were okay even when she had to make sacrifices.

Everyone has their own story, but with our’s, we’ve always stuck through things together and risen above our challenges. It meant so much to us to see our mom so happy, to see her get something she really deserved.

Everything happens for a reason; we strongly believe that. And with everything our family has gone through, we are just so appreciative of this opportunity. It’s so much more meaningful that we got to actually build our home, too. We’ve had the chance to write little messages on the bedroom walls or mom’s closet while building the home, saying “I love you, everything is going to be okay” or things like that. It actually makes it a home, our home, one we will remember forever as the beginning of a new chapter in our lives, filled with excitement, happiness, laughter and so much love. We are very blessed.

My brother and sister and I want to thank each and every person who helped with this wonderful journey.

Whether it was actually working hands-on at our home or giving a donation, working in the office or the ReStore, or simply just being there to support the build, you guys are the heroes and the ones who have made this a dream come true. Here’s to all of those dedicated people who believe in this work. You are all so unselfish, caring, patient and loving! Step by step, we all helped one another to build an amazing home for our family and we are so grateful for all your help. Without you, this wouldn’t have happened.

We can say without a shadow of a doubt that this new home is going to positively impact our lives. We’ve put our hearts and soul into this new home and now we’re finally going to feel comfort, security, warmth, and happiness. From all of us, thank you.

Sincerely, Samantha, Curtis and Madison

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A SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR OUR MOM: It’s a wonderful world, but life can also be a series of challenges and hardships. The people who are able to take those challenges and move forward are the ones that really do have a lot of success and joy in their lives and have a lot of good stories, too. Throughout this journey, our mom has been our rock. Without her we’d be lost. Our mom is the compass that guides us and inspires us to reach great heights, our comfort when we occasionally falter and our best friend.

Without her support, we would not have the strength we do right now. We have been blessed with an angel as a mother and we couldn’t ask for anything more.

Together we stand.

We love you, Mommy.

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A HOME TO R

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REMEMBER

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THE TEAMS

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THANK YOU Volunteer.

Donate.

Participate.

CHANGE LIVES. Our ability to assist partner families and provide safe, affordable and decent homes is only achievable through the continued support of our partners and volunteers.

By volunteering, sponsoring and aligning your company, organization or group with any one of Habitat for Humanity’s build programs, you help make a difference in the lives of families in Halton.

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Together, we can build more than just homes; we can build hope and build community. Whether you donate or volunteer there are so many ways to be part of the solution with Habitat for Humanity Halton.

For more information on ways to get involved, please visit habitathalton.ca

Habitat for Humanity Halton 1800 Appleby Line, Unit 10 Burlington, ON L7L 6A1

Habitat for Humanity Halton 1800 Appleby Line, Unit 10 Burlington, ON L7L 6A1 Tel: 905-637-4446 Fax: 905-637-1540 Email: reception@habitathalton.ca www.habitathalton.ca BN#86607 2432 RR0001