On June 20, 2013, the Ottawa Real Estate Board’s REALTORS Care® Committee, a few Directors, and Board staff participated in a Habitat for Humanity Build on Nantes Road in Orleans.
This year, as part of Habitat’s 20th anniversary celebrations, Habitat for Humanity – National Capital Region is building three homes (a bungalow and a double) for three hard-working families. These homes have been specially designed for the community, and with each family in mind.
The day was really rewarding for all those involved. Here are a few comments from those who participated:
“I had an awesome time collaborating with my fellow colleagues and committee members, and doing something like this – helping people less fortunate. The stories were so compelling. What a huge eye opener it was, and what an honour to work alongside so many talented and giving contractors, volunteers, and so on. What a great sense of accomplishment finishing the day and looking back on the walls we framed up and finished. I think if more people knew how easy it was to volunteer and help out, they probably would.” – Dennis Tarrant, Director and Chairman of the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation
“Habitat for Humanity’s motto of ‘helping families with a hand-up not a hand-out’ has always resonated with me. Each family earns their down payment through volunteer hours. As REALTORS®, we help families become home owners in a variety of ways and we strongly believe in the value and pride that home ownership offers. It was a natural fit to become involved with Habitat for Humanity shortly after they came to Ottawa. Our east end offices were involved as a major financial sponsor of a home in the 2002 ‘Ed Schreyer Build Project’ to build eight homes in 10 days! Since then we have partnered with them in different ways. The Orleans Nantes build is an opportunity for nine families over a three-year period to become home owners. Our plan is to contribute financially to three of these homes and donate our time at the builds. I was thrilled to participate in the [Ontario] REALTORS Care® Foundation build day. Working side-by-side with managers, Directors of the Board, sales representatives, and staff, sweating it out in work boots and hard hats, shows clearly that we are all working towards the same goal – home ownership for all!” – Lynne Faucon, Coldwell Banker, endorsing member of Habitat for Humanity
“For all those that have contemplated ‘giving’ – DO volunteer some time for an awesome day at one of the Habitat for Humanity sites. Professional, knowledgeable people on site to guide you through a day of fun, learning, sharing and good exercise! I was astounded at what a difference our volunteers actually made. When I looked around seven hours later and took some good pride in the fact that we had installed all the exterior walls, sills, lintels and headers, framing for the firewall, sheathed the whole thing and finished with vapour barrier all properly taped. Now – that’s a GOOD day’s work!!” – Janie Bilder, Director, Ottawa Real Estate Board
Pictured (left to right): Lynne Faucon, Joe Oneid, Sylvie DesHaies, Dennis Tarrant, John Bennett, Janie Bilder, Sandra Lee Lacroix, Valerie Powell (staff), Ansel Clarke.
