2004 Winter BluePrint

Appreciating Volunteers!

Winter 2004

Roofing Contractors Raise the Roof Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver Office location: 2475 Douglas Road, Burnaby, B.C. Mailing address: P.O. Box 60577 Granville Park, Vancouver, B.C. V6H 4B9 Tel: (604) 681-5618 Fax: (604) 872-0223

Email: habitat1@telus.net www.vancouverhabitat.bc.ca

Inside this issue:

Crystal Decisions Volunteers onsite

Benefit Concert for Habitat 8pm, Saturday April 3rd, 2004

Olivet Baptist Church, 613 Queens Ave, New West

Executive Director Anneke Rees with Brian Hofler of the RCABC

The Roofing Contractors Association of BC have continued their support of the Habitat’s Government Street build as combined sponsors, donors and volunteers.

Starting in Phase One, the RCABC have contributed a total of $25,000 toward construction in financial support and in roofing materials and skilled labour, an incredible savings for Habitat’s families. Thanks to RCABC members, Transwest Roofing, Roofmart Pacific Ltd, Menzies

Metal Products, Raven Plastic Products and JW Wells Consulting Inc., who contributed installation of the roofing, a task of too high a risk for unskilled site volunteers.

In addition, once again the RCABC made Habitat Greater Vancouver the beneficiary of their member’s Annual Holiday Silent Auction. Habitat Board member and Construction Co Chair Wayne Stewart represented Habitat at the auction in December which raised $4,317 for Phase Two Construction.

Thank You RCABC!

Message from the Board of Directors

by Erin Tait and Heather Ross

The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Ms. Anneke Rees joined the Habitat for Humanity Society of Greater Vancouver as Executive Director on November 17, 2003.

Anneke comes to Habitat from the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation where she worked as Director for Individual Giving, with a background in Volunteer Resources for the hospital. Anneke has a Masters Degree in Leadership and Training with more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising and leadership.

The Board at Habitat Greater Vancouver is sure that everyone will join in wishing Anneke much success in her new and exciting role as Executive Director.

Also joining the Habitat team, the Board welcomes David Ma to the ReStore. David will work with manager Tom Riessner as assistant manager.

A Volunteer’s Voice

by Heidi Koole It started simply enough – I really just wanted to do something exciting and worthwhile over spring break.

Through Trinity Western University’s HFH Campus Chapter, I had the opportunity to do exactly that. As a member of a Collegiate Challenge team, I went along with about ten other students to help with construction in Grants Pass, Oregon. It was there that I first contracted, “Habitatitus” The condition intensified throughout my years at TWU as I became more involved in their reading break teams, first as a team leader, then as coordinator of the program. I also had the chance to participate in a Global Village team build in Kenai Alaska over a summer break along with volunteering with HFH Greater Vancouver when my student schedule would allow.

Why so much Habitat you ask?

Because I enjoy it! Through my years of involvement, I have been struck time and again b how great the volunteer experience of working with Habitat is. There is nothing quite like being able to roll up your sleeves and get your hands a little dirty working on a project you know is going to make a world of difference in someone’s life.

Volunteering with HFH has given me the chance to both extend and experience hospitality in ways I never imagined, to learn skills I never thought I could master, to meet people wit amazing stories, to be part of building positive community and so much more.

Now having graduated my case of Habitatitus has brought me into an Americorps VISTA Volunteer position with HFH in Whatcom County. The chance to work more behind the scenes is helping me realize what a huge

role volunteers and donors play in making the work of Habitat possible.

You know those letters you may receive about how, without your service or financial support, the goals of building simple decent affordable housing for those in need would be unreachable? Those letters are absolutely true!

And so I encourage you to get involved and join the team of people who are making a positive impact in the lives of families, both locally and globally. Be a part of providing the needed stepping-stones on the journey towards powerful change in our communities, toward eliminating poverty housing.

God bless you all, and may we never lose site of the fact that through even the smallest blessings we extend to others, we can make a real difference.

Heidi Koole, VISTA Volunteer <><

Appreciation Breakfast Thanks Phase 2 Volunteers

Phase Two houses rise up at 8745 Government Street behind already completed Phase One Construction volunteers recognized at the volunteer breakfast for contributing over 40 hours on site during Phase Two; Paul Gaffney, Terry Probert, Carl Eden, Wayne Stewart, Allan Deby, Colin Gour, Peter Gallacher, Simon Gould, Tony Geisler, Rick McLean, Gerry Green, Chris Coleman, Lutz Holfield, Brian Badger, Phil Manuel, Timo Makinen, Chris McNulty, John Close, Justin Chen, Jag Baines, Brian Gouge, Debbie Abrami, Andrew Wu, Colin Cumming, Julie Holfield, Won Ying Cheung, Jason Randlesome, Ming-Soo Lim, Simon Thorn, Jeff Renwick, Pasi Tontii, Henry Rempel, Jon Currie, Ruwi Colminas, Ariane Herzog, Alexandra Henriques, John Walker, Bill Robinson, Raymond Lavoie.

Habitat Greater Vancouver’s Volunteer Committee held a Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on Saturday November 29th with great success. Thanking all volunteers who have helped in 2003, Past President Heather Ross noted Phase Two is progressing extremely well, but not without the time, commitment and energy of so many volunteers.

Certificates of recognition were awarded to almost 40 volunteers who have already contributed over 40 hours of service to Phase Two. Thanks to Jeffrey Monachello and Starbuck’s for providing coffee, tea and delicious baking in addition to the committee volunteers who organized the event; Jane Davidson, Julie Holfield, Lori Hord, Dalana Rayner, Billy Chan, Stella Weisen, Loree Fagrie, Kathy Ott, Charran Millsip, and committee chair Rochelle Todosichuk.

Additional thanks are to New Life Community Church for allowing the volunteer committee to host the breakfast next door to Habitat’s site before a Saturday build day.

Diplomatic Mission for Housing

Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan with Mrs. Jan Cellucci, ReStore manager Tom Riessner and Habitat Greater Vancouver Executive Director Anneke Rees

Presenting Home Show Volunteers Habitat for Humanity and the ReStore display attracted thousands of people thanks to the dedicated volunteers who created a great presence at the Vancouver Home and Interior Design Show in October 2003 and the Home and Garden Show February 2004. Thanks to DMG World Media, producers of the Home Shows, for their valuable donation of prominent exhibition space to promote Habitat for Humanity and the ReStore.

Habitat is thankful for the efforts of Home Show Volunteers: Doug Ward, Tom Riessner, Anita Boehm, Lori Hord, Kathy Lilyholm, Roger Boychuck, Jennifer Martin, Don Jantzen, Beth Mowat, Tim Mowat, Adrian Archambault, Christine Craik, Jane Davidson, Dalana Rayner, Kathy Ott, Catherine Elliot, Cheryl Reesor, Cathy Assadipour, Lynne Johnston, Connie White, Brian Amouzegar, Won Ying Cheung, Gloria Levi, Jadwiga Potacha, Timo Makinen, Bryce Hearst, Terry Probert, Anne McLellan, Julie Green, Allen McLash, Billy Chan, Clive Sanders, Minette Gomez, Christina Tinson, Chrisitne Piasta, Domonica Cutaia, Talea Pecora, Kathleen Lorenzo, Julia Li, Danika Wong, Stella Wiesen, Simon Gould, Julie Holfield, Etta Shilelds, Jeffrey Monachello, and Rochelle Todosichuk.

Re-Store Highlights

Winning Entries

Habitat Greater Vancouver’s ReStore at 2475 Douglas Road in Burnaby is helping more and more to build houses, thanks to Tom Riessner and a steady crew of volunteers who share in the ReStore’s success; Jason Birkland,

The third Annual Expressions of Humanity Photography Contest was on view from Nov 14th to 29th at Harbour Centre and raised $3871.00 to benefit Habitat Greater Vancouver. The contest was created by Joe Kelly, a PhD student at SFU as, “a project that would move and inspire a community,” and has grown over the past three years from 45 entries the first year, 60 entries the second year and over 70 entries in 2003.

The photo contest requires the efforts of many volunteers and sponsors to make it possible.

Thank you Joe and all other volunteers who organized the

Thomas Birkland, Roger Boychuck, Richard Cameron, Catherine Carley, Norm Cartwright, Mark Dimwala, Ray Dodson, Linda Donily, August Germic, Shari Godding, Mike Greenslade, Mike Hamelek, Mike Herrick, Dick Howard, Lynne Johnstone, Craig Kelly, Rob Legg, Josie Lowrie, Sean McLeann, Stephanie Perrin, Ken Raine, Cheryl Scremin, Wendy Shin, Faith Stepharnoff, Diane Stigklish, Lloyd Struck Simon Tam, Greg Welwood, Connie White, John Wingert, Rob Woods, and Henry Yeung.

Mrs. Jan Cellucci, the wife of United States Ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci, visited the Habitat ReStore and the Government Street build site during a December visit to Greater Vancouver.

Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan was present to greet Mrs. Cellucci, remarking the city welcomes the work of Habitat for Humanity in their community.

During her husband’s term as Governor of Massachusetts, Mrs. Cellucci arranged the states’, “First Ladies Build,” organizing sponsors and donors as well as volunteering alongside Habitat family members to complete their home.

contest, exhibition and successful gala opening evening on Nov. 14th: Joe Kelly, Charlotte Sparham, Chris McGill, Alastair Gordon, Nicola Hartigan, Stephanie Vaness, Adrian Archambault, Dave Priiban, Mona Lochan, Heidi Horlacher, Noha, Sedky, and Ester Speck.

Winning entires for the contest can be viewed at Habitat’s web site; ww.vancouverhabitat.bc.ca /expressions.

Lends a Hand!

Home Depot Canada is a national sponsor to Habitat for Humanity and local stores and employees are getting involved as both donors and volunteers.

The Home Depot stores are big supporters of the Habitat ReStore.

The ReStore truck collects weekly donations from Home Depot locations in Langley, Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam, and Burnaby. The Home Depot supplies the ReStore with an alwayschanging list of materials from all departments including hardware, paints, cabinets and a variety of decorative items.

Thanks to Dave Wood and his team from the Home Depot Coquitlam Store who gave a day of volunteering to paint Habitat’s meeting room, kitchen and lounge for volunteers at the ReStore.

Office Volunteers A special thanks to Habitat family members and office volunteers who helped make the Holiday appeal mailout a success to raise $14,000 for Phase Two building; Yosuke Nakamura, Bob Bell, Maria Torillo, Sussanah Hurst, Nadine Lovell, Mike Nelson, Jadwiga Potacha, Erin Knowlton and Jane Davidson.

Choir will sing to Benefit HFH The Universal Gospel Choir will perform a benefit concert for the Habitat for Humanity Society of Greater Vancouver on Saturday April 3rd at 8:00pm. This exciting evening of inspirational music from cultures around the world will Take place at the historic Olivet Baptist Church, 613 Queens Avenue, New Westminster.

Crystal Decisions’ “Fun Day” with Habitat for Humanity

Bringing employees into the community together, volunteers from Crystal Decisions built at the Habitat for Humanity site on Government Street in Burnaby.

Crystal Decisions develops business intelligence software and services. Vivien Lee and her team work on “Hot Fixes & Service Packs” for the company’s products. Vivien found their work day,“turned out to be a good team building activity”.

Vivian said most of the team from Crystal Decisions were, “rookies in construction work, so basically even a job as simple as hammering nails was very challenging, and therefore, hilarious at times. Having no experience, [her team members] were a bit apprehensive upon [their] arrival, but the ‘regulars’ were very helpful and patient with [them].” The team put roof trusses on several of the units and helped to dig in the basement so that water and telephone pipes

could be brought in. She says that even though your body might be aching at the end of the day, it is a rewarding experience that makes all the aches and pains worthwhile.

One example of this positive experience can be seen in what one of Vivien’s team members had to say:

The fifty-member Universal Gospel Choir, led by Brian Tate, has been based in Vancouver for 19 years and is known for its tight vocal unity and sense of musical adventure. The choir’s repertoire reflects African, Middle Eastern, African American and Aboriginal influences. Tickets, $15.00 for adults and $12.00 for seniors and students, and are available through the Habitat office at

604.681.5618 or stop by the Habitat for Humanity Greater Vancouver display at the Granville Island Public Market during the week of March 2nd-7th.

The thing I remember most was going back to the “check in” area to clean up at the end of the day and meeting the woman who would be living in the house we had been working on. She said, ‘Thank you for helping to build my house,’ and I found that very rewarding.

When asked how volunteering affected the team, Vivien responded by saying that “this was a great experience as not only did we do some community work, we also had a great team building experience as well”, and as for her advice to those considering getting involved, she says, “Do it for sure.”

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