5 minute read
GIVING BACK
BOXING Joy
BY CATHERINE CLARK
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PHOT0GRAPHY BY TED SIMPSON
Aspecial feeling of joy comes from receiving an unexpected gift, and that’s the goal of the Shoebox Project, which kicks into high gear every holiday season.
“We give gift-filled shoeboxes and handwritten messages of support to women in the Ottawa area who are affected by or at risk of homelessness,” says Randi Prieur, who coordinates the program in the National Capital Region. “The shoeboxes are filled with essential items and little luxuries, but in some ways, what we’re really delivering is hope.”
The program is non-denominational, works only with registered charities, and is open to all those who identify as women. Each shoebox is valued at approximately $50 and packed with items like shampoo, conditioner, face cream, body wash, a small gift card, and something cozy, like a pair of cozy socks or soft mittens to keep warm on a cold winter night.
But it’s the personal messages that can have the biggest impact, notes Randi. “Many of the women carry those letters around so that when they’re having a difficult day, they can pull them out and read them for strength,” she explains. “Just like the gifts, those letters let them know that they’re seen and they’re important members of this community.”
While many boxes are prepared by Shoebox volunteers, the majority are put together by members of the public, who can drop off their shoebox donations at a variety of supportive local businesses throughout the city. After that, the boxes are distributed to participating shelters and community agencies.
While preparing a shoebox may seem like a small act of kindness, Randi knows that it can have a major impact. “A long time ago, I would have been considered a vulnerable woman at risk of homelessness, someone who had to choose between paying rent and eating,” she reveals. “Receiving the shoebox would have made such a difference because I would never have been able to afford any of this myself — I needed my money just to survive — so the gift and the note would have made me feel valuable and worthy.”
That experience left Randi deeply committed to giving back. “I know what it’s like to depend on the community in tough times,” she concludes. And through the Shoebox Project, she’s helping deliver the gift of dignity and happiness to vulnerable women, one little box at a time.
For more information on the Shoebox Project and how you can donate, visit shoeboxproject.com
LÉPINE APARTMENTS
A FAMILY AFFAIR
For the Lépine family, it all begins with the bones. A great building, after all, cannot endure without a strong and reliable framework.
To the Lépine family, that means structural concrete floors and columns, maximum insulation in the exterior walls, thick sound insulation, and drywall partitions that are well above code to ensure energy efficiency and soundproofing. They are the foundations of the premium living for which The Lépine name has become known — the building blocks of a unique lifestyle have been attracting empty nesters for multiple generations. René G Lépine Sr. started home construction in Montreal in 1952, building his way through the housing boom of the 1950s, the multiresidential apartments of the ‘60s, and ‘70s, until the industry’s collapse through regulations and the spike in interest rates. Then, Francis was sent to Ottawa in 1997 to convert a student campus into apartments now known as Horizon Towers on the corner of Rideau and Chapel street. He finally built his last condo in 2005. Lépine had a plan to “reinvent the rental apartment industry and bring it to the 21st century”. Francis decided to redesign and bring apartment rentals to the 21st century, calling it “A new generation of rentals” — rethinking rentals and making them feel more like a home, something you would build for yourself with more attention to detail. The Lépines have built an average of one building per year in Ottawa, and many were sold, including William’s Court complex in Kanata. Presently they are operating six new buildings in Ottawa and beyond, with more coming.
The Normand (Under Construction)
Seated on Maritime Way from the Kanata Lakes entrance to the new town centre of Kanata, The Normand will add to the majestic Saint Émilion in the desirable Kanata Lakes and Beaverbrook neighbourhood. These new apartments are surrounded by enticing green spaces with walkways and ponds that link you to nature and the surrounding established communities. Open-concept living areas flow from one space to another, accented by well-balanced panoramic windows and large spaces from the living room to the bedrooms passing by the bathrooms; everything is sized for comfortable living spaces, with particular attention given to the kitchens.
Enjoy the many options their layouts offer with the ability to rightsize your lease to meet your lifestyle’s needs. The Kanata Centrum entertainment and retail power centre are only two blocks away. They are full of vast shopping attractions and restaurants that provide dozens of options for everyone to enjoy. Come and see the quality of a Lépine building and suite and the product of years of experience.
The company is still very much a family affair. Francis coordinates design and construction. All family members have been in it since their youth, raised on the golden rule of starting in the trenches, don’t be afraid to get dirty, and then putting yourself in your client’s shoes, and you will see what needs to be done. Francis’s son William coordinates construction finishes and quality control of various projects; his daughter Pascale is at head office, mastering municipal planning, among many other tasks. Another daughter, Florence, is now on-site completing the Lépine Lodge in Renfrew. Their cousin (through marriage), Kevin, is vice-president of construction.
For more information on Lépine’s premium apartments, visit www.lepineapartments.com or for information, call 1-888-4LEPINE
