- for the OwenSoundHub

It has taken 531 volunteers over 9600 hours to bring Habitat for Humanity Grey Bruce's latest build effort to the Key Ceremony that took place Saturday November 23rd on Neyaashiinigmiing First Nation.

While the homes are still a few weeks from completion, a community ceremony and celebration took place where the 6 families received ceremonial keys to their new homes. With the completion of the 6 homes Habitat for Humanity Grey Bruce is also celebrating its 50th home built in the region.

As the families accepted their keys and a braid of sweetgrass, they spoke of how grateful they were for the new homes; how their children will have rooms of their own. For most families it will be a new start.

The celebration was attended by representatives from many supporters and sponsors of the build. Bruce Power President and CEO Mike Rencheck thanked the volunteers who had put in the hours needed to get the houses built. While normally a build has 20 or so team builds, this session they had 69 teams come and build.

The build is the third year for Habitat at Neyaashiinigmiing First Nation and represents 6 of the 11 homes they have built through a rent-to-own partnership with the Chippewas of Nawash.

Also in attendance were students with the University of Waterloo’s Warrior Home Design Team. The student's design for the home, that will be occupied by Melissa Millette recently won an award in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon Build Challenge 2020. The team then donated the $25 000 USD prize to Habitat for Humanity Grey Bruce to support further energy efficiencies for all 6 homes.

United Way of Bruce Grey Executive Director Francesca Dobbyn announced that each home would receive all brand new beds and bedding through various funding partnerships including grants from the Community Foundation Grey Bruce. Dobbyn also announced that the Owen Sound Kiwanis Club had donated $25 000 to purchase playground equipment for the site that Habitat would install at a future date.

Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteers to help finish the homes in the hope they can be occupied prior to Christmas. To book a shift click through to: https://habitatgreybruce.ca/faq/