Welland mayor Barry Sharpe (left), Niagara College president Dan Patterson (second from left) and Habitat for Humanity Niagara CEO Alastair Davis (third from right) look on as members of the Val family thank all those involved in building their new home.
After months of work done by students from Niagara College’s Construction Studies programs, a brand new house stands strong at 522 Martin St. in Welland and a local family has a new home.
A home dedication ceremony was held on June 27, 2013 to hand the keys to the new homeowners, the Val family, who thanked Niagara College, Habitat Niagara and all those involved in building their new home.
Alastair Davis, CEO, Habitat for Humanity Niagara, noted that the Habitat program is a “hand up, not a hand out.” Low-income families are selected based on their need for better shelter, their ability to repay a zero-interest mortgage back to Habitat and their willingness to provide 500 hours of ‘sweat equity’ by volunteering in the community.
College president Dan Patterson attended the event, as well as vice-president Academic Steve Hudson and Construction program coordinator Al Scott.
Patterson said that the project is a testament to applied learning at Niagara College, equipping students with essential skills as well as social responsibility. “That our students helped create this is very exciting. It really is a living laboratory for our students, giving them real-world experience that prepares them for work in the industry,” said Patterson. “To be involved in the building of a house for somebody who would never perhaps have had the opportunity for home ownership, is a very moving experience for our students.”
Al Scott noted that since the students broke ground on the project in September, there have been students working on the homes for six hours each day until the house was completed in April.
“The most rewarding part is seeing the students take pride in the work they’ve done,” said Scott.
Carl Ryan, chair, Habitat for Humanity Niagara’s Board of Directors, kicked off a special ritual key ceremony, where the keys to the home were passed around and held for a moment by all those who attended the event.
Attendees included Welland MP Malcolm Allen, Welland MPP Cindy Forster, Welland Mayor Barry Sharpe, who all also spoke at the event, as well as representatives from title sponsor Scotiabank and other supporting sponsors Cotton Inc., Niagara Regional Housing, Niagara Region, Wise Guys Charity Fund, IBEW Local 303 Niagara, CMHC SCHL, and Walker Aggregates Inc.
NC students have been working on the home pictured above at 226 Martin Street in Welland since September.
Members of the Val family pose for a photo with NC president Dan Patterson (third from left), vice-president Academic Steve Hudson (second from right) and Construction program coordinator Al Scott.
