Habitat Groundbreaking a Huge Success

"If today is an indicator of what's to come, I have no doubt this project is going to be very successful." - Jim Patterson, Secretary of Habitat for Humanity Virden Chapter stated to start the day off.

Isn't that the truth?

Jim Patterson & Karen McKinnon

A crowd showed up at 415 Wellington Street West, the future location of the Habitat duplex, to see Jeff McConnell and Presbyterian Church elder Shirley Nolan dig their spades into the ground, turning sod and officially marking the beginning of Virden's first Habitat for Humanity endeavor.

Habitat Winnipeg CEO Sandy Hopkins and VP of Regional Development Steve Krahn (whose number we all have on speed dial) came down for the day. Sandy mentioned that we are the first town in Manitoba to be building a Habitat home.

Steve Krahn, VP of Regional Development - Habitat Winnipeg

The Mayor and Shirley Nolan 'breaking ground'

Local dignitaries present included Mayor McConnell, R.M. of Wallace Reeve Richard Murphy and Cheryl Porter on behalf of MLA Larry Maguire. We can't forget Terry Burgess, Regional VP of Manitoba West Region for the RBC Foundation and Brian Canart from the Manitoba Real Estate Shelter Foundation.

As Karen McKinnon stated, this project had it's first meeting in December 2010. Here we are, five months later, turning the sod with both families present and ready to build this duplex!

I am overwhelmed with emotion from the support received thus far, within our Habitat committee, and within the town of Virden. Being involved with something that is much bigger than all of us only reinforces the word community - in our hearts and minds. This is a community I'm very proud to be a part of.

 - Tamara, Family Selection Committee Chair