Event photos courtesy of Duane Burnett Photography can be viewed at Habitat Hoedown photos.

The toe-tapping tunes of the Billy Hillpickers and an abundant Southwestern BBQ served up by Chef Spencer Watts drew a colorful and enthusiastic crowd to the Gibsons bluff last Saturday night. The first annual “Habitat Hoedown” was a fundraiser to remember with a sell-out crowd representing some of the Coast’s most passionate community supporters.

Hoedown hosts Ron & Deb Pepper

Habitat Chair Gwen Hawkins and husband Ed sported fetching smiles and dusted off their cowboy boots to welcome long-standing supporters and new friends. Artist Todd Clark and Carol Marlowe came in the full spirit of the event as Buck and Daisy Mae, winning the prize for best costume. Sandy Cliffe, Gibsons Bottling Depot, and co-worker Angel were also in full Appalachian spirit and the fortunate winners of the Delta Whistler Suites grand prize which included horseback riding, spa services and dinner at Hy’s Whistler.

Gibsons Mayor Barry Janyk’s message of appreciation for Habitat’s commendable efforts toward affordable housing was read by Councilor Wayne Rowe, and special guests from Industrial Alliance were proud to witness overflowing appreciation for their sponsorship.

Habitat is looking forward to the completion of the first of seven duplexes by year-end, providing more homes for Sunshine Coast families. “Habitat Hoedown” hosts Ron and Deborah Pepper are extending a whole-hearted thank you to everyone who contributed to the more than $7,000 raised for Habitat families.

We look forward to awarding the prize of a Whistler Getaway on Saturday, July 31st when the Billy Hillpicker Band will be performing their toe-tapping blue grass tunes at our fundraising BBQ.

We thank everyone who purchased tickets – and promise those who missed out to plan for this event again next year.

Deborah Pepper
Fundraising Chair
Habitat for Humanity Sunshine Coast
Habitat Hoedown Poster

The Telus group does yearly good deeds in our community and worked on Habitat’s Reef Rd (Sechelt) duplex last year.

Thank you everyone!

In photo from left to right:
Bob Price, Mickey Gelz, Julie Pin, Jim McLeod, Diane Leaman, Walt Leaman, Don Morison

You can download the Annual Report using the links below (4 small PDF files):

2009 Annual Report – Page 1

2009 Annual Report – Page 2

2009 Annual Report – Page 3

2009 Annual Report – Page 4

The RBC Foundation supports initiatives that empower organizations to make a difference and support others. Funding and donations are intended to create social and economic opportunities that strengthen health and well-being in communities where they do business.

RBC Foundation presents check for $15,000 to Habitat for Humanity Sunshine Coast

In the photo L-R, Gibsons Branch Manager Sarah Bonkoff, HFHSC Deborah Pepper, HFHSC Executive Director Ron Pepper, Laima Van Turnhout and Robert McDonald were onhand as Sechelt RBC Branch Manager Jason Jenkins presened a check for $15,000 to HFHSC Board Chair Gwen Hawkins.

The funding will be used for the latest duplex being built in the Sunshine Coast Village project in Wilson Creek, which will ultimately house 14 local Habitat partner families.

Building progress on the first duplex is moving ahead, with plumbing rough-in completed, and electrical systems installed.

One partner family has been selected to purchase one half of the duplex, and applications continue to be received.

How it works

The municipal recycling bins in Gibsons and Sechelt have special bins for refundable containers. Twice weekly, volunteers sort and prepare these containers, and return them for refunds which support Habitat’s efforts.

Without our recycling program we would not have been able to build our first house on North Road in Gibsons or our second on Reef Road in Sechelt.

Imagine how many returnable cans and bottles it will take to build our 14 Suncoast Village homes!

How you can help

Teams work in both Gibsons and Sechelt every Tuesday and Friday morning. Your help is welcome on a drop-in or regular basis.
To give a hand please email volunteer@hfhssc.org

Did you know? Habitat for Humanity Sunshine Coast recycles more aluminum cans per capita than any other Habitat affiliate in Canada.

A wide variety of books, videos and literature are available to help you share Habitat’s vision with others. Materials may be ordered by mail, phone or fax. Order these materials from Habitat International by calling 1-800-422-5914.

Habitat For Humanity Sunshine Coast has embarked on a major new project, the Sunshine Coast Village in Wilson Creek, that will provide fourteen new affordable homes, two per year, over the next seven years for low income families in our community.

Without affordable housing there is no future on the Sunshine Coast for single parents and families with low incomes. Together with our community partners we can help. Since 2007 Habitat For Humanity Sunshine Coast has completed one home in Gibsons and two additional homes, a duplex, in Sechelt. However, building affordable homes in this market is not easy. The rising cost of real estate, materials and labour makes it almost impossible to keep costs under control and we cannot do it without help.

The Sunshine Coast Village Project hit a costly snag before began. In 2007, we offered to purchase two lots in Wilson Creek which front on Highway 101, assuming that access would be approved. Unfortunately this was not the case and we are required to either build a new highway access or develop a new .5km half road to municipal standards on the south side of the property running west from Field Road. To reduce cost for the access we have elected to build the .5km half road because we believe that our community partners will help.

The new road does not have to be built immediately and we will have approximately 12 months to complete it while the first two homes (duplex) are under construction.

At this point we have received commitments for surveying and for the design and engineering of the road. We need further commitments of financial support or donations of materials, equipment, trucking and a location to place an unknown volume of over-burden to be removed from the right of way and the construction site.

The Sunshine Coast Village is a great idea that requires a commitment from all areas of our community if it is to be realized.

If your company is able to commit to this project now, we invite you to complete the Resource Form and to return it to our ReStore in Sechelt.

Habitat affiliates are independent, locally run, nonprofit organizations. Each affiliate coordinates all aspects of Habitat home building in its local area, including partner family selection. Your local affiliate can give you information on the availability, size, costs, “sweat equity” work requirements and application process for Habitat houses in your area.

Every affiliate chooses its homeowners based on the same three criteria:

• the applicants’ level of need,
• their willingness to become partners in the program
• and their ability to repay the no-profit, no-interest loan.

Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing the families who receive Habitat houses.

To apply, please e-mail the Family Selection Committee at familyselection@habitatsc.ca, and ask for an application form.