Industry leaders come together to address housing crisis across the prairies
By Lisa Fonseka
The housing crisis is top-of-mind for so many of us. Rising interest rates, rental prices, and the cost of living is putting pressure on families, especially those who can’t access safe, affordable homeownership.
“Whenever I rented a place, my landlords sold their properties or decided to live in them. Rental companies increased prices, or the units had major issues like no heat in the winter,” says Kateryna, a future Habitat for Humanity homeowner in Calgary. “No matter how hard I worked, the housing prices and rent increased faster than anyone could have predicted.”
These experiences are shared by thousands of families across the country. Caught in punishing cycles of unpredictable rent increases, overcrowded conditions, or lack of access to affordable financing, these families are living with a constant burden of uncertainty, stress, and fear.
As Canada’s only national affordable homeownership organization, Habitat for Humanity knows that there are solutions. Across the Prairies, local Habitats are working alongside industry leaders to bring these solutions to life every day.
By donating funds, building materials, product to Habitat ReStores, or taking part in team Build Days, these four leaders are showing how the industry can come together to address the housing crisis and make a tangible difference for families in our communities.
Building Together
Price Industries Limited has a 15-year history of supporting affordable homeownership through Habitat for Humanity Manitoba. This has ranged from donations of funds and building materials to event sponsorship and, most recently, participation in Habitat Manitoba’s Team Build Days. This program allows team members to step onto a Habitat construction site to help build affordable homes.
Locally owned and operated, Price’s partnership with Habitat aligns perfectly with their values, including including family, integrity, and respect. The company recently launched an employee program aptly titled “Building Together” – a community engagement initiative that allows their team to invest time in four charities.
“It’s quite nice to be part of a local company that is reinvesting their efforts, both time and money, into our community,” says Brett Nickol, Employee Experience Manager of Human Resources at Price Industries in Winnipeg. “Being able to give back to our local non-profits is one of our passions. Our team is able to really get into the community and see the impact of what they’re doing.”
Being part of Habitat Manitoba’s largest development in its history has been inspiring for the Price teams. Three acres of land will transform into 55 affordable townhomes when the project is complete in 2026, changing the lives of approximately 175 children.
Nickol recalls attending an event to welcome new Habitat homeowners into their homes. “It took the words out of my mouth,” he says. “I just wanted to step back and let them discover their home and be there to welcome them with open arms without having to fill the space with words.”
And while Price’s investment is helping to build a stronger community, their team also experiences their own set of benefits.
“What Habitat has done for our employees is endless. On the team-building side, they are able to go out with teams they are currently on projects with, or teams that they are new to,” Nickol says. “It’s so easy now to quickly send an instant message and not really have community or human interaction, so it’s nice to have those opportunities to break up the day-to-day.”
Leaving a legacy
How many of your family memories revolve around your kitchen? From family dinners to Saturday morning pancake parties, our kitchens are the heart of our homes. That’s part of what makes Legacy Kitchens’ partnership with Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta so special.
For 40 years, Legacy Kitchens has been building transformational spaces. Since 2000, they have brought those efforts to Habitat by donating entire kitchens for local builds.
“Our passion as a company revolves around creating opportunities for transformation,” says Stephen Buller, CEO of Legacy Kitchens. “We’re looking for charities that are doing transformational work and Habitat specifically does that.”
Meeting future homeowners is something that Buller describes as the moment “where the rubber meets the road.”
“Every Habitat homeowner has a story and their own set of circumstances. When you get to see the faces of the folks that we’ve had a direct impact on, that’s huge,” he says.
Mildred is a future homeowner in Livingston in northeast Calgary, where Legacy recently donated kitchens for 24 townhomes, including hers. “Home means family, safety, belonging, peace. And after we move into our Habitat home, home will also mean stability,” she explains.
By investing in their local Habitat, Legacy Kitchens’ employees also get a deeper connection to the community.
“It’s all about creating a bigger purpose for your employees – something they can connect to that’s beyond the day-to-day work and giving a sense of purpose to the work that they’re doing,” Buller says.
“We want our employees to be able to engage in the work. There’s the alignment of being in the same industry, and then through Build Days, our employees can really get involved at the grassroots level and that’s part of what makes Habitat so unique.”
Helping people help themselves
Helping families through Habitat for Humanity Edmonton is engrained into the culture at Western Archrib, an Edmonton-based leader in structural wood systems. Cecil Fargey founded the company in 1951 and was joined by his son Jim shortly after, who began the relationship with Habitat. The concept of helping families help themselves resonated strongly.
Cecil’s grandchildren, Kent and Joan, also joined the family business and have played pivotal roles. Though they recently passed ownership along to Northland Forest Products, Kent still has a finger on the pulse of the company and their partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
“[My father] recognized that it was not easy for people to get into a home and our products were aligned with the needs of Habitat for Humanity, so it was a natural fit and our staff were very supportive of it,” Kent Fargey says.
Over the years, the company’s partnership has evolved and since 2000, they have contributed nearly $500,000 towards Habitat Edmonton through philanthropic gifts and product donations to the Habitat ReStores.
“The housing crisis right now is a fact of life. It’s a really challenging situation, but Habitat for Humanity has been working to solve this problem for years. It’s complicated, but Habitat’s role has been supporting solutions forever, and they continue to do it.”
Seeing a single mother with three children who would soon become a homeowner, thanks to the support of people and companies like Western Archrib, makes the impact palpable.
“It’s a great feeling to help someone along the way. You’re helping people help themselves. It’s tangible because you see the people that benefit from the housing. You can correlate it back to people,” Fargey says.
Collaborating for community
Collaborative Construction is locally owned in Regina, and they bring their expertise to both residential and commercial projects. They have supported families through Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan in several ways, the latest being the design and implementation of kitchens and vanities at a recent Habitat build in Regina. They have also been involved in renovations for Habitat Saskatchewan’s buyback program, volunteered at events, donated product to Habitat ReStores, and invested financially through events and sponsorships.
“At Collaborative Construction, we too have vested interest in Regina’s affordable housing and developments alike,” says Derek Wu, co-owner of Collaborative. “Working with Habitat has allowed us to contribute directly to the community with hopes that it helps support families and create a stronger, more stable local economy.”
Not only do Collaborative and Habitat share an industry in common, but their values align in a way that makes their partnership a natural fit, including integrity, reputation, passion, and family.
“For Collab, supporting affordable housing is a way to put our values into action and help ensure that our community has the foundation it needs to thrive today and for future generations in Regina,” Wu says. “By supporting Habitat for Humanity, we’re directly supporting an organization that provides sustainable, affordable housing to those who need it most.”
For Wu and his team, the impact of the work becomes real when they have the chance to meet the people who are benefiting from their support.
“These Habitat homeowners have always greeted us with a smile and a very positive attitude. We have even been offered food and beverages as we enter their new homes. It’s a humbling experience to say the least.”
Wu encourages other industry
leaders to look for ways to support their
local communities.
“Giving back doesn’t have to be complicated. Start by reaching out to local organizations like Habitat for Humanity, identifying where your team’s strengths can best contribute, and involving your employees in the process,” he says.
“When we give back through construction, we’re not just supporting individual families; we’re investing in the future of our communities, strengthening our local economy, and contributing to a better quality of life for everyone.”
Lisa Fonseka is Manager of Marketing and Communications with Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta.
Habitat for Humanity is one of the most powerful non-profit brands in the world.
A 2018 World Value Index and 2018 Enduring Brand Index ranked Habitat as a Top Five Brand that inspires consumers most with their mission. Habitat’s brand equity is valued at $15.6 billion.
Whether you’re interested in motivating and engaging your team, giving philanthropic gifts, or sponsoring events or builds, Habitat for Humanity can help your organization better engage consumers and employees.
Benefits of partnering with Habitat for Humanity
In addition to positive brand association, partnership with your local Habitat helps you achieve your Environmental, Social, and Governance and business goals by allowing you to:
• Profile your commitment to community investment
• Provide meaningful engagement opportunities for staff and key stakeholders
• Highlight a commitment to sustainability
• Show your support for equitable, diverse, and inclusive communities
Habitat for Humanity will work with your organization to create a customized partnership plan that meets your strategic giving objectives. Examples include:
• Philanthropic gifts or sponsorships
• Donations of building materials
• Participation in corporate team-building activities
• Product donations to Habitat ReStores
Ready to get started?
Reach out to your local Habitat for Humanity today! Visit Habitat.ca for details.