Doug Clark (above left) smiled for the camera yesterday as he accepted a $100,000 cheque from Enersource Corporation.
Then he very carefully checked out the shovel he was handed to hold onto for the photo opportunity. "This is a nice shovel," he said to no one in particular. "We could use this."
Yes, when you are building a local Habitat For Humanity affiliate from scratch, you look for help — and tools and construction materials — anywhere you can find them.
It's been three years now since the first vestiges of the time-tested international Habitat formula — houses built by volunteers for "working poor" families who desperately need housing with no interest charged on the mortgage — landed in Mississauga.
It was actually Clark's wife Terry who was first approached in the family but when Clark himself retired from his long-time job as a chartered accountant with an Etobicoke construction company, it became his passion too. Now he's the chair.
The obvious question is: why hasn't Mississauga been in the Habitat For Humanity game earlier, especially given the 14,000 person 20-odd-year long waiting list that exists for Peel Living housing?
"Yes, that struck us as odd too," said Clark, noting that there are 72 other established affiliates of the group across Canada.
There are many disadvantages of getting in the game late, not the least of which is finding appropriate land to build on.
"Land is a huge issue," says the Erin Mills resident with a sigh. Yes, especially the price of it for dwindling supplies in Canada's sixth-largest city.
Habitat moved the yardsticks forward a long way yesterday when Enersource Chair Norm Loberg announced the donation.
It's the single largest charitable donation that the private corporation (which used to be Hydro Mississauga) has ever given. "This fits the criteria for our four pillars of giving: community, environment, health and safety," said Loberg. “This build will involve the community, our employees, our customers, as well as the new homeowners and is a perfect representation of how companies can bring their social responsibility programs to life in a very real way.”
Enersource employees will be rolling up their sleeves and helping to build the house too.
There will be several "green initiatives" in the home, although their exact nature isn't detailed yet.
The Mississauga Habitat affiliate has been working with Peel's housing department, of course. It has its eye on property that may be surplus to the Region's needs on the south side of Britannia Rd. Streetsville, west of the Credit River.
Habitat has actually already build at least one project in Mississauga. That was many years ago on the east side of Cawthra Rd. north of Lakeshore Rd. But that was sponsored by the Toronto Habitat affiliate.
The local group has a 12-member board, which includes a typical cross-section of skills. Clark says there's a retired school principal, a former teacher, a former journalist, an ex-Ontario Hydro employee, someone who works during the day at World Vision (there has always been a strong faith involvement in Habitat), an executive of TD Bank and someone who works at Mattamy Homes. Sounds like a promising crew.
The group has a website, www.habitatmississauga.ca, and 300 volunteers, including 50 "core" volunteers.
Now, says Clark, it just wants to get on with its crucial business of, "putting a roof over a family's head."
When he retired, the accountant resolved "to get involved in something meaningful."
He found out he'd done that a few weeks ago when there was an overwhelming turnout at the first "family selection" meeting at the John Paul II Polish Cultural Centre.
Hundreds, if not thousands of the City's working poor, are hoping to inhabit the virtual House of Hope that is featured on the local website. Only two families, at least in this first project, will be chosen.
But pointing out that disparity is part of the game plan, as well, says Clark. Advocacy about the plight of far too many families shuffling from place to place to try to make ends meet is part of Habitat for Humanity's mandate.
A huge job lies ahead but it always must begin with a first project. And that looks like it is well on the way.
The group is actively pursuing other prospects and projects.
"We have an opportunity with The Daniels Corporation if we can raise some money," says Clark. "That could put a number of families into homes."
None too soon.