Habitat for Humanity Edmonton celebrates World Habitat Day with Volunteer Gala
For Immediate ReleaseOctober 6, 2025 EDMONTON, ALBERTA – Habitat for Humanity Edmonton marked World Habitat Day by hosting a Volunteer Gala this evening at the Chateau Louis, celebrating the dedication of more than 150 volunteers whose time and energy drive Habitat’s work across the region. World Habitat Day, recognized by the United Nations every year on the first Monday of October, calls attention to the state of our towns and cities and to the basic right of everyone to adequate shelter. The evening included speeches from community leaders, homeowners, and long-time volunteers, followed by an award ceremony honouring standout volunteers who have gone above and beyond in their service. “World Habitat Day is a reminder that the way we plan and build our cities directly affects the quality of life of its residents. Habitat for Humanity Edmonton is committed to building homeownership opportunities for hard-working Albertans and to supporting a strong and stable future in our province. Today we celebrate our many volunteers who dedicate their time to drive the work we do forward. We are profoundly grateful for their service and the lasting impact they have in our community — building homes, communities, and hope for generations to come.”– Dr. Ann-Marie Reddy, President & CEO, Habitat for Humanity Edmonton A key highlight of the evening was the recognition of Servus Credit Union, the official sponsor of Habitat Edmonton’s volunteer program. Servus has generously contributed $50,000 from 2023 – 2025 to ensure that volunteers are trained, supported, and celebrated for their essential roles. “At Servus Credit Union, we believe strong communities are built when people come together to support one another. Volunteerism is at the heart of that, and we are proud to partner with Habitat to empower volunteers who are making a meaningful difference in people’s lives and helping create safe, stable homes for families.”– Stephanie MacMillan, Business Development Manager, Servus Credit Union Also in attendance was Rakhi Pancholi, MLA for Edmonton-Whitemud, who shared remarks on the importance of community-driven efforts to strengthen neighbourhoods. “There is no better antidote to feelings of disconnection than to get out and volunteer. As a lifelong volunteer myself, I know how much purpose, joy, and satisfaction it brings. It’s why I am proud to join Habitat for Humanity Edmonton in celebrating their amazing volunteers. These volunteers understand that making our community a better place is a responsibility we all share, and I’m proud to celebrate them for that.” – Rakhi Pancholi, MLA for Edmonton-Whitemud Habitat homeowner Allison Asare, a single mother of two, spoke at the event, sharing her journey to homeownership and thanking the volunteers whose dedication made it possible. “You haven’t just changed my life and the lives of my children — you’ve shown us the power of a community that lifts each other up. That gift of hope is something we will carry with us forever.”– Allison Asare, Habitat homeowner Finally, the gala recognized longtime volunteer Reno Laseur, who received the King’s Coronation Medal earlier this year for his dedicated service to Habitat Edmonton. Reno also spoke at the event, reflecting on his years of volunteering: “I tell almost everyone I meet that I am a proud volunteer at Habitat for Humanity… The good people at Habitat always make me feel welcome and appreciated.”– Reno Laseur, longtime volunteer The evening closed with gratitude for the countless volunteers whose dedication ensures Habitat can continue to build homes, communities, and hope across northern Alberta. – 30 – Media inquiries, please contact: Afarin Mirzadehcommunications@hfh.orgcell: 604-363-4077 About Habitat for Humanity Edmonton Habitat for Humanity Edmonton builds homes, communities, and hope through affordable homeownership. It is the only charity in the region that provides a path to homeownership for hard-working people who have been shut out of the market. Habitat Edmonton is not social housing and does not give away homes — it empowers Albertans to purchase and own their homes, creating stability and generational change. Habitat Edmonton also operates six ReStores in Edmonton and surrounding communities. ReStores are nonprofit home improvement stores that sell new and gently used furniture, appliances, building materials, and more. Proceeds from ReStores directly support Habitat’s charitable work, so every purchase and donation contributes to making homeownership more accessible in northern Alberta. For more information, visit hfh.org.
New ways to volunteer with us!
At Habitat for Humanity Edmonton, volunteers fuel everything we do. 💙 That’s why we are proud to have Servus Credit Union as the sponsor of our volunteer program. Since 2023, Servus has shown its commitment to giving back — not just in words, but in action. Their support helps us create a welcoming, rewarding, and empowering experience for every volunteer who walks through our doors. And now, we’re excited to share that Habitat Edmonton has two new volunteer opportunities available. If you’re looking for a meaningful way to put your skills and energy to work, these roles could be the perfect fit. 1. Construction Assistants Are you an experienced carpenter or tradesperson looking to make a meaningful impact? Join Habitat Edmonton’s team of Construction Assistants. You’ll work alongside Habitat staff and fellow professionals to complete renovations for our BuyBack Program. Once renovated to modern standards, these homes are sold to new Habitat homeowners. What you’ll do: Why this role is a great fit: Qualifications: 👉 Apply Now 2. Volunteer Swampers & Warehouse Assistants If logistics is more your style, consider joining Habitat Edmonton as a Volunteer Swamper or Warehouse Assistant. This role supports our Distribution Center and all six ReStores. You’ll help load, unload, and organize donated items — both at our facilities and at donor residences. By making sure items are handled safely and respectfully, you’ll help ensure that more donations find a second life in our ReStores. What you’ll do: Why this role is a great fit: Requirements: 👉 Apply Now
Lieutenant Governor honours Habitat Edmonton volunteers with King Charles III’s Coronation Medal
EDMONTON, ALBERTA – In a heartfelt ceremony held today at Government House in Edmonton, three dedicated volunteers from Habitat for Humanity Edmonton were awarded the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal. Her Honour, the Honourable Salma Lakhani, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, presented the medals in recognition of their exceptional volunteerism and lasting contributions to the community. The King’s Coronation Medal honours Canadians who have gone above and beyond in service to others. Reno Laseur, Geoff Baxter, and Ted McClung were selected as recipients by Habitat Edmonton in recognition of their outstanding dedication and impactful contributions to the organization. Their longstanding commitment and quiet leadership have made a profound difference in the lives of countless Albertans seeking safe and affordable homeownership. “True community lies in the connections that we have with our neighbours, and there is no better way to form those relationships than the act of volunteering,” said Her Honour, the Honourable Salma Lakhani. “The King Charles III Coronation Medals have been a way to raise the profile of Albertans who have devoted their time and talents to serving others and hopefully inspire others to follow in their footsteps. As His Majesty’s representative in Alberta, I offer my congratulations and deepest admiration to medal recipients for their volunteer efforts.” Reno Laseur, a fixture at the Sherwood Park ReStore, is known for his steadfast presence and selfless approach. “I am both honoured and humbled at the same time,” said Laseur. “I am passionate about our mission here at Habitat for Humanity and enjoy working with all the fine people that help make it happen.” Geoff Baxter has lent his talents to everything from ReStore operations to golf tournament planning, always with humility and drive. “Thank you and the Habitat team for this nomination… It is unexpected but such a greatly appreciated honour,” said Baxter. Ted McClung, a volunteer of over 20 years, has led build crews and supported ReStore South with skill and grace. “I feel very honoured to have been nominated by Habitat for Humanity to receive a King’s Coronation Medal,” said McClung. “Remember, I’m just a little old guy who fixes cupboards, builds beds, replaces legs on sofas, and assembles things! Volunteering for Habitat for Humanity has been a very satisfying second career for me. I’ve met so many great people at Habitat and truly enjoy their friendship.” Dr. Ann-Marie Reddy, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Edmonton, shared her pride in the recipients: “Volunteers like Reno, Geoff, and Ted are essential to everything we do at Habitat Edmonton. Their dedication reminds us that lasting change is made possible by everyday people who choose to show up and give back. We’re incredibly grateful for their commitment — and proud to celebrate them with this well-deserved recognition.” This recognition comes just ahead of National Volunteer Week (April 27 – May 3), a time to reflect on the value of those who give their time to strengthen our communities. Reno, Geoff, and Ted exemplify the spirit of volunteerism at its best — their steady commitment has helped make affordable homeownership possible for more Albertans, and we’re proud to celebrate them not just today, but all year long. – 30 – About Habitat for Humanity Edmonton Habitat for Humanity Edmonton brings communities together to help build strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable homeownership. For more information about Habitat for Humanity Edmonton, please visit hfh.org. Media inquiries, please contact: Afarin MirzadehManager, Marketing & CommunicationsHabitat for Humanity Edmonton communications@hfh.org604-363-4077
Supporter Appreciation Event Highlights
Habitat for Humanity Edmonton has been transforming lives since 1991, and we’ve seen many parents and children build strength, stability, and independence thanks to the incredible dedication of all our supporters. On Thursday, May 26th, Habitat Edmonton celebrated the contributions of all its volunteers at our inaugural Supporter Appreciation Event. The event, held at ReStore South, recognized the extraordinary 2021 volunteer service hours of all our volunteers, and drew over 120 volunteers, staff members, and donors who made a tangible difference to the lives of the families we serve. About the event This past year we had over 1000 individuals, businesses who supported Habitat financially, and 270 new donors who have stepped up to support Habitat. In addition, there were also 931 volunteers who volunteered at our ReStores, build sites, offices, events – and any other number of Habitat activities, giving over 38,000 hours of their time in 2021. When you volunteer or donate to Habitat Edmonton, you are not only contributing to our daily operations, but most importantly, to the lives of families who are achieving their dream of homeownership. And for that, we are so grateful. Volunteer achievements and awards Forty-four individuals were recognized for their incredible dedication and commitment to our homeowners by contributing over 16,000 volunteer hours – that’s 42% of all volunteers hours for the year! We really do have the best volunteers! View the full list here. Our long-service award volunteers (below) have been involved with ReStore, lawn maintenance, upcycling, home checks, construction, flyer delivery and buybacks. 3 years of volunteer service Inez SmithMarilyn McNally Sandi Draper Jenny Morrow 5 years of volunteer service Geoff BaxterJohn Lee Glenn ShanahanGreg Schoengut Kathryn MorrisPeter Mickelsen 10 years of volunteer service John Fukushima Judy Paynter 15 years of volunteer service Bill Webb Elaine Wagner Max Vandersteen Special Contribution Award Donna Pryor Geoff Baxter Max & Leslie Vandersteen Group Award for Excellence Students for Habitat – University of Alberta 25 years of volunteer service Don Neufeld has volunteered for us for 25 years. He is a former board member, and has assisted us to develop our database, trouble shoot IT, has done our accounting, and has worked closely with our database manager for many years – along with a myriad of other contributions. Don has volunteered extensively with Habitat Edmonton, contributing his time and talent every week, and in that time has contributed over 20,000 hours to Habitat for Humanity Edmonton. 30 years of volunteer service Hank Fast has volunteered extensively over the past thirty years. He was a board member for this affiliate when it first launched and has continued to support us over the years – most recently at our ReStores. Hank has been involved with special events, construction, and photo archiving, but his largest contribution of time has been at the ReStore with almost 5,000 hours over the years. Fun fact about Hank – he makes beautiful and intricate bird houses that he donates for us to sell at the ReStore Ziegler Award of Excellence This award was named after Chuck Zeigler, a long-time and dedicated volunteer for our ReStore in the early years. The award results from nominations brought forward from each of our local stores. This year, our winner is Paul Meade-Clift, who volunteers primarily at ReStore South. Over the years, he has helped us in other areas, but his favorite area is the workshop that is all about sustainability where he and others fix bicycles, test lights, fix items for sale and generally rescue our landfill from garbage Construction Award of Excellence Allan Byer has volunteered with us since 2017 and has assisted with Carter Place, Fort Saskatchewan, landscaping, our prefab shop, and most recently, he volunteered extensively for our Spruce Grove site, juggling his preferred dates to fill empty spots in the schedule for us. A skilled construction volunteer, Allan has been a crew leader for us for several years. He also helps at special events. We are so grateful for his steady, consistent presence. Habitat Edmonton thanks all our supporters for a wonderful evening, and most importantly, for your time and efforts – we’re not exaggerating when we say we could not do what we do without you! If you are interested in volunteering us, click here for more information on how you can get involved.
Getahun and Ergo’s homeownership journey
Eleven years. That’s how long Getahun, Ergo, and their 15-year old daughter and 13-year old son have been living in their Habitat home. Although they received the keys to their home on a warm August morning in 2011, their journey towards home ownership began years before. Getahun and Ergo had moved from Brandon, Manitoba, a few years earlier and Getahun secured a job as a health-aide with Capital Health. During his time as a health-aide, he was asking his coworkers about social housing, as he and his family had lived in social housing in Brandon before their relocation to Edmonton. Instead of directing him to social housing, they told him he should look into the Habitat for Humanity program. “What is Habitat for Humanity?” asked Getahun, not knowing that his question would lead to a better future for his family. The couple explained Habitat’s affordable home ownership program, and so Getahun and Ergo went to the website to see if their family was eligible for the program and – to their amazement – they were! Getahun and Ergo submitted then their application to become homeowners. Soon thereafter, the phone rang. It was Habitat, and they told Getahun and Ergo that they were approved! “We were really very happy because of the stability the home would provide for our family, and it was near my work,” said Getahun. Once they were accepted into the program, Getahun began volunteering his 500 hours at his future home: Anderson Gardens. His hours were filled with joy and he made special lifelong friends. “I really appreciated the donors and volunteers,” said Getahun. “One said he’d volunteer his life for Habitat because the families deserve to be homeowners.” It was a magical morning in August 2011 when the family received their keys, which were presented by Ken and Margaret Anderson, the generous couple who donated the land at Anderson Gardens to Habitat. At the time, Getahun’s and Ergo’s children were 5 and 7, and they were running around the house teeming with excitement – especially when they saw their new rooms. Getahun said: “Our children were and are very happy with our home and where we live. It is a quiet place and our neighbourhood is really great too. I am so thankful for Habitat because the opportunity has changed our lives. It gave me the opportunity to get my LPN (licenced practitioner nurse) and better our lives. My children have had a great place to live. I thank all the volunteers and donors who give to help families who are struggling to make their lives better and to help our children become more successful.” Getahun mentioned that he didn’t have the words to say to express how much Habitat has done for his family. He wanted people to know that he is grateful for all that supporters have done to improve his family’s life. Please donate today in support of Habitat Homeownership.
A new world opens up for Karen and her family
Karen’s Habitat journey began in the office of the subsidized housing complex where she lived with her two young children. As she glanced around the office, a poster pinned on a bulletin board caught her attention. The poster described a home ownership program that helped families, and so Karen visited HFH.org to see if her family might be eligible. To her amazement, they were! Karen inquired about home ownership opportunities in Leduc. She wanted to remain rooted in the community where her family was living. At the time, two homes were available in Leduc, but there were 11 other applicants. Despite the odds, Karen applied, was accepted into the program, and received her house keys in late December of 2013. Spending 500 hours volunteering at build sites and in the Habitat ReStore was a daunting task. However, a Habitat volunteer named Susan made her feel right at home. Since becoming a homeowner, Karen has noted that her sense of security and stability has skyrocketed, and that the Habitat program has given her a bright future. “Knowing that the money I’m paying is my money is so relieving, said Karen. “My payments are going to me, not to rent where I’ll never see it again. If I ever choose to move, I’ll have money for a down payment, and that’s important to me.” A meaningful benefit of home ownership to Karen was the freedom to welcome home their first pet, Loki, a German shepherd cross. Loki was an important addition to the family after the loss of someone special in their lives. Owning a pet was never possible for them while they rented, and Loki continues to bring joy to the family. Nowadays, the family spends time taking Loki for walks, watching movies, and doing things that families do together. Karen is grateful to Habitat for the opportunity to own a home and for continuing to provide her with the knowledge to repair and maintain her home. She is also grateful for the many volunteers and donors who made it possible for her to become a homeowner. “It’s been an amazing journey so far, and I know it will continue to be for many, many years to come”, said Karen. Please donate today in support of Habitat Homeownership.
Giving back with Sandi
Volunteers are a vital part of Habitat for Humanity Edmonton, and without these dedicated individuals it wouldn’t be possible for Habitat to help families in our community. Sandi is a friendly, passionate, and generous person who has brought joyful enthusiasm to our ReStore since her first shift back in early 2021. Having worked in the recreation industry for most of her life, Sandi became a ReStore staple because of her bubbly personality and an incredible can-do attitude. Her volunteer journey however began many years ago when she volunteered on four build sites with her City of Edmonton and WCA colleagues. “Being able to physically help a family build their home then being fortunate enough to watch them move into that same home we spent months working on was amazing. I have fond memories of working with those families and being a part of their homeownership process.” As a ReStore greeter, Sandi interacts with all shoppers, volunteers and associates as if they are a part of her family. With a huge smile on her face, Sandi explains that the decision to donate her time and volunteer at the ReStore at the height of the pandemic was an easy one. From the very first time Sandi walked into a ReStore to shop for tiles with her father to recurring shopping trips on her own for her crafts, Sandi knew that she wanted to be apart of a team that is part of the housing crisis solution. “I love people and I’m a social butterfly, so I wanted to be useful. I wanted to give back to my community and to an organization I believe lives up to what it stands for.” Sandi stands out as an extraordinary member of our volunteer team, and we’ve the luckiest Habitat to have her!
Engineering that tugs at the heartstrings
Paul, a semi-retired mechanical engineer, has been volunteering with the Habitat Edmonton for over 7 years. Because of his dedication to our mission, Paul transitioned from volunteering with the construction department to working with the ReStore South team from the time the store first opened its doors. “I was a part of the crew that built the mezzanine upstairs, we helped convert this warehouse and its offices into what the store is today. After the renovations were complete, I found myself coming back to the store more and more, until I just started showing up everyday to work and help out.” Working primarily in the background where he puts his extensive engineering experience to work, Paul tests and puts all things electrical back together and ensures that they are in perfect working condition before they go on the shop floor. Over the years, Paul has become the go-to person for a number of customers shopping for new lighting fixtures and anything else technical in the store. “People are always so fascinated and surprised when they find out I’m a mechanical engineer, but I don’t know why. Fixing and assembling things has always come naturally to me” Paul quips. Whether you’re looking for hands on work like landscaping, putting up walls on a build site or merchandising and selling some of our ReStore inventory, Paul believes that everyone in our community can lend a hand and play a role in making somebody’s dream of homeownership a reality. “Depending on what your hobbies are and what you believe are your strengths, there’s something for everyone here at Habitat. “I believe in what Habitat does and stands for. Helping someone, anyone, get their own home is transformative. We know that is has positive social impact. Its good for children, its good for couples and the family structure as a whole. So beyond the fact that I’m having a blast in my retirement by working at the ReStore, I feel that Habitat is adding value to society in general, and helping break the cycle of poverty by helping people get into the housing market that otherwise wouldn’t have been able to do on their own. Having your own home is transformative, it really is.” As Habitat for Humanity, we are grateful for Paul’s work ethic, loyalty and outstanding dedication to our mission.
