NEWS RELEASE
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ONTARIO GATEWAY NORTH
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In a year when our homes played venue to online classrooms and boardrooms alike, Habitat for Humanity affiliates across Canada were interested in hearing the answer to the question, “What does home mean to you?”
A record-breaking number of over 12,000 students from Grades 4, 5 and 6 answered the call with a poem or short essay in the 2021 annual Meaning of Home writing contest, including Castin Blanchard, a local Grade 6 student from Monsignor Michael O’Leary Catholic School of Bracebridge..
With his poem, Finally, A Home, Castin was one of the nine runners-up and won a $10,000 grant awarded to Habitat for Humanity Ontario Gateway North.
Every year, in addition to the $30,000 grant awarded to three grand prize winners on behalf of their local Habitat for Humanity, and the $10,000 grant awarded to the nine runners-up, each student entry also earns a $10 donation for their local Habitat.
For Habitat for Humanity Ontario Gateway North, this means that the 170 students from their service area who submitted an entry in the contest helped raise a grand total of $11,700.
These much-needed funds will be allocated to the Building Futures in Bala project, scheduled to break ground in the spring of next year, providing two families in the Township of Muskoka Lakes with affordable and universally accessible homes.
To read Castin’s entry, please visit here.
“Habitat for Humanity Ontario Gateway North was excited to see students from our communities reflecting on the strength and stability that a home provides. They each contributed in their own way towards Habitat’s vision of a world where everyone has a safe and to have a decent place to live,” says Kimberley Woodcock, CEO, Habitat for Humanity Ontario Gateway North. “Castin’s poem not only beautifully captures the journey of our partner families towards homeownership, but has contributed $10,000 to realizing that dream for two families in Bala.”
The Meaning of Home contest would not be possible without the generous support of founding sponsor, Sagen (formerly known as Genworth Canada) and award sponsors Revera and Swiffer.
Thanks to their investments, students have an opportunity to give back to their communities in an engaging and meaningful way.
“During a time where we’ve all been spending so much time at home, it’s never been more relevant to engage kids on issues like affordable housing through our annual Meaning of Home contest,” said Stuart Levings, President and CEO of Sagen. “Once again, I’m amazed by the talent and commitment of students who’ve submitted their stories and I’m overwhelmed by the record-breaking number of submissions and funds raised. It’s never been more important to have kids involved and creating positive change in their communities.”
Grand Prize winners:
Annika K. from Winnipeg, Manitoba, is the Grade 4 grand prize winner and her $30,000 grant will be going to Habitat for Humanity Manitoba. Click here to read Annika’s winning entry, What is Home.
Jake T. is the Grade 5 grand prize winner, from Montreal, Quebec. His $30,000 grant will go to Habitat for Humanity Quebec. Click here to see the illustrated book of Jake’s winning entry, Home: a small word with big meaning.
Kara T. is the Grade 6 grand prize winner, from Orangeville, Ontario, whose $30,000 grant will help build homes with Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin. Click here to read Kara’s winning entry, What home means to me.
Runners up Grade 4:
Alexandra R. - Habitat Vancouver Island North
Isla V. - Habitat Victoria
Mya W. - Habitat Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin
Runners up Grade 5:
Morgan J. - Habitat Greater Ottawa
Emma M. - Habitat Peterborough and Kawartha Region
Ella C-W. - Habitat Greater Ottawa
Runners up Grade 6:
Lacey C. - Habitat Newfoundland and Labrador
Castin B. - Habitat Ontario Gateway North
Olivia G. - Habitat Peterborough and Kawartha Region
Habitat for Humanity Ontario Gateway North’s model of affordable housing helps local families in need buy their own home.
Habitat homeowners volunteer up to 500 hours and pay affordable rent or mortgage payments, helping them to build a strong foundation and the financial stability to help plan for their children’s futures.
Teachers or parents who are interested in having their Grade 4, 5 or 6 students participate can access an educational module online at meaningofhome.ca that includes writing tips and information on affordable housing issues in Canada.
Submission for the 2022 Meaning of Home contest will be open in January 2022.
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