Habitat homes

Four adults and six children, whose last names are Smith-Forrester and Elliott, were able to lay claim to their new homes February 23, the day a freshly-completed Habitat for Humanity duplex on Resthaven Drive in Sidney was dedicated.

The ceremony marked the completion of the construction of seven homes on land donated by Gordon and Rhoda Gregory and their family.

Habitat Victoria president Robert Anderson says the Sidney project has been eight years in the making. The ‘sweat equity’ – i.e. volunteer work –  of  both the occupying families and other volunteers and suppliers helped make the project feasible, he noted.

Among the contributors of cash and kind cited by Anderson were: Home Depot, BC Hydro, TD Canada Trust and the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia.

Other contributors included CIBC, St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, the Peninsula Singers, Victoria Foundation and the Victoria Real Estate Board and Stelly’s Secondary School.

Next project

Habitat for Humanity Victoria, having completed its Resthaven duplex, will embark on a  project on Bethune Avenue in Saanich. The new construction will house five families and include a mortgage-helper rental or in-law suite.

This project was the recent winner of a Golden Georgie award  for design from the British Columbia branch of the Canadian Homebuilders Association.

Habitat, a faith-based organization whose patron is renowned Baptist and former U. S. president Jimmy Carter, has provided close to one-quarter million affordable homes in 100 countries worldwide. The organization dedicates a new home every 21 minutes.

Pro-life conclave

Award-winning journalist Terry O’Neill will be among the speakers at the B.C. Pro-life Conference, set for April 24 – 26 at Best Western Hotel in Courtenay. Several key Catholic leaders and pro-life spokespersons are also in the lineup, including Bishop Richard Gagnon of the diocese of Victoria. The conference theme is ‘Engaging the Culture.’ Attenders interested in being billeted should contact Gus Cunningham at 250-703-0185.

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Tenebrae Service

A Tenebrae Service, with a mandate for people to love one another as “they sit together in the deepening shadows of grief and uncertainty,” will take place at the Church of Our Lord at Blanshard and Humboldt, a block southeast of the Empress Hotel March 20 (the evening before Good Friday) at 7 pm. Church rector Rod Ellis will lead the service. Church leadership note that other Holy Week services, beginning on Palm Sunday and extending to Easter Sunday, will be available to worshippers who want to mark Holy Week in a Heritage setting. Call 250-383-8915.

Family & hockey

Close to 100 people connected with Lambrick Park Church participated in an intriguing Family Night event on Friday, February 22. They took in a hockey game at Save On Foods Memorial Centre, between the Victoria Salmon Kings and the Idaho Steelheads. Church leadership were able to arrange a group purchase which made the tickets available for about 60 percent of the full price, saving around $9 per person. Leaders from other Island churches who want to find out how Lambrick organized the event, got a good turnout and used it to encourage church and family life, can call Andy Renton at 250-217-4814.

Reformed Ignite

April 12 is the date set for an Ignite conference, with emphasis on the Holy Spirit from a Reformed theological and practical perspective. Jointly sponsored by Christian Community Church and Victoria Christian Reformed Church, the one-day event will take place at CCC, at 3897 Holland Avenue. Speakers for the day are associated with Presbyterian Reformed Ministries International. Info is available from either of the sponsoring churches.

– Lloyd Mackey

March 2008