30th Anniversary Timeline

In 2023, Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa celebrates 30 years of building safe, secure and affordable housing for local families. Since 1993, we have partnered with thousands of donors, sponsors, volunteers and supporters to serve 92 families, including over 200 children. We invite you to take a look back on the builds, supporters and partner families that made it all happen! Thank you for celebrating this milestone with us as we look forward to building for the next generation of homeowners.

1993

Thirty years ago, a group of dedicated volunteers came together with a vision of building safe and affordable housing for local families. In 1993, Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa (then known as Habitat for Humanity National Capital Region) officially formed in the City of Ottawa. The hard work had just begun…

1994

Two homes in just 12 days? The Habitat Greater Ottawa team picked an ambitious deadline for their very first build! But, with the sweat, grit and determination of dozens of volunteers, the Mitchell and Lopez families became the first Habitat Partner Families to move into their homes in 1994. 

"People have been working very hard so a family will have a place to call home."

1997

In the Summer of 1997, shovels were put in the ground to kick off the CFRA Place Build on Richmond Road and Bayshore Drive.

The local talk radio station pledged to raise $150,000 for this project, with donations from the Ottawa Senators, Minto Developments and community members around Ottawa. Around 200 volunteers also lent their support and in just a few months, six families officially became Habitat Homeowners!

"We'll shovel, we'll paint - whatever we have to do. We go down to see the job site everyday. We're so excited."

Did you know? The first Habitat ReStore in Canada was opened in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1991. Just seven years later, the first ReStore in Ottawa opened its doors to the public. Habitat Greater Ottawa ReStore continues to play a vital role for the organization as all profits from ReStore operations fund Habitat Greater Ottawa in helping more families access safe and decent housing.

1998

“I’ve told my kids that this home should always stay in our family. They are not allowed to sell, even after I’m long gone.”

One of our most ambitious projects took place in 2002 when we launched a blitz build to complete eight homes in eight days. Named for the former Governor General, the Ed Schreyer Work Project took place from August 9-16, 2002 on a site in Ottawa South.

The blitz build, which was the 8th annual build of its kind in Canada at the time, created housing for eight families including 19 children and involved hundreds of volunteers, donors and sponsors from the Ottawa area and around North America.

2002

In 2006, Ottawa area RCMPs traded in their Stetsons for hard hats to help build Mountie House! This unique project was the first of its kind in Canada where RCMP employees contributed hundreds of volunteer hours and raised funds to give back to the community to help achieve the goal of fostering “Safe Homes — Safe Communities.” 

The build, located on Pinecrest Road, made the dream of homeownership a reality for a family with five children. 

2004

2007

Our very first Women Build in the National Capital Region took place in 2007. From the very beginning, Women Build promoted empowerment and solidarity, and is an opportunity to bring together women from all walks of life to help build safer, stronger communities

Women Build instantly became one of our most popular fundraisers and since 2007, participants raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local families.

2009

In 2009, we held our first-ever Faith Build in the National Capital Region. 

The slogan for the Faith Build was “bridging faiths, building homes, believing in a brighter future.” Local congregations donated to the project and supplied volunteers to help build the home.  

The build, located on Appleton Drive, made the dream of homeownership a reality for Lily and her two sons and involved hundreds of volunteers, donors and sponsors.

2014

The Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) joined forces with Algonquin College and Habitat Greater Ottawa for the 2014 Blitz Build.

This accelerated construction project will begin on Friday, April 4 on a lot in Barrhaven with a completed two-storey home in its place three days later.

The home was sold on the open market for $426,500 and raised almost $200,000 for Habitat Greater Ottawa.

"Twenty years from now, I will still remember how they all helped my kids by giving them a safe and stable home to grow up in."

In 2016, we broke ground on not one, but two different builds in our Greater Ottawa catchment area!

While both the Michaelis and Tall families lived different lives and came from different situations, each family came to Habitat Greater Ottawa for the same reason: to provide a better future for their children. 

Thanks to the tremendous support of the Carleton Place and Perth communities, both families received the keys to their new Habitat homes in 2017. 

2016

This is not a temporary fix – Habitat for Humanity provides a solid foundation for us to invest long-term in our home and in our community.

In the Spring of 2017, Habitat Greater Ottawa broke ground on its largest build to date. Leacross Landing is a 16-unit townhome build in the Orléans community.

Leacross Landing also marked a major milestone for our organization as we transitioned from a builder of single family homes, to a developer of communities

2017

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Guess who’s turning 5-years old in 2023? In 2018, we opened our largest ReStore to date in Stittsville!

For 25 years, the Habitat Greater Ottawa ReStore has played a huge role in ensuring we’re able to continue providing safe and affordable housing for local families. What’s more? Over the years, thanks to community donations of new and gently used furniture, appliances, home décor and more, we have diverted millions of pounds of waste from local landfills. 

2018

2020

We can all agree that 2020 was unlike anything we expected. Like many organizations, there was a massive shift in the way we ran our operations and programming in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While it seemed like we were all facing an uncertain future, it was thanks to the generosity and commitment of our sponsors, donors, community supporters, family partners and amazing volunteers that we were able to adapt during the pandemic and continue our work providing safe, secure and affordable housing for families in Ottawa.

2021

With the pandemic continuing into 2021, our amazing build crew continued to build our latest development Titus Landing. This 8-unit stacked townhome development is centrally located on the former Canadian Forces Rockcliffe Airbase.

Our build crew worked hard to overcome the challenges of supply chain issues and materials shortages. A prefabricated construction method was used to offset build delays and difficulties accessing build materials while ensuring more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient homes.

Finally, in late spring of 2022, 8 families were given the keys to their new Habitat home in our first in-person key ceremony since 2019!

Habitat Greater Ottawa's Titus Landing Development.

"Through your support, a single mom is now able to buy and own a home! I can now live the life I dreamed of years ago, thanks to you."

2022

Our latest development, we partnered with a fellow Habitat for Humanity for the first time! Kemptville Korners is a 15-unit development build in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Thousand Islands. Located in the Municipality of North Grenville, Kemptville Korners consists of townhomes and stacked townhomes with accessible units available. Once complete, the project will be home up to 64 individuals including over 30 children!

2023

As we look back on 30 years of building strength, stability and self-reliance, we’re looking forward to many more milestones. Once the Kemptville Korners Development is completed in spring 2024, Habitat Greater Ottawa will officially serve it’s 100th family!

While we are proud of the lives changed and communities built these last three decades, we recognize there is so much left to do. The need for more affordable housing has never been greater and we cannot wait another 30 years to serve the next 100 families.

We are still here, 30 years strong, because of our supporters and our shared vision of a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. Help us continue to grow the number of safe and affordable housing in communities across the Greater Ottawa Area for the next 30 years and beyond!