Twenty years ago Brian Seargeant was at a housing conference in Toronto and heard a speech by the president of Habitat for Humanity Canada.
The idea of helping low-income families build their own homes with a low-interest, affordable mortgage struck a chord.
Seargeant brought the idea back to Thunder Bay, and in 1996 the local chapter was born.
On Friday they celebrated the launch of their 20th anniversary, fittingly in the revamped and enlarged ReStore facility, the second-hand building-materials outlet that helps finance the overhead needed to keep the program alive in the city.
“The idea just sparkled to me,” Seargeant said. “I just got so excited about that I came back to Thunder Bay and called a bunch of people I knew to create a board and off we went. It’s one of those things that happen only a few times in your life that something just bangs you. That was one for me.”
At the time he had no idea it would reach the heights it has.
He compared it to the birth of his child, and the expectations one has becoming a parent.
Seargeant said he never imagined what it would be like when his daughter was 28, with a career as a midwife.
“I think it’s the same thing when you give birth to something like Habitat. You don’t really imagine into the future. But then when you stand here and people want to celebrate, you says ‘Wow, that is something,’” he said.
“I don’t really think I thought about it as something going on in the future.”
Habitat for Humanity Thunder Bay CEO Diane Mitchell said marking the milestone was a special moment.
But it’s one that snuck up on staff.
“It’s been a long time, but it seems to have gone so fast,” said Mitchell, who arrived at the organization about a decade ago.
“It’s been 20 years of being able to pay for the administrative expenses so that when we build houses with donations, you know where your money goes. It has been great.”
The ReStore got its start at a Front Street building no larger than a typical garage, then moved to its current location in 2000. A year ago an expansion to 11,000 square feet was completed.
“We have really grown over the years and our team that is mainly comprised of volunteers, is incredibly proud of the progress and dollars raised for the community and families in need,” said store manager Christa Ayotte.
About 34,000 customers were served last year and they took in 5,250 donations.
To celebrate, the ReStore is hosting a week-long anniversary party starting Monday. Events include discounts, community appreciation, barbecues and cake.
