THUNDER BAY - It was a lot of hard work, but when Ron Sawchuk was handed the keys to his brand new home surrounded by people he calls family, he couldn’t help but tear up.
“I can’t wait to move in right away and do what I do best, help other people,” Sawchuk said.
Sawchuk was the 2017 partner family for Habitat for Humanity Thunder Bay and on Monday a key ceremony was held to welcome him to his new home on Dease Street.
Dan Stezenko, CEO for Habitat for Humanity Thunder Bay, said the key ceremony is an important day for all the volunteers and people working toward the goal of building a home to help change someone’s life.
“We wait all year for this day because this is the day we actually see all of our efforts come to fruition and we get to see that family move in,” he said.
Construction began on the home on July 10 and since the ground was first broken, Sawchuk was on the site nearly every day helping out.
“All of our partner families put in at least 500 hours of sweat-quity we call it, because they partner with us to build the home,” Stezenko said. “Ron actually put in many more than 500 hours. He was a very active partner and he was here almost daily working on his house.”
Sawchuk said it was difficult for him, after doctors said he should stay off his feet for a time because of a leg infection, but he wasn’t going to let that stop him from pitching in to build his new home.
“I came out to the house to help as much as I can,” he said. “I liked all the people that worked here. It feels like they are a big happy family and I like working with everybody.”
“We’ve gotten to know Ron extremely well,” Stezenko said. “He’s a great, hardworking guy that just needed a break. He’s had a rough life and we are just trying to change that a little bit. And he’s a friend. He’s not just a partner family. We’ve grown to know him as a friend and this is a special day for all of us.”
Habitat for Humanity Thunder Bay builds one home a year with a partner family and during the key ceremony the family for next year's build was introduced. Shelley and Donna-Lynn Laughton were chosen from 25 applicants this year and they both said they are very excited to start work on their new home.
And as soon as construction begins on the next build later next year, Sawchuk said he will be there to lend a hand, just like everyone else who helped him achieve his dream.
“It’s nice to see other people getting involved with stuff like this,” he said. “I will surely be there to help them out as much as they helped me out.”
