COLD LAKE - On Sep. 12, Habitat for Humanity marked a joyous occasion as new homeowners received the keys to their homes through Habitat’s affordable homeownership program.
The celebration, held at 5002 54 Avenue, Cold Lake, was made possible through partnerships with the Canadian Mortgage and housing corporation (CMHC), the Government of Alberta, the City of Cold Lake, and Value Master Homes.
“We have our families, our neighbours, and our wonderful Habitat supporters with us today. We’re here to celebrate homeownership, and we’re very excited for it,” said Ann-Marie Reddy, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Edmonton.
Reddy highlighted the importance of affordable housing, stating, “Affordable homeownership is in high demand across Canada, but especially here in Alberta and Cold Lake. By coming together, we were able to construct these four beautiful homes.”
Reddy added, “Homeownership leads to stability. It promotes financial security, helps families build equity, and contributes to a thriving community. By making homeownership affordable, we empower residents to build wealth and foster civic pride.”
Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul MLA Scott Cyr also acknowledged the importance of the day, stating, “Any day we get to celebrate more homes in Alberta is a great day. Habitat for Humanity is not just about building homes but building lives and more resilient communities.”
He also mentioned Alberta’s $400,000 investment in the Cold Lake project, which is part of a larger effort to support 25,000 low-income households by 2031 across the province.
Cold Lake Mayor Craig Copeland expressed pride in the city’s involvement with the project.
“We were really happy to designate six lots for Habitat for Humanity. Seeing the four houses finished up is exciting, and we look forward to working with Habitat in the future.”
Trevor Benoit, president of Value Master Homes, shared his gratitude in being part of the project. “It’s truly an honour to work with Habitat for Humanity. We donated $60,000 toward these homes, and it’s a step toward making homeownership accessible in Cold Lake.”
The event was a dream come true for new homeowners like Maricris Mania.
“Thank you, Habitat, for making our dream a reality. Now we own a home we can call ours, with a big backyard for our son to play in and a space for my husband to garden.”
Iddela Malinao, another new homeowner expressed her gratitude, saying, “Before Habitat, we lived in a two-bedroom apartment. We are so thankful because Habitat gave us the opportunity to have a home of our own.”
