A group of women recently rolled up their sleeves in Haliburton County and built a bunkie, all while raising $15,000 for affordable housing projects in the Peterborough and Kawartha area.
Swinging hammers and learning how to use power tools, the participants of the second annual Women Build Retreat organized by Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR) used their acquired skills to build the bunkie while also spending the weekend engaging in outdoor events and activities and relaxing.
The event held from October 3 to 5 at Camp Timberlane in the Haliburton Highlands attracted more than 60 women from across the province.
Holly McKinnon, Habitat PKR’s marketing and communications manager, shared a few details with kawarthaNOW about the popular initiative.
“We’ve seen from our past Women Build projects and now our Women Build Retreat that women really want to get hands-on learning in how to build,” McKinnon said.
“They want to feel confident in using power tools and take on their own home projects, both big and small. These are practical skills, but too often women don’t get the chance to try and learn them in a supportive environment and we want to change that.”
Guided by Habitat PKR’s professional female construction staff who have built homes in the community, participants worked together to construct the seven-by-10-foot bunkie from start to finish. The completed bunkie was donated to Haliburton’s Places for People, a local affordable housing organization.
The bunkie will be raffled off to raise additional funds for a new partnership between Places for People and Habitat PKR that will see a 35-unit affordable condominium development built on Peninsula Road in Haliburton. The development would include 20 affordable home ownership units and 15 affordable rental units.
“Moments like our Women Build Retreat remind me how powerful community can be when people come together, learning, giving back, and building toward something lasting,” said Habitat PKR CEO Susan Zambonin in a media release. “It was incredible to see so many women learning new skills, supporting each other, and helping make affordable housing a reality for more families in our region.”
According to McKinnon, the proceeds raised from the Women Build Retreat will help Habitat PKR “keep doing what we do best — creating more opportunities for families to have safe, stable, affordable homes in the Peterborough and Kawartha region.”
Beyond the building work, participants also took part in yoga, archery, kayaking, pickleball, and paddleboarding during the retreat. Highlights included a wine-pairing session with Leah Spooner Wine, a life-coaching workshop called “The Worthy Blueprint with Lisa Fell,” and a gourmet s’mores bar by Miss Grove & Co.
The event was presented by D.M. Wills, with support from sponsors Sun Life Kalyta Financial Solutions, NuVolt Group Canada, Dawson Gray LLP, and kawarthaNOW.
For women who missed the retreat but are also interested in learning hands-on construction skills, Habitat PKR is launching a new series of “Women Build Workshops,” with each workshop focusing on a different set of tools and techniques that will empower women to tackle their own DIY projects with confidence.
The workshops will run on six Wednesday evenings from October 29 to December 10 at the former Lakefield ReStore location at 3001 Lakefield Road in Selwyn Township. Sessions will cover topics including hand tool basics, an introduction to power tools, and a full build project. Each workshop costs $95, or $525 for all six workshops, with all materials included.
For more information and to register for the workshops, visit women-build-workshops.raiselysite.com.
