Newfoundland Labrador Housing (Housing) tenants from across the province will converge upon Hotel Gander this weekend, September 25-26, for the 24th Annual Tenant Conference, the theme of which is “Putting the Unity in Community”.
“Housing residents know a great deal about housing issues and this is an opportunity for tenants to come together to celebrate the successes of the past year,” said Len Simms, Housing’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “I know how hard these delegates work within their own neighbourhoods and communities – and all the good that comes from these volunteer hours.”
More than 90 tenants, representing 30 tenant associations throughout the province, will attend the conference along with Housing’s board members and staff and representatives of the eight community centres. The focus of this year’s conference is health and wellness. Presenter Gary Summers will engage conference delegates on the importance of achieving work life balance and healthy living.
Conference registration begins at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, and will be followed by greetings from Mr. Simms and a presentation of plaques recognizing anniversary milestones being celebrated by the tenant associations.
Among this year’s milestones: Rabbittown Tenant Association in St. John’s is celebrating its 25th anniversary; Burin-Black Duck Cove Tenant Association is celebrating its 20th anniversary; and Perrault Place Tenant Association in Goose Bay its 15th. Millennium Dream Team Tenant Association, representing tenants of Salter and Anspatch Streets in St. John’s, and Move to Improve Tenant Association in Shea Heights, St. John’s, are both 10 years old.
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Media contacts:
Roger Scaplen
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015
rogerscaplen@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland Labrador Housing
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
The Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and MHA for Humber West, today officially named Newfoundland Labrador Housing’s (Housing) new Corner Brook regional office building after the late Joe Mullins.
Premier Williams was joined by Marie Rideout, widow of Joe Mullins; son Peter Mullins; Len Simms, Housing’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; colleagues, friends and local dignitaries for the official ceremony. A bronze plaque was unveiled which will be placed in the main lobby of the Corner Brook Housing office, once construction is completed later this year.
“It is an honour for me to name this building after a man who was such a great ambassador for his community,” said Premier Williams. “I can’t think of a better way to set the bar higher for the work that will be done under this roof over the coming years. I’m quite certain that Joe would be proud to know his name will be associated with an organization dedicated to providing social housing programs and services to some of our society’s most vulnerable citizens.”
Mr. Mullins, a legendary sports broadcaster, hockey and baseball athlete, and a pillar of his community, died in December 2002, at age 60. He was an active volunteer for countless charity events and community service groups, such as the Janeway telethon and his local municipal council. He was serving his second term as Deputy Mayor of Corner Brook at the time of his death.
“Housing has had a regional office in the Corner Brook area for nearly 30 years,” said the Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of Transportation and Works and Minister Responsible for Housing. “However the administration and maintenance operations worked out of separate locations. The new building is strategically located close to many of Housing’s rental properties in Corner Brook and will enable Housing to consolidate its maintenance and program delivery functions under one roof.”
The Joe Mullins Building will be located on 34 Boone’s Road, Corner Brook. Brook Construction (2007) Inc. started construction on the $2 million facility in April 2009, and it is anticipated to open early in 2010. Designed by Gibbons and Snow Architects of St. John’s, the new one-level building will be about 9,000 square feet, completely wheelchair accessible and able to accommodate the entire Corner Brook staff complement of 38 permanent and seasonal workers.
The Corner Brook regional area has the second largest social housing portfolio in the province outside of the Avalon region, with more than 760 dwellings, serving 1,900 families and individuals throughout Corner Brook, the entire Northern Peninsula and as far east as Hampden.
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Media contacts:
Elizabeth Matthews
Director of Communications
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
elizabethmatthews@gov.nl.ca
Andrea Nolan
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
709-729-4304, 727-0991
andreanolan@gov.nl.ca
Roger Scaplen
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 697-5267
rogerscaplen@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland Labrador Housing
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
The Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and MHA for Humber West, will hold a dedication ceremony to officially name the new Newfoundland Labrador Housing regional office building in Corner Brook.
The ceremony will take place at 12:00 noon on Monday, September 21, at 34 Boone’s Road, Corner Brook.
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Media contacts:
Elizabeth Matthews
Director of Communications
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
elizabethmatthews@gov.nl.ca
Andrea Nolan
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
709-729-4304, 727-0991
andreanolan@gov.nl.ca
Roger Scaplen
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 697-5267
rogerscaplen@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Manager, Communications
Newfoundland Labrador Housing
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Seniors on the Burin Peninsula now have access to a new affordable housing complex built by the Marystown Kinsmen, as a result of $600,000 in federal and provincial funding under the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Affordable Housing Program, which is equally cost-shared.
The Honourable Clyde Jackman, MHA for Burin-Placentia West, on behalf of the Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of Transportation and Works and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland Labrador Housing, presided over the opening ceremony today.
“We are dedicated to helping vulnerable Canadians access suitable, affordable housing,” said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). “Our government will continue to invest in improvements to existing social housing both in Newfoundland and Labrador and across Canada, as a means to stimulate our economy during the global recession.”
“The construction of this housing complex provides seniors in the Burin area the opportunity to receive housing assistance that meets their current needs, and still remain close to family and friends,” said Minister Jackman. “The Provincial Government recently released a new long-term vision for social housing, entitled A Social Housing Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador – Secure Foundations. The Marystown Kinsmen Manor for Seniors is an excellent example of strengthened partnerships in action, and how such partnerships can help attain our goal of providing more viable and affordable housing options for lower-income households throughout the province.”
The Marystown Kinsmen Manor for Seniors consists of two, one-bedroom units and four, two-bedroom units, one of which is fully accessible. In addition to the funding provided under the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Affordable Housing Program, CMHC also provided $20,000 in seed funding to Marystown Kinsmen during the initial planning stages.
“We are extremely proud of this project,” said Russ Murphy, Secretary of the Board for the manor. “It’s a very rewarding feeling to be part of a project that you know will help to make a positive difference in people’s lives.”
In Budget 2009: Building on Our Strong Foundation, the Provincial Government committed $23.6 million for housing investments throughout the province for items such as social housing renovations, energy retrofits, and social housing units for low-income seniors. Additionally, the Federal and Provincial Governments recently announced a joint investment of $93 million to build new and renovate existing affordable housing over the next two years. Overall, the provincial contribution is $50 million, and the federal government is contributing a further $43 million.
Last fall, the Government of Canada committed more than $1.9 billion over the next five years to improve and build new affordable housing and to help the homeless. Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on this with an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion over two years in new and existing social housing and lending of up to another $2 billion to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.
CMHC has been Canada’s national housing agency for more than 60 years. CMHC is committed to helping Canadians access a wide choice of quality, affordable homes and making vibrant and sustainable communities and cities a reality across the country.
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Media contacts:
Jennifer Tulk
Communications Specialist
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-1758, 693-4908
JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca
Jenny Bowring
Communications Manager
Newfoundland Labrador Housing
709-724-3055
jmbowring@nlhc.nl.ca
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary, Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
michelle.bakos@hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca
Dawn L. Ring
Consultant-Communications and Marketing
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
709-772-5973
dring@cmhc.ca
Russ Murphy
Secretary of the Board
Marystown Kinsmen Manor
709-279-2562/279-2520
chcm.sales@vocm.com