"Building a New Home with Habitat for Humanity

Ten women from Irving Shipbuilding have teamed up to build a new home with Habitat for Humanity in East Preston, Nova Scotia this October. The Women Build initiative is part of Habitat for Humanity’s global campaign that brings women together with the goal of helping families in need of affordable home ownership.

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The house is being built for Yvette Williams, a single mother of two young girls. Yvette was on site with the women of Irving Shipbuilding to help with the build and accomplish her 500 hours of what Habitat for Humanity calls “sweat equity”. In order to take possession of the home, Yvette must accomplish 500 hours of personal volunteer work towards the completion of the build.

Ann Mellema, Director of Program Governance, Irving Shipbuilding explained the importance of this women-only build: “One of the things we focus on at Irving Shipbuilding is outreach in the community. We are demonstrating and encouraging gender diversity in the workforce. Hopefully this can be an example to the youth and people of the community of all of the career opportunities there are for women at Irving Shipbuilding and elsewhere.”

The Irving Shipbuilding team included:

Allison Chua, Production Engineer, Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS)
Justine Dagenais, Junior Engineer, AOPS
Marian Dawe, Project Accountant, Frigate Life Extension program (FELEX)
Maureen Fortier, Senior Quality Control Engineer, Transformation
Sloan Gillis, Supply Chain Co-op Student
Penny Layman, Quality Assurance Specialist, Quality Assurance
Jessica Lockhart, IMS/Change Planner, Planning & Scheduling
Ann Mellema, Director Program Governance
Liane Sandula, Process Analyst, Quality Assurance
Lauren Stotz, Engineering Student

Operating in Nova Scotia since 1992, Habitat for Humanity currently has nine active projects across the province. They hope to have families settled into these homes before the end of this year.

Habitat for Humanity has formed a strong relationship with J.D. Irving, Limited, having had building materials for this build provided by KENT.

“Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia is thrilled to partner with J.D. Irving, Limited,” said Deborah Page, Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs, Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia. “We thank J.D. Irving, Irving Shipbuilding, and we thank KENT a great deal for their continuous support with affordable home ownership here in Nova Scotia.”

A job well done to all of the women of Irving Shipbuilding who took part in this build!

Sloan Gillis (left) and Allison Chua (right) cutting siding.

From left to right: Maureen Fortier, Marian Dawe, and Penny Layman securing stud walls.

Want to learn more about career opportunities with Irving Shipbuilding? Visit our website.