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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Ed Dithurbide, Sylvie Lefort and Riel Lefort, 11, were all smiles Friday as they watched volunteers frame their new home.

Sylvie Lefort, Riel Lefort, 11 and Ed Dithurbide are excited to see their new house being framed by Habitat for Humanity NWT volunteers on Friday. - Daniel Campbell/NNSL photo

"Last week it was just a foundation and now look," Dithurbide said, pointing to the half-built house behind him.

"To be able to own your own home, to pay a mortgage towards that, it's going to feel great," he said.

They're currently renting a three-bedroom apartment, but can't wait to move into their new home, built by Habitat for Humanity, by Christmas.

"There's nothing we can do to repay them," Dithurbide said of the volunteers.

Habitat for Humanity NWT helps build low-cost housing with the help of local communities, families and volunteers.

Dirthurbide and Lefort have two children, Riel and Jeremie, 2. They've been bringing coffee and muffins to the workers all week. Lefort is glad her kids will now have a safe place to play.

"Right now, they have a parking lot," she said. "Now there's going to be a fenced in yard."

Her son Riel piped in, smiling, "One of my friends from school lives right behind me too."

The two-family duplex was scheduled to be completed last year, but ran into complications with the design. Dave Hurley, president of Habitat for Humanity NWT, said the home will be ready to move in by Christmas.

"Now you can see the shape of the house and the rooms," Hurley said. "A week ago, it wasn't there and now it's there."

He said the work wouldn't get completed without the help of volunteers and professional contractors who volunteer their time.

"Our goal is to build a duplex every two years now,” Hurley said. “This one is our first duplex."

Matt Butler, president of Traine Construction Ltd., was on hand Friday to lend some construction expertise to the build.

"We feel lucky to be part of this group," Butler said. "It's pretty important to us."

Butler said his company and High Street Ventures, a real estate development company, have donated their time and their employees' time to help build the home.

"We need people like this," Hurley said of Butler and his crew.

Habitat for Humanity relies on volunteers, but for some of the trickier parts of home construction, Hurley said they need professional builders to help out.

Hurley wants people to know they can volunteer to work with Habitat for Humanity NWT through the organization's website.

"There's going to be lots of opportunities coming in the future," Hurley said.

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