More time to help others

In 2017, schools of redhorse suckers streamed through a culvert into Jeanne Gauthier and Steve MacKenzie’s flooded yard. They were so plentiful that an organized response was needed to return the fish to the Ottawa River.

That was the first time Gauthier and MacKenzie’s Constance Bay, Ontario, home and property flooded. “It was quite the experience… we were surrounded by water, and we tried to make light of it,” said MacKenzie.

Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) responded to the 2017 Constance Bay flood, in partnership with the local West Carleton Disaster Relief (WCDR) organization. MDS volunteers helped locals sandbag, rebuilt a home, and replaced insulation in Gauthier and MacKenzie’s crawl space.

But, what MacKenzie explains should have been the flood of a century was repeated twice more over the following six years.

A deer grazes in Gauthier and MacKenzie’s wooded backyard. MDS photo/Nikki Hamm Gwala

Gauthier, 58, and MacKenzie, 62, wanted to escape fast paced city life when they left Ottawa, Ontario, nearly two decades ago.

The couple shares a love for nature. They both grew up on farms and were drawn to Constance Bay, a rural community along the sparkling Ottawa River. The small town seemed like a perfect fit. They purchased a double lot across the road that runs along the river. Deer grazed in their wooded backyard. Fishing opportunities were plentiful in both the summer and winter. And the community was close knit with most residents known to each other by first name.

Over the years, Gauthier and MacKenzie have prioritized community building in Constance Bay — volunteering to support local kids programming, search and rescue efforts, and provide comforting meals to the town’s older adults. The latter, a shared highlight for the couple over two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. They established and ran the meal program with the community’s financial support. Gauthier prepared weekly meals for approximately 30 of the community’s seniors and MacKenzie provided delivery service.

“I think I had the best job,” laughed MacKenzie. “I just remember the smiles on their faces when I’d bring [a meal] to the door, and they’d just tell me, ‘Come on in, I’ve been waitin’ for ya.’”

The Ottawa River at Constance Bay, Ontario. MDS photo/Nikki Hamm Gwala

Even as their own home flooded, the couple helped sandbag neighbours’ properties. But each flood took a toll on them. Just before the 2017 flood reached their home’s floor level, MacKenzie suffered a heart attack. With ongoing health concerns, he was forced to go on disability the following year. Gauthier developed post-traumatic stress disorder after a 2019 flood — the worst of three.

Although the couple had dealt with mold and rot in the aftermath of the first two floods, their home was beyond repair, with the foundation severely compromised, after a 2023 flood. Gauthier and MacKenzie knew they needed new housing, but their options were limited. They couldn’t afford to rebuild their home, and their house and property value had tanked. With one salary, buying another home was not an option.

While the couple had a long track record of helping their neighbours and community, they had a hard time asking for help when they needed it. Gauthier explained that they were raised on the philosophy that “someone always has it worse than you.” Because of their community connections, the WCDR sought them out and referred the couple to MDS. Volunteers began a two-bedroom house build for the couple this February.

Jeanne Gauthier and Steve MacKenzie’s elevated house, built by MDS volunteers in 2025. MDS photo/Nikki Hamm Gwala

“I just can’t believe how blessed we are that this even came about. I’m still pinching myself,” said Gauthier.

Since the build began, more than 40 volunteers — most from Old Order and Old Colony communities in southern Ontario — have contributed to Gauthier and MacKenzie’s new house. Osiah Horst, MDS Ontario Unit Chair and this project’s co-coordinator, shared that while it can be a challenge to keep volunteers busy on a one-house response, they always had the volunteer support that was needed, at the right time.

Since volunteer groups were small, Horst chose not to fill a volunteer cook position most weeks. He planned to buy sandwich supplies for lunches but never needed to. Gauthier was ready to fill a gap. “She wanted to do her part in feeding the volunteers,” explained Horst.

Gauthier prepared and froze a dozen or so meals before the build began, made baked goods for coffee breaks and helped coordinate meal donations from other community members who wanted to help. “It was beyond awesome,” said Horst, who was quick to credit the local food committee for their dedication.

“We’re just so grateful for all the work,” explained Gauthier. “Without that, we wouldn’t be where we are today. We probably wouldn’t even still be here.”

Vincent Demers, a weekly volunteer, installs trim in Jeanne Gauthier and Steve MacKenzie’s new home. MDS photo/Nikki Hamm Gwala

Their new home has been built well above the river’s flood levels. “That’s relieving a lot of the stress and the trauma that I feel,” said Gauthier.

“If it does flood… we’ll have more time to help others now,” added MacKenzie.

While volunteers put the finishing touches on their new house, Gauthier looks forward to hosting kids and grandkids again. As for MacKenzie, his first move will be to take in a new river view from their front deck.

Nikki Hamm Gwala, MDS Canada Communications

Young women from the Markham Waterloo Mennonite Conference, southern Ontario, volunteered to paint the Constance Bay home. Photo courtesy of Osiah Horst