Shuswap, B.C. – June 2-8, 2024

Nineteen volunteers were working on sites in the North Shuswap this week. The volunteers came from Saskatoon, Warman, Cranbrook, Hanley, Winnipeg, Red Deer, Morden, Winkler, Meldrum Bay, Waldheim and Port Moody. We were joined by seven community volunteers on some of the days.  

A brief status report: This week, a significant event occurred at Wayne’s house. Our structural inspection passed, giving us the go-ahead to proceed with the installation of insulation and vapour barriers. Despite a rainy start to the week, the roofing and siding installations were completed thanks to the perseverance of the crews. 

As of today, we have three houses in progress. All three have roofs, two are at lockup, with electrical and plumbing roughed in. Siding and soffit installations are nearing completion on two of them. 

Highlights of the week: We had a homeowner, who works very long hours, join us for supper.  She talked about the hope she had now that she would have a home to live in. She expressed her gratitude several times and with a twinkle in her eye talked about her siblings reuniting on the family property.   

Plans for next week: We hope to successfully complete the second framing inspection. The installation of siding and soffit will likely be finished, and the electrical and plumbing work will be completed on the third house. Hopefully, excavation on the fourth house will also be completed next week. 

One family we are assisting has several gardens, some for personal use and some gardens for selling veggies at the market. The farmer is using some of the timber, downed due to the fire, to repurpose sound wood for fence posts. MDS helped install seven-foot wire fencing to keep out the very large deer population in the area.