Habitat Toronto: Helping Others and Supporting Women in Construction

Photo: Elida Huignard, President 2006-2010, Head of Operations Wo-Built Inc.
at a volunteer shift with Habitat Toronto for the WOMEN BUILD: May 1-12, 2012
May 2012 © wobuilt.com

Photo: Elida Huignard, President 2006-2010, Head of Operations Wo-Built Inc.
at a volunteer shift with Habitat for Humanity Toronto's Women Build: May 1-12, 2012
May 2012 © wobuilt.com

Photo: Elida Huignard, President 2006-2010, Head of Operations Wo-Built Inc.
at a volunteer shift with Habitat Toronto for the WOMEN BUILD: May 1-12, 2012
May 2012 © wobuilt.com

Photo: Elida Huignard, President 2006-2010, Head of Operations Wo-Built Inc.
at a volunteer shift with Habitat for Humanity Toronto's Women Build: May 1-12, 2012
May 2012 © wobuilt.com

Photo: Elida Huignard, President 2006-2010, Head of Operations Wo-Built Inc.
at a volunteer shift with Habitat Toronto for the WOMEN BUILD: May 1-12, 2012
May 2012 © wobuilt.com

Recently Wo-Built's co-founder Elida Huignard took part again in the Habitat for Humanity Women's Build weekend; hammer, hard hat and all. As a crew member of the CAWIC team we achieved two of our goals which are dear to us: helping others in need and showing our ongoing commitment to support women in construction.

Thank you, Elida, for representing us in this great cause and judging by the pictures it was a lot of fun. I cannot think of anything better; helping others in a fun community way.


Martina Ernst
President/CEO
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and

To learn more, read Habitat Toronto's 2012 Women Build: Wearing a Hard Hat, Supporting a Great Cause

Screenshot: Habitat Toronto for the WOMEN BUILD: May 1-12, 2012
Elida Huignard Fundraising Goal: $200; Amount Raised: $415
Sponsors: 6; 100% of Goal Achieved! Thank you for your support.
Credit: torontohabitat.ca

Building Homes - Leading Women into Construction: Part 2

Photo: Elida Huignard at a volunteer shift during the Women Build Blitz
2009 © wobuilt.com

President Wo-Built Inc. Elida Huignard: My experience volunteering with Habitat for Humanity as part of the team for the Toronto Womens’ Blitz in May, 2009 - Part 2

When I arrived, the site already had a lot of houses being built by Daniels that were almost complete. Eight houses were to be built during the blitz, with the foundations completed and some corner panels for the 1st floor on. See photo. We were required to put all the tools and supplies from pencils to saws, from caulking guns to ladders, and safety equipment etc. in 4 different containers inside, in front of each group of semidetached houses. A lot of care was taken to put everything into an orderly manner so that the crew leaders in each shift were able to find everything easily.

At this time I noticed another team working at installing wall panels. I put in a request to switch teams so that I would be able to see some new techniques on the actual panel installation. The Sip panels used at the Hartford site are a sandwich of chip board with a Styrofoam core that simplifies the construction of the standard balloon-frame construction and has an intrinsic insulating value. This method of installation was different from the process that I was familiar with. Tom, our team leader put a lot of care in showing me how to handle the panels so that they did not get damaged, how to check the level and maintain them temporarily in position. Our team consisted of Tom, our crew leader, myself - a woman with a lot of experience in construction and 3 young men with no experience in construction at all. We prepared the posts that are installed in between panels which consisting in lots of hammering. We were shown nail removal skills, how to use a lot of sealant and got absolutely filthy with the caulking gun because we were not familiar with this particular type. We then had to use the sledge hammer to jam the panels into place and to take out some of our frustrations as well. At end of the day I realized that although I had been quite smug about not needing any training to go on site, I had learned quite a few different methods in the DIY area.

The following day I attended a dinner meeting with all the other female crew leaders and house leaders. It was a fun affair, and although it was a simple serve on picnic tables at the site, we were all required to wear our safety boots and hats. During the meeting the organizers and site supervisors clarified for us how to guide the volunteers assigned to us towards a successful experience during the blitz. We were also shown a finished semi-detached home to demonstrate what we were going to help build. When we realized the enormity of the task at hand – building 4 homes complete with a roof structure and windows with a group of people who had little or no experience - our doubts and fears were quickly dissipated and our questions
were answered during the Question and Answer period.

Afterwards, when chatting with Tom and his wife Laura, also crew leaders, I was delighted to discover they had just arrived from Argentina, my country of origin, where they had been trekking through the glaciers in Patagonia and also through Buenos Aires. It truly is a small world!

Elida Huignard
President
Wo-Built Inc.

Look for our next instalment of this amazing experience in future postings on our forum.

links:
Habitat for Humanity Toronto - The Women Build Blitz - May 1-9, 2009
Wo-Built Inc. Partners With Habitat for Humanity Toronto's Women Build Initiative
Wo-Built Inc.: Building Homes - Leading Women into Construction: Part 1

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Habitat Toronto's 2012 Women Build: Wearing a Hard Hat, Supporting a Great Cause

Screenshot: Join Habitat Toronto for the WOMEN BUILD: May 1-12, 2012
Please Sponsor Elida Huignard in Habitat Toronto's 2012 Women Build!
Credit: torontohabitat.ca

"The Habitat for Humanity Toronto Women Build (May 1-12, 2012) brings the women of this city together to help families living in need.
It's an exciting and rewarding way to make new friends, learn new skills and show how much we can do when we put our efforts into helping each other."
- Habitat Toronto's 2012 Women Build

Habitat Toronto's 2012 Women Build

In one of Canada's most affluent cities, tens of thousands of hard working families are trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty where they do not have a safe and decent place to live. I am choosing to do something about the poverty housing issue in my city. Together we can give Toronto families a better life and future.

I'm participating in Habitat Toronto's 2012 Women Build. In May, I will be picking up a hammer and donning a hard hat with hundreds of other women to help build 6 homes for local families living in need.

You can help support my efforts to make a difference by making a secure online donation using your credit card. Click on the link below:

http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=1424956

For more information on how YOU can participate in Habitat Toronto's 2012 Women Build, please visit www.torontohabitat.ca/womenbuild

Together we can give Toronto families a hand up and build healthier, happier communities.

Thanks for your support!

Elida Huignard
President 2006-2010, Head of Operations
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

We would like to give our wholehearted support to Habitat for Humanity which is a wonderful cause after our own heart. Wo-Built's co-founder Elida Huignard is taking part again in the Habitat for Humanity Women's Build this weekend; hammer, hard hat and all.

This is a great cause and please support her generously.

Wo-Built's Team

links:

Read Elida's experience volunteering with Habitat for Humanity as part of the team for the Toronto Womens’ Blitz in May, 2009: Building Homes - Leading Women into Construction.

Wo-Built Inc. Partners With Habitat for Humanity Toronto's Women Build Initiative

Photo: Elida Huignard at a volunteer shift during the Women Build Blitz
2009 © wobuilt.com

The Women Build Blueprint:
The objective: Breaking the cycle of poverty for 16 Toronto families, and generating thousands of new donors and volunteers to increase our ongoing build capacity.
The scope: 16 Energy Star® homes
The target: $2 million dollars
The launch: May 10, 2008 (Mother's Day)
The build blitz: Scheduled for May 1st through May 9th, 2009. A Women Build Blitz; thousands of Toronto women uniting to build homes and hope in their community.
The build site: Hainford St. (Lawrence Ave. and Manse Rd.)

We would like to give our wholehearted support to Habitat for Humanity which is a wonderful cause after our own heart. Our president, Elida Huignard has most generously volunteered her services as a Crew Leader and has already worked her first shift last week. She will be reporting on her experiences and the general progress of the project in our upcoming posts on our forum. Look for the exciting details!

Wo-built Inc. would like to congratulate Habitat for Humanity for a great project and offer our unconditional support for a worthy cause.

Lonya is the staff writer for Wo-Built Inc.

links:
On May 1st – 9th, Habitat for Humanity Toronto will host thousands of women for its Women Build initiative. These women will come together to build homes with low income families in the West Hill area of Scarborough. The Women Build is all about the solidarity of women, and the power to change the lives of those in need. It is also a tangible way for women to directly help other women. This Blitz Build will go down in Habitat for Humanity history as the largest Women Build in Canada, and our goal is to raise $2 million dollars.
For more information, please visit www.helpwomenbuild.ca,
email womenbuild@torontohabitat.on.ca or call 416-755-7353
by Joanna

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We Were Mentioned in the Star

Martina Ernst and Elida Huignard at the Pre-Apprenticeship Training Institute, founded Wo-Built.
Photo by Jim Ross, The Toronto Star

We were mentioned in the Toronto Star on April 19th, 2008 Building on women's skills.
Article by Donna Laporte, REAL ESTATE Reporter, The Toronto Star, Condo section.

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS
Building on women's skills
Etobicoke contracting firm
encourages more to consider give
their careers a finishing touch

Women, if you're good with your hands, detail-oriented, like watching renovation shows and don't mind getting a bit dirty, then maybe a career in the finishing trades is for you.

Painting, drywalling, carpentry and cabinetmaking are part of the vast array of skilled trades that don't often register on women's radar.

Two female architects are out to change that.

More than a year ago, Martina Ernst and Elida Huignard co-founded Wo-Built, a general contracting firm based in Etobicoke, to encourage women to enter the building trades by hiring and mentoring them in their renovation business.

There is no shortage of work for women who are already trained. But there's room for many more.

If you want to read the whole article, please click on the link below.
http://www.thestar.com/article/414967

link:
TheStar.com - News & Features - Building on women's skills

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Wo-Built's Design & Build Philosophy

Notes from the Desk of Martina Ernst:
1) Thank Ari Berman for his contribution to the Information Forum
2) Write about Wo-Built's Design & Build Philosophy

• Design & Build Part 1: Is the Design and Build Process Better Than the Traditional Construction One?
• Design & Build Part 2: So, Is Design and Build the Solution?
• Design & Build Part 3: How will we know if a Design and Build contractor is pricing accurately?
• Design & Build Part 4: Some more thoughts on Design and Build

Ari Berman’s editorial comments on traditional construction projects versus Design & Build projects reflect some of the reasons why we wanted to be a Design & Build contractor. My heartfelt thanks for your contribution Ari.

Our values are very much anchored in professionalism and customer service and we felt we could best serve our customers by providing a total Design & Build experience. Both Elida Huignard and I have architectural backgrounds and we know the importance of upfront planning and communication between designer and contractor. Combining the two functions under one roof enables faster and better communications, hence making design changes less likely during the construction phase.

The upfront involvement also allows for better planning of necessary resources, both labour and material. Better planning usually results in more efficient use of these resources, reducing delays and last minute high cost purchases. Quality generally is higher with upfront planning and expectations are managed on all sides. Often the most important aspect of a good renovation or construction project is knowing what comes next and what to expect next.

Both Elida and I have worked on large projects in the past and we know the importance of budget restraints, cost planning, adherence to deadlines and the importance of great quality work. The design and build process gives us the confidence to be able to deliver a great quality product and leave a client happy.

Martina Ernst
CEO
Wo-Built Inc

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Building Homes - Leading Women into Construction

Photo: A Volunteer Shift During the Women Build Blitz on May, 2009
2009 © wobuilt.com + flickr.com: Habitat Toronto's photostream

President Wo-Built Inc. Elida Huignard: My experience volunteering with Habitat for Humanity as part of the team for the Toronto Womens’ Blitz in May, 2009

Because Wobuilt Inc. has a special objective of introducing more women into the skilled trades of the construction industry, when we heard about the Habitat for Humanity Toronto Womens’ Blitz in May of 2009 we wanted to participate in a very significant way.

After several meetings with Arundel Gibson VP of Peoples’ Communication in late 2008, we were able to contribute to the course outline for Crew Leaders. This course was designed mainly for female leaders, and ran in the months of February and March of 2009 at the Habitat University. It included a complete overview of the construction methods used at the Habitat sites, because the majority of women have very little experience in the construction industry. Women were taught how to use carpentry tools such as a hammer, a saw and drill etc. as well as many other skills required in the building trades.

As the project manager of Wobuilt Inc., and having had extensive experience in my field, I was able to join the Womens’ Build as a Crew Leader without going through the required course work. That morning I arrived at the site very early and was quite eager to make a start. Since I had already registered the day before the blitz started, I needed only to sign my waiver (assuming full responsibility for myself at the site). After donning my name tag, I was given a safety talk and the safety equipment that I would require on site. The Volunteer Coordinator was there to guide us and to help find our way around the site as well as providing us with coffee and cookies at the main trailer.

It was raining that day, but I was prepared with my rain poncho, while some of the others were making makeshift raincoats from garbage bags to protect themselves against the elements. We were then divided into teams and because of the rain which prevented us from participating in the building process, we worked on relocating all the supplies in anticipation for the hundreds of volunteers that would be arriving the following weekend. With the help of the Habitat van, we were able to move all the greeting supplies and t-shirts for the volunteers to the Hainford site in Scarborough.

Elida Huignard
President
Wo-Built Inc.

Look for our next instalment of this amazing experience in future postings on our forum.

links:
Wo-Built Inc. Partners With Habitat for Humanity Toronto's Women Build Initiative
Habitat for Humanity Toronto - The Women Build Blitz - May 1-9, 2009
Arundel Gibson on Twitter

Wo-Built’s New Years Resolution: Being Involved in Community Building Projects

Photo: Elida Huignard, President Wo-Built Inc. at a volunteer shift
with Habitat for Humanity as part of the team for the Toronto Womens’ Blitz
May 2009 © wobuilt.com

2010 – a year of refocus and change for Wo-Built. We love making dreams come true for our residential clients, but we would like to add to the mix – projects that effect many people and making their lives better.

Therefore, we would like to be more involved in projects that are geared towards the community – such as community housing, health and wellness centres, daycare centres, youth and community centres, housing for the elderly and private community centred businesses – and we would like to be there from the start at the design stage.

We started in 2006 with the goal to help women succeed in the building trades and we are looking for opportunities to provide mentoring and training more successfully. We believe that some community building projects can be ideal to further this goal.

What could be better than providing a necessary building while helping women to build a future for themselves.

Martina Ernst
CEO
Wo-Built Inc.

links:
Wobuilt Inc: 2008 New Year Message from the CEO
Wobuilt Inc: 2009 New Year's Message from the CEO

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What Is Special About Our Design And Built Construction Company?

Poster: Wo-Built Design @ Build Construction
2010 @ wobuilt.com

We would like to share our thoughts and expertise about what makes us special as a construction company in prior to opening the 14th Annual Residential Construction and Renovation Trade Show (December 1-3, 2010).

Wo-Built Inc, is a one-stop shop design and build construction company.

We specialize in home additions and extensions, and we have extensive expertise in residential renovations. One of our most popular renovation services is kitchen design and remodeling. As a company we provide our clients with innovative designs and excellent construction practices. Each project starts with our unique "dream home assessment", and is a wonderful starting point for evaluating the pros and cons of any project that our client has in mind.

As a female-led construction company we believe that women have a special talent for providing care & attention to detail and we use the distinctive talents of women whenever possible. We call this our unique "Women's touch". We are also looking to bring Wo-Built's expertise to include commercial projects as well.

When we started the company we did so with a social mission in mind. We wanted to provide women an avenue to explore the trades as a viable career option. We are presently in collaboration with George Brown College to establish a course outline for a training program for women in the trades.

We also play a mentoring role for women as well as providing them an opportunity to work on our various projects and hone their skills in the trades to fulfill their dreams. In addition we have created a cartoon character called WoBinna in the hopes of encouraging more young women to consider a career in the trades as one of their choices.

As a company, we embrace "green" building whenever and wherever we can, and in each project that we undertake, we strive to minimize our ecological footprint as much as possible.


For more information, please contact us

Elida Huignard, President
Martina Ernst, CEO

Wo-Built Inc
Suite #3, 1287 St. Clair Ave West
Toronto, ON M6E 1B8, Canada
In the heart of Corso Italia

phone: 416-402-2679
ph/fax: 416-354-2555
e-mail: info@wobuilt.com
website: wobuilt.com

Follow us on social media sites

blogger: wobuilt
twitter: @wobuilt
facebook: Wo-Built
linkedin: Wo-Built Inc

Links to Media Publications about Wo-Built:

Toronto Star: Women at Work - Driving home the message
"Wo-Build and the Canadian Association of Women in Construction are working with the Pink Nail Project . The proceeds go towards bursaries to aid women entering the trades."
by Shauna Rempel
Published Jun 29, 2007

Toronto Star: Women and Education - Trades program offers lesson on repairing lives
by Daniel Girard, education reporter
Published Aug 27, 2007

Toronto Star: Breaking Down Barriers - Building on women's skills
photo by Jim Ross: Martina Ernst and Elida Huignard at the Pre-Apprenticeship Training Institute, founded Wo-Built.
"Women, if you're good with your hands, detail-oriented, like watching renovation shows and don't mind getting a bit dirty, then maybe a career in the finishing trades is for you. Painting, drywalling, carpentry and cabinetmaking are part of the vast array of skilled trades that don't often register on women's radar."
by Donna Laporte, real estate reporter
Published Apr 19, 2008

SNAP Bloor-West Village: Craft Market Hosts Home Design Series
Photo: Martina and Deborah from Wo-Built Inc. with Mary (middle) of Wise Daughters Craft Market
"The ladies from Wo-Built Inc., a local design and build company, brought their expertise and knowledge to Wise Daughters Craft Market at the beginning of April for the first of six interactive talks centering around making changes in the home, a major focal point at this time of the year."
Published May 2009

Proud FM Radio: Wo-Built's Interview on 103.9 FM
Published July 8, 2009