'Amazing' ACC, Habitat project celebrated

BRUCE BUMSTEAD/BRANDON SUN Enlarge Image

The Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation acknowledges recipients of the Brandon Housing and Community Awards during its annual general meeting at city hall on Wednesday.

A partnership between Assiniboine Community College and Habitat for Humanity Manitoba was given special recognition yesterday for its affordable housing project.

ACC trades students and Habitat for Humanity volunteers were presented with a 2014 Housing Award from the Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation.

"I cant express how much it means to us to have the opportunity to build a house for Habitat for Humanity," said Zac DeSchutter, ACC student in the pre-employment carpentry program.

DeSchutter spoke to the crowd at BNRCs award ceremony following the organizations annual general meeting in the city hall foyer on Wednesday.

"There are several different reasons why this is such a great opportunity for us. One of them being, we get to learn on a first-hand basis what its like to build a house from the ground up."

DeSchutter said it has also been a "tremendous community building opportunity" for the students.

"We get to know that this house will be there standing for years after we built it, and we can drive by and know thats our first project that we worked on."

Habitat for Humanity and ACC trades students partnered to build a ready-to-move home. Students are building the home as part of their 2014-15 curriculum. Carpentry, woodworking, plumbing and construction electrician programs are all involved in the initiative. The build began in September and is expected to be complete this coming summer.

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'Amazing' ACC, Habitat project celebrated