Grade 6 Peterborough Student A Runner Up Winner in National Writing Contest

May 23, 2023, Peterborough, On– In a difficult year of rising costs in housing and rent in our local community, the importance of families having a safe, decent, and affordable home is more important than ever– but what does home mean to you?

Habitat for Humanity Canada has announced the winners of the Meaning of Home, a national writing contest where 12,265 students answered this very question. Every year, each student earns a $10 donation to their local Habitat for their submission with three grand prize winners who win a $30,000 grant towards their local Habitat for Humanity build, and nine runners up, including Ellyot Wood, a local Peterborough Grade 6 student who won a $10,000 grant towards Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region for her entry What home means to me.

Home is not just a place or building, it’s the feeling of love, care, happiness, joy and confidence. Wherever you are, you are loved and that’s a home for me.

Ellyot Wood

Since 2007, the Meaning of Home contest encourages students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 to share what home means to through a short essay or poem and this year, students were able to raise $302,650 for local Habitat for Humanity organizations across Canada, with a total of $12,560 going towards Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region. These much-needed funds will go towards building homes for families in need of a safe and secure place to call home.

Ellyot read her written piece in front of locally elected public officials, Habitat Canada representative, media, and members of the community at Habitat PKR’s Phase 2 Build Kick-Off last May 23 in the City of Peterborough. The event marked the beginning of construction of the Phase 2 12-unit condo development on Leahy’s Lane, the project of which Ellyot’s grant will support. Among those who came to celebrate her win were her close family members, her teacher Lindsay Ruthowsky, and a representative from the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDSB).

Safety, security, a place of love, a place to grow, play, learn and make memories – these are the things that children say matter most when asked what home means to them,” says Julia Deans, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada.

“Housing provides a foundation for all these things, and we continue to build and advocate so more families can benefit from affordable homeownership,” adds Deans.

“Since the Meaning of Home contest began in 2007, over 100,000 students have shared what home means to them. With the support of Sagen as founding sponsor, these students have raised $2.3 million to help more families in need of homes build stronger lives through housing,” said Stuart Levings, President and CEO of Sagen.

Congratulations to all the winners, and the parents and teachers who encouraged their children to participate in community building, through joining The Meaning of Home contest. A big Habitat thank you to the generous support of Founding Sponsor, SagenTM, and Award Sponsors Urban Systems Foundation, Face to Face Games, and Home Trust.

To read all the winning entries, please visit www.meaningofhome.ca/page/winners2023.

About Sagen™

As a sponsor since 2000, Sagen has donated over $6.8 million in support of Habitat Canada and has helped thousands of Canadian families realize their dreams of affordable homeownership. While Sagen’s financial support provides crucial funding for their homeownership program, its support of Habitat Canada extends far beyond financial support. Throughout the sponsorship, Sagen employees from all levels of the organization, including President and CEO Stuart Levings and his executive team, have lent their leadership experience, industry knowledge and time to help launch many of Habitats’ signature programs, including the Sagen Homebuilding Grants, Global Village Volunteer Program in Canada and the Meaning of Home Contest. These programs, along with Sagen’s support and involvement in them has significantly increased their ability to raise funds, recruit volunteers and ultimately, support more families and build stronger communities.

Find out more at www.sagen.ca

About Habitat for Humanity Canada

Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national charitable organization working toward a world where everyone has a decent and affordable place to call home. Habitat for Humanity brings communities together to help families build strength, stability and independence through affordable homeownership. With the help of volunteers, Habitat homeowners and 46 local Habitats working in every province and territory, we provide a solid foundation for better, healthier lives in Canada and around the world. Habitat for Humanity Canada is a member of Habitat for Humanity International, which was established in 1976 and has grown to become a leading global non-profit working in more than 70 countries.

Learn more about Habitat Canada.

About Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (PKR)

With the help of volunteers, donors, partners, and Habitat homeowners, we build and rehabilitate decent and affordable homes, from single-family houses to multi-unit developments. We don’t give away free homes – the families and individuals who partner with us pay an affordable mortgage geared to their income and volunteer at least 500 volunteer hours with us.

We’re a regional affiliate of Habitat for Humanity Canada. We serve Peterborough City, Peterborough County, the City of Kawartha Lakes, and the Haliburton Highlands area.

Our model of affordable homeownership bridges a gap for low-income, working families and individuals, by providing them with the opportunity to purchase their own homes.

Since 2002, we’ve helped 82 families into affordable homeownership in the Peterborough and Kawartha Region.

Learn more about Habitat PKR.

For more information contact, Communications & Donor Services Manager Jenn MacDonald at jenn@habitatpkr.ca