HABITAT FOR HUMANITY CANADA TO LAUNCH CANADA BUILDS, A NEW WAY FOR CANADIANS TO VOLUNTEER AND SUPPORT HABITAT PROJECTS NATIONWIDE

CALGARY, AB, May 22, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Tuesday, May 27, Habitat for Humanity Canada will launch an entirely new way for Canadians to engage in the mission of Habitat, travel, and give back to Canadian communities.

With providing support to disaster stricken areas as one of the focuses of the new program, Habitat for Humanity Canada has chosen a build site in Calgary for its launch, due to the devastation caused by flooding in Southern Alberta last June.


WHAT: Program Announcement: Canada Builds, a new way for Canadians to volunteer and support Habitat projects nationwide

WHEN:    Tuesday, May 27, 2014  1:00 p.m.

WHERE:   215 Redstone Drive NE, Calgary, Alberta

WHO:     Rick Tait, senior director, Global Village, Habitat for Humanity Canada  
             Leslie Tamagi, president and CEO, Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta
             Debbie McPherson, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Genworth Canada
    
PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES:

-    Inaugural Canada Builds volunteers from the Greater Toronto Area assisting in the construction of a Calgary Habitat for Humanity home to help alleviate the even greater affordable housing need brought by the destruction caused by flooding last year.

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:

-    Rick Tait, senior director of Global Village, Habitat for Humanity Canada, available to speak to the impact Canada Builds will have on communities and Habitat projects across Canada.
-    Debbie McPherson, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Genworth Canada, available to speak about why Genworth Canada, long-time supporter of Habitat, chose to support the launch of Canada Builds as founding partner.

Note: Construction site safety regulations require CSA approved gear to be worn on the build site. A selection of CSA approved hard hats and work boots will be available on site.

About Habitat for Humanity Canada:

Founded in 1985, Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, non-profit organization working towards a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. With the help of over 63,000 volunteers every year and 65 affiliate organizations from coast to coast, their mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to break the cycle of poverty in Canada and around the world. For more information, please visit www.habitat.ca.