Winnipeg, MB – Qualico employees recently participated in a Habitat for Humanity Manitoba (Habitat Manitoba) Team Build Day, helping to build safe and affordable housing for community members who face financial barriers to owning their own homes.

Home is the foundation on which all our lives are built. It’s where we feel safe, raise our families, start businesses, make memories with friends, and build communities. That’s why thousands of people around the world, in communities like ours, are working with Habitat to build a better future through housing.

There is a long-standing relationship between Qualico and Habitat. Qualico Manitoba and Saskatchewan Region hosts two Habitat Team Build days a year. Together, the two organizations share similar values of building sustainably and contributing to ending the cycle of poverty.

Hillary Castaneda, Regional Communications Business Partner, Qualico, Manitoba & Saskatchewan, has volunteered multiple times. She participated in the latest Team Build day and described the experience as nothing short of inspiring and fulfilling.

“One of the most rewarding aspects is the chance to meet and work with people from other business units you wouldn’t typically have the opportunity to engage with,” Hillary said. “These interactions not only help build stronger connections among coworkers but also contribute to strengthening our company culture in meaningful ways.”

Aside from volunteer build days and monetary donations, Qualico also donates furniture and décor items to Habitat ReStore locations, which helps divert significant amounts of material from landfills and generates funds that go towards building more homes.

Habitat Manitoba is also privileged to have Bryan Ward, Vice-President, Qualico Communities, serve as the Chair of Habitat Manitoba’s Board of Directors. Ward plays a key leadership role by providing industry expertise for special projects and initiatives at Habitat Manitoba.

David Eggerman, Regional Vice-President for Manitoba & Saskatchewan, said Qualico’s partnership with Habitat Manitoba reflects the company’s commitment to helping build better cities through affordable housing.

“We believe that vibrant, thriving communities are built on strong foundations, and housing plays a critical role in providing stability, dignity and opportunity for families,” David said. “Partnering with Habitat reinforces our shared values across all of our business units by highlighting the importance of collective impact, collaboration, and community-building, and allows us to demonstrate a unified commitment to living our values in action.”

According to Michele Happy, Partnership Development Manager at Habitat Manitoba, Qualico has helped build a better future for hundreds of Habitat families, and we are grateful for this important and valuable relationship.

“For many years, Qualico has been a steadfast supporter, and their commitment to creating positive change in our community is both inspiring and deeply appreciated,” Michele said. “We hope Qualico’s example inspires others to get involved, whether through volunteering, fundraising, or advocacy. Together, we are building more than homes; we are building community, resilience and a better future for generations to come.”

Initiatives like the Habitat Team Build days give Qualico employees a chance to support important causes and connect with colleagues across departments while making a positive community impact.