Company News :: Tolko Industries Ltd

For immediate release: November 16, 2006

Tolko employees return from Louisiana
Team spent a week rebuilding homes for Hurricane Katrina victims

Vernon, BC - This Saturday, November 18, a team of ten Tolko employees from across Western Canada will return to their friends and families after what some called “the experience of a lifetime”.

The employees, randomly selected from 90 applicants in early October, departed for New Orleans on Nov. 11 and spent the week working on homes currently under construction in Thibodaux, Louisiana—an hour’s drive from New Orleans.

Last year, as Canada’s first Hurricane Katrina home sponsor, Tolko donated $75,000 to Habitat for Humanity Canada and committed to sending an employee team to help rebuild homes for hurricane victims in partnership with the Habitat’s Operation Home Delivery program.

“When we announced the application process we had an overwhelming response from our employees,” says John Thorlakson, executive vice-president of Tolko. “I’m proud of them for stepping up and offering a helping hand to our American neighbours.”

In a telephone call earlier this week, Tolko participant Lee Bellamy described his experience to date.

“The devastation is worse than you could ever imagine,” he said after touring New Orleans’ ninth ward, one of the areas hit hardest by the hurricane. “It’s been emotional for all of us.”

While the devastation has opened the eyes of team participants, Lee says they’ve found pleasure in working alongside the families whose homes they’re helping build.

“Are you sure we can’t stay another week?” asked Derek LaJambe, a Tolko employee from The Pas, Man. “It’s going to be sad when we have to say goodbye.”

The following employees represented Tolko on the trip: Lee Bellamy, Vernon, B.C.; Leon Medema, Vernon, B.C.; Hilda Patzer, Kelowna, B.C.; Peter Whitfield, Lake Country, B.C.; Glenn Parkinson, Merritt, B.C.; Bill Stowell, Merritt, B.C.; Michelle Dallaire, High Prairie, Alta.; Trina Vercholuk, Slave Lake, Alta.; Kelly Schmidt, Meadow Lake, Sask.; and Derek LaJambe, The Pas, Man.;

Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, non-profit, faith-based organization working for a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. Our mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty.

The organization was founded in 1985, consists of 30,000 volunteers and 70 Affiliate organizations from coast to coast, and is a member of Habitat for Humanity International which spans 100 countries, has built over 200,000 homes, and is now building a new home every 24 minutes.”

Habitat for Humanity’s Operation Home Delivery seeks to rebuild homes in stormaffected areas along the Gulf Coast in partnership with individuals and families who qualify for Habitat homeownership by demonstrating a need for housing, a willingness to partner with Habitat and the ability to repay a no-profit loan. With the continuing support of donors and volunteers, it has pledged to build homes in the affected areas as long as resources allow.