HeroWork and CAF team up for Power To Be 

HeroWork volunteers renovate a design-build project at Prospect Lake. Photos provided

Peter Mallett
Staff Writer

Military members from Esquimalt have again answered the volunteering call.

Lieutenant (Navy) (Lt(N)) Robert Mackay, a Staff Officer with Naval Personnel Management (NPM) and four other volunteers from his unit pitched in on HeroWork’s Radical Renovation Project on June 1.

“HeroWork is an amazing charity to be involved with,” Lt(N) Mackay said. “It ties in helping people and working on building projects, both things I like to do.”

The project involved 25 volunteers from NPM, Base Administration and Base Logistics. Tasks included readjusting rebar in concrete piles, insulation installation and adding safety fences around nearby trees to protect them during the renovation.

HeroWork volunteers renovate a design-build project at Prospect Lake. Photos provided

The project benefits Power To Be, a non-profit organization based in Victoria and Vancouver that creates access to nature for youth, families, and adults living with cognitive, physical, financial and social barriers.

HeroWork’s renovations at Power to Be’s  Prospect Lake property involve transforming an old dairy barn into a multi-use, indoor programming space to support its outdoor wilderness programs and constructing a sheltered pavilion using re-purposed raw timber. The work on the old barn will include new lighting, washrooms and change rooms to suit persons living with disabilities, a greenhouse, a large indoor meeting space, an extended roof to create a building entry, gathering space and new siding, and doors and windows to protect the building’s modernized interior.

The value of the project is estimated at $1.1 million, and work is expected to wrap up in late July with a big reveal event planned for Aug. 13.

Selena Roberts, HeroWork Project Manager, said volunteers from CFB Esquimalt have traditionally been generous supporters of their projects.

“Canadian Armed Forces volunteers are always very high energy, have great attitudes and move projects quickly,” Roberts said. “Their volunteerism and contributions supporting vulnerable populations is inspiring.”

To date, HeroWork has completed over $7 million worth of Radical Renovations that involve structural and aesthetic improvements for buildings that house local community organizations.

HeroWork would gladly welcome more skilled and unskilled volunteers for the project and currently has a shortage of people for weekend shifts. For more information, contact: vicvols@herowork.com.

HeroWork volunteers renovate a design-build project at Prospect Lake. Photos provided