Geertma Home Update

To the untrained eye, the houses being constructed by Staikos Homes and Geertsma Homes for the Home Build for Health Care appear to being to be going up quickly. However, in both cases the builders say the projects are taking longer than a normal build.

According to Andy Geertsma, the steady progress that has people thinking the project is moving quickly is a testament to the commitment trades and suppliers have for the project.

“Our tradespeople are incredibly busy working on houses that have firm closing dates, and that they get paid for,” Andy says, “This is a volunteer project they’re taking on in addition to their normal workload, so it’s taking a little longer than usual, though not too much.”

Greg Timlin, Project Manager for Staikos Homes agrees. “Our home is a little behind where it would be in a normal build, but we’re very pleased with how it’s moving along. It really shows how much our guys care about the Home Build. The volunteer work being done at both sites is incredible.”

For Andy Geertsma the eagerness of trades and suppliers to participate in the Home Build just confirms what he’s always believed, “People who build homes really care about other people and about their community,” Andy says, “so it’s no surprise to me that they’re jumping at the chance to give time, talent and materials to build the homes and help buy medical equipment for Quinte Health Care.”

Commenting on the Home Build and the contributions being made by Staikos Homes, Geertsma Homes and their contributors, Quinte Health Care President and CEO, Mary Clare Egberts quoted a proverb: It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home.

“In this case,” Ms. Egberts said, “the caring, generous hands and hearts of everyone involved will ensure that these are not just beautiful houses, but that they’re warm and loving homes.”

This week we feature contributors to the Geertsma home.

Reid’s Insulating

A few weeks ago, Delbert Reid’s uncle thought he’s drop in to say hello and have a visit in Delbert’s office on Highway 62. They were talking about this and that, catching up on one another’s news, when Delbert’s uncle became aware that something was wrong; he was having a heart attack.
Wasting no time, they called for an ambulance which arrived within two minutes. Suddenly, Delbert’s uncle went into cardiac arrest, but his life was saved when the attending Emergency Medical Services personnel applied CPR. He was quickly transported to Quinte Health Care Belleville where he was stabilized before being transferred to KGH for triple by-pass surgery. The uncle is continuing to recover at home.

“No need to ask why I’m supporting the Home Build for Health Care,” Delbert says. “I was planning to help before, but after my uncle’s experience you couldn’t keep me away. What if we didn’t have the hospital or the equipment? When immediate care is needed, it’s critical that help is close at hand.”

Delbert started Reid’s Insulating about 16 years ago and began working with Andy Geertsma the next year. The business has grown over those years and Delbert now has a team of a dozen people working with him.

“Andy Geertsma is a great guy to work for,” Delbert says, “He’s always fair and honest and we’re proud to be contributing to his build in support of the Home Build for Health Care.”

Lafarge Concrete

According to Scott York, Plant Manager for Lafarge Concrete in Belleville and Napanee, Lafarge is an international company with a local focus and strong community connection.

Lafarge was one of the area’s major employers when they had a quarry at Point Anne, just east of the city limits, from the 1950s to the early ’70s. Today they are still a presence with a variety of operations in the area including a ready-mix plant on Aikins Road.

Internationally, Lafarge is rated number one in the world for production of cement, number two for aggregate products and number three for ready mix products. The company is in seventy-eight countries and has 78,000 employees.

States Scott, Lafarge is big but it has never lost its commmunity connection. “We’ve been giving back to the community for over 50 years,” he said, “because community is important to us. This is where we live.”

“We’re very pleased to provide all the concrete and aggregate for both houses in the Home Build for Health Care.” Scott said, “We have excellent relationships with both Geertsma Homes and Staikos Homes and it seems fitting since we supplied 8,500 cubic metres of concrete for the new Sills Wing at Quinte Health Care Belleville.”

Watson Land Surveyors

Watson Land Surveyors have also donated their services to both projects. Keith Watson continues the business started by his father Walter back in the 50s. Back then MacDonald Avenue was the southern limit to the city. First, Second and Third Avenues were new subdivisions that Walter surveyed for the construction of new homes and for the past twenty years, Watson Land Surveyors have done the surveys for most homes in the area.

Walter Watson was one of the original members of the Quinte Home Builders Association which now boasts over 100 members and celebrated the Associations 50th Anniversary last year. Keith is happy to continue his father’s tradition of giving back to the community.