Habitat in Iqaluit: Week Two - pg 4

Day 14
Friday August 17

The bay is a busy place. The ice breaker has returned. A cruise ship is in. A freighter arrived.

We have heard that our doors and windows are on the Sea Lift. With 2 days of clear, dry weather, the ship will be offloaded continuously between tides. If all goes well, we will be able to lock up the house before we leave Iqaluit Monday afternoon.

We will complete the drywall this weekend. Yesterday, Ken and I had the assistance of Pau, Steve and Nick. We insulated, vapour barriered, strapped and drywalled the living room ceiling in a fraction of the time it took Ken and me the day before. Many hands make light work!!!!!!

Tonight we saw the Northern Lights.

Sherry screwing on the dry wall
(from Janine)

Day 15
Saturday August 18

Today the sun shone, the air warmed and the bugs were minimal. I took a photo of my long shadow in the early morning light---photographer as inukshuk.

We planned to finish today at 5pm but we worked until 9pm. A truck pulled in at 4pm with our windows and doors. We unpacked the crates and got to work. Thank goodness we had so many local volunteers with strong backs and no dinner plans, to assist with the window and door installation. It's not easy or affordable to dine on fast food when unexpectedly working late. That didn’t stop HFH Iqaluit Jennifer from paying $60 for a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken. I’m afraid to ask how much the Pizza Hut pizzas were.

As always, friends and neighbours visited the Build site including 2 beautiful sled dogs. The Canadian Inuit Dog - called “Qimmiq” are extremely versatile and used for transportation, hauling sleds and packing. They also assist in hunting by locating seal breathing holes and serve as a protector by attacking and holding at bay, musk ox and polar bears. A Canadian Inuit Dog can pull twice its weight through the harshest weather and terrain with little nourishment. Until as late as the 1960s, families traveled back and forth between Greenland and Canada by dog team. Remains of sleds and harnesses have been found with artifacts of the Thule Civilization.

Though the windows were certainly the highlight of today, other work carried on. the underside of the house is insulated, Tyvek wrapped and sheathed with plywood. Insulation and drywalling continued inside. The crawlspace is now fully insulated and drywalled. Ultimately the crawlspace with hold the cistern and sewage tanks, hence the visible Tyvek area in the photos. Once the tanks are delivered and installed, the final siding pieces will be installed.

Neil left us yesterday and we are missing him. He is very tall and very strong and left-handed. Neil always has the tool you need, when you need it. He stretches his long arms into all the right places to install insulation and drywall screws…..
but Neil, you forgot one.

Day 16
Sunday August 19

Saying farewell is emotional. Pau and Adam are excited about the progress of their home. They are curious about how it will all come together but astounded by the productively of the last 15 days. Today’s photos are about hope and family and friends. Habitat Iqaluit is doing fine things in this community. This project is only the beginning. Habitat for Humanity will be building homes and building hope in the North for a long time to come.

sunny view from our Bed and Breakfast

the Sunday crew

Kieran---HFH IQ logistics in motion

Jennifer -- HFH IQ Global Village Coord and Plywood Team Star

window trim installation has begun

interior wall in kitchen (Pau in blue, Dennis in Blue, Adam in black, Ken on ladder)

 

from Janine
Orest and Dennis

porch closet crew—Emily and Curtis

WROOF WROOF!!!
(come back soon!!!)