|
News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Judith Broeker
Adventures in Preservation
303.444.0128
jbroeker@adventuresinpreservation.org
www.adventuresinpreservation.org
Historic Houses for the Near-Homeless
Glace Bay, Cape Breton Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada – December 5, 2011
Adventures in Preservation is offering an opportunity to simultaneously preserve and provide in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. From July 8-21, 2012, AiP volunteers will be helping in an adaptive re-use project. Adventures in Preservation will join Cape Breton University, Nova Scotia Community College, the HomeMatch program, and community members restore these houses and demonstrate that affordable, durable, adaptive re-use options exist. These century-old company houses will also provide for the community: they will serve as new homes for local families at risk of homelessness.
Work on the first house has begun already. Students, faculty, and neighborhood volunteers have been working on Dominion Coal Company House Number 734 for the past year. AiP team members will get to join the project on the second house, where they will take part in several of the following tasks:
• Restoration of period furnishing for appropriate re-use
• Window reinstallation
• Repair and restoration of vintage woodwork, such as stair rails and mantels
• Floor installation
• Foundation repointing
Volunteers for this project will aid the community in multiple ways:
• Keep a historic neighborhood intact
• Provide homes for families classified as “near homeless”
• Minimize project labor costs in order to maximize results
• Keep valuable building materials out of the landfill
• Create homes that are a model of energy efficiency and sustainable practices
Cape Breton Island has been focused on by the likes of National Geographic for its scenic beauty. Volunteers will also get to know the island on a series of field trips. An afternoon trip to the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site of Canada shows where the fate of the continent was decided in the 18th century. Then a two-day tour with overnight stay along the Cabot Trail unveils one of the world’s great drives! Finally, an afternoon will be spent at the beautiful town of Baddeck visiting the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site of Canada.
The project is scheduled to take place from July 8-21, 2012. The cost per week of US$990 (for dorm-stay) or US$1300 (for B&B stay) covers not only double-occupancy lodging but field trips, insurance, project training and materials, and most meals. Learn more or register online at http://adventuresinpreservation.org/ws-cape-breton-volunteer-vacation-2012.htm
Adventures in Preservation is a non-profit organization that supports community-based heritage preservation projects. Their hands-on volunteer vacations give participants the opportunity to travel, learn historic preservation skills, and support sustainable development in a community. Learn more about how AiP volunteers combine their power with the strength of community members to make a difference at www.adventuresinpreservation.org.
|
