Montreal, QC - October 17, 2006 – Habitat for Humanity Montreal announced today the first construction project in east-end Montreal and also officially opened Habitat’s 50th ReStore in Canada and the first in Québec, located in the LaSalle borough of Montreal.

They also announced that they have received a donation of $360,000 over the next three years from long time Habitat for Humanity supporters: Genworth Financial Canada, a leading mortgage insurance provider, retailing giant Home Depot Canada, and MCAP, Canada’s largest independent mortgage and equipment financing company. The donation from the Founding Sponsors was announced at the official ceremony to open the province’s first- ever Habitat for Humanity ReStore, a building material liquidation store. Located at 7177 Newman Boulevard in the borough of LaSalle (southwest Montreal), this is Habitat‘s 50thbuilding material liquidation centre to open in Canada.

At ReStore locations across the country, distributors, retailers, manufacturers, construction and companies donate quality materials that are then re-sold to the public; the proceeds help construct decent and affordable homes for low-income families.To launch the first Quebec ReStore, Habitat for Humanity Montreal benefited from a $41,000 contribution from Environment Canada’s EcoAction program, a financial help program destined to community organisations whose projects impact the environment, notably by reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. They have also received a $40,000 grant from the Social Economy Fund of LaSalle's Economic Development Corporation (CDEL). The CDEL is supporting the creation of long-term jobs on its territory and the start-up of a company that will fill community needs, in this case affordable housing for low-income families.

Due to municipal regulations, Habitat’s Montreal ReStore will only accept or sell new materials unlike other ReStores across Canada, which accept and sell used materials.