The Team

It's November and  the team is coming together VERY WELL.....San Miguel here we come!

TEAM MEMBERS:

Dave Gervais

Hello fellow “Habitatters”. My name is Dave Gervais and I live in Ottawa, ON. I am married with 1 daughter (22 years old) who is currently in college. During the week, I work at TD Commercial Bank…+ 25 years. I love to travel and meet new people, experience new cultures, foods etc…. In my spare time I enjoy playing soccer and golf. I’ve been on several trips with Tony and never a dull moment. This is my second trip to El Salvador with Habitat for Humanity. I look forward to seeing my friends from last year’s trip and meeting those new for this year.

Cheryl Petit

Greetings everyone,


Cheryl Pettit here....I am one of the newbies! The only one I know going on this build is Jenn Ouellette. When she told me what she was planning to do, my first question was "can I come too???". I have always wanted to do this, and am eagerly anticipating our trip. I am married, have a 12 year old daughter, live in Ottawa with the majority of you, and work for the Federal Government. My hobbies include golf, volleyball, yoga, cooking, and drinking wine. (That's a hobby right?) On a more serious note, one of the biggest reasons I wanted to join you all is to 'give back' a little.... As a 'working class' Canadian, I feel incredible fortunate. I have never gone hungry, and have always been healthy and well-cared for. Not everyone can say that....especially, I imagine, some of the people we'll meet in El Salvador........looking forward to meeting ya'll and stirring some cement!

Cheers, Cheryl

Jeff Darwin



Hello, my name is Jeff Darwin and I’m a 47 year-old (Ottawa-based) retail banker.  My newfound passion is flying, and this Spring I earned a private pilot license.  Both Tony Bennett and Dave Gervais were brave enough to go flying with me recently, and only one of them got sick.  This will be just my second Habitat trip, and I’m delighted to join my wife Wendy on this one, as well as reconnect with last year’s unbelievable El Salvador building group.  We’ll leave behind three kids and a dog in Ottawa, but we hope to bring back exceptional experiences that will make us appreciate even more how great we have it here in Ottawa.  Angry bowels be dammed – here we come!

Tony Bennett

(co-leader)

Hola. Greetings to our Habitat team. My name is Tony Bennett and I am from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. I am married to Carolyn and have three children, Steven(married to Julie), Lauren and Jordan. I also have three grandchildren, Jakob, Brayden and Austin (but those are not them in the picture above).  My days are spent as a VP and Regional Director with BMO Harris Private Banking.
I enjoy travel and meeting new people. Outside of North America I have visited Europe, Central America and South America. I have completed Habitat builds in Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and El Salvador. I look forward to leading my second trip with Paul. We have an oustanding team of volunteers who are going to do great things in El Salvador.

Terry Byrne

Hi

First time to try this experience! Looking forward to it! I worked in HR in Federal Government before retiring in 2005. Since then I have taken temporary jobs for a few months during the winter of each of those years. Divorced but still travelling with my former wife Marsha, we’re just back from Vegas. I live in the country in Clarence Creek. Love gardening (have ten gardens), history, (wrote a book since retiring), genealogy (writing another book), building (renovated 110 year old house I live in) and astronomy. Looking forward to meeting and working with you all. Terry Byrne

Paul MacKillop

(co-leader)

Hola...

My name is Paul MacKillop and I am from Ottawa Ontario.  I am married , with no children.  This will be my second shot at leading a build with Tony.  Looking forward to getting to El Salvador, reuniting with those from last year and getting to know our new teammates..

Camille Ewert and Gerry Ecker

Hola! I’m a Nurses Aide working in Geriatrics and Mental Health.  My husband Gerry and I currently live in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  My son, who will be turning 25 when we are in San Miguel, became my traveling companion at the ripe old age of 3 when we moved across Canada to Toronto.  Since then I’ve had the wanderlust and spent a lot of time hauling around a backpack !!  This will be my second Habitat for Humanity Global Village Build in El Salvador with Gerry, and our second time around with Paul and Tony as our team leaders.  After 3 years of renovating our home, Gerry and I began building our cabin (cottage) this summer. Since we had our wettest summer in 125 years in Saskatchewan, we are really looking forward to building when it’s not raining for a change!  (fingers crossed, knock on wood and all that!)  We’re are also looking forward to meeting some new team members and reuniting with some we met last year in San Vicente.  Last year, after the build, we backpacked on the local bus system around El Salvador and fell in love with its people and places.  This year we plan on doing the same thing so we can see the places we missed and make more new friends along the way.  Can’t wait for the next adventure

Rosie Milito

Hello, my name is Rosie Milito and this is also my rookie Habitat trip.

I have been married 18 years to Ron Milito, who some of you may know. I have two children, Michael, 17 and Lina, 15.
I work at the Egg Farmers of Canada as a senior statistical co-ordinator. In fact, I have been with that organization for 33 years. And, I hate eggs. Never liked them.
I am looking so forward to being part of this team and embarking on this adventure.

Carolyn Collins-Bennett

Greetings.   My name is Carolyn Collins-Bennett.  Yes, I am Tony’s wife and yes I am Bill’s daughter. It’s finally my time to embark on a Habitat build!   I have been the one left behind for four other builds.  I have sat at home and waited anxiously  for the stories from Tony, my dad, my brother David and our son, Jordan.  Habitat has been a wonderful experience for our family and we can’t help but spread the news.  Tony and I have 3 children and 3 grandchildren.  During the day I am an elementary school teacher (grade 5).  My hobbies include running, skiing, reading, yoga, gardening and just staying busy.  I love being outdoors during all seasons.  I enjoy meeting new people and I  look forward to being thrown into the culture of El Salvador. 

John Lindsay

This is my second trip to El Salvador with Habitat for Humanity. Tony first introduced me to the experience last year and I had to go back. The smiles on all the faces during the week we there just makes your day.

During the week I work with BMO Harris Private Banking as an Investment Counsellor. I am married and unfortunately my wife Gail can not attend this trip. We have one son named Grant who is 14 years old.

My other main responsibility is driving Grant from one soccer practice to the other 52 weeks out of the year. Before meeting everyone in Houston for the flight to El Salvador I will be flying down to Tampa Florida to watch Grant play in the Super Y League North American soccer finals.

Looking forward to meeting everyone shortly,
Regards,
 John Lindsay

Jill Woodley

I am a born New Brunswick girl, with a heart devoted to the sea, and a residence landlocked in small town Ontario.  Couldn't be happier though, with three wonderful daughters (Morgan 16, Grace 14 and Kyra 11).  They are the light of my life, and I love being a Mum.  My background is Communications and the not-for-profit sector, and last year I left my communications job to take on the challenge of Executive Director of a non-profit youth centre in Osgoode (rural Ottawa).  It is a crazy job, but I love the enthusiasm and energy of youth, and tackle each day to encourage their success.  I have not travelled in a long time, and never to a country like El Salvador.  I am very excited about travelling with Chris, my husband of 17 years, and sharing this experience with him. His emails from El Salvador in 2009 inspired me to challenge myself.  I started Bootcamp in July to prepare to be an asset to the team, and to the families we are building for.  So thankful for this opportunity

Chris Tessier

I am a father of three who has been married for almost 17 yrs to the lovely Jill Woodley. This will be my 3rd Habitat trip, the first being to Costa Rica in the company of our exalted team leaders Paul and Tony. I look forward to the re-living the cultural experience of El Salvador with my wife Jill, and the making and renewing of freindships.

Dave Thomson

Hi Everyone. I live in Ottawa with my wife, Ekua. I am a pure rookie on this trip. Ekua has concluded that I am almost certainly the least qualified builder of us all. I spend most of my time working for TD Bank and have for the past 17 years. When I'm not at work I love to play and watch sports ... mostly hockey. I'm really looking forward to our trip.

Thanks,

Dave

Wendy Darwin

Hello everyone, I live in Ottawa with my husband of 23 years, Jeff. I feel very blessed to be able to join him along with the rest of you on this Habitat adventure to El Salvador. I have had the privilege of staying home to raise our 3 beautiful children, now 17, 20 & 22 years old. I’m looking forward to experiencing my first ‘Habitat build’ and meeting each of you.

Barry MacKillop

Hello all! My name is Barry MacKillop and I was born and raised in Hull along with my little brother Paul . ! After working for over twelve years with the Youth Services Bureau in Ottawa and a couple of years addressing youth and violence issues in Ottawa, I took a position with the federal government. I currently work at the Department of Public Safety as the Director General responsible for organized crime as well as law enforcement strategies at the border. I have been lucky to share my life for the last twenty-nine with a beautiful and wonderful woman and we have two teenagers to keep us busy. This will be my 2nd build and I am looking forward to what promises to be a great experience.

Bill Collins

After a career in marketing, teaching and management spanning 40 plus years, I retired ten years ago and now enjoy the opportunity to pay back to society for a great life.

This will be my sixth build in Central America and second in El Salvador. I look forward to joining my daughter, Carolyn and son-in-law, Tony on this trip. In the past one of my sons, David and my grandson, Jordan have also joined me on a Habitat build.

It is only in sharing our lives and fortune with those in need of our help that we find true happiness. I really enjoy spending time with people of a different culture and beliefs to mine. I look forward to our time together and know that we will return re-energised.

Helen Charron

I am very excited to be part of this year's build in El Salvador. Building for Habitat has been on my life's "little to do list" and here it is.

In a past life, I worked with individuals and families where finding stable housing was a struggle and a dream. It taught me that feeling secure about where you go home to is the foundation for building a life and independence. Being a small part of helping an El Salvadorian family feel this security is a gift.

The work and play at the cottage keeps me fit.... especially, the judo/wrestling/tickling matches with the big and little kids. The winter months find me snowshoeing, skating and long walks along the beautiful Ottawa River and Gatineau Park or travelling.

Rita Conti

Hello Fellow Travellers:

My name is Rita Conti. I was born and raised in west end Ottawa. I've been married to a fantastic husband and terrific father named Steve Ryan for 16 years. I have to butter him up because I've left him at home with the kids and dog! We have two children, Liam (11) and Sarah (9) and they can't believe I'll be helping to build a house! After a stint as stay-at-home mom, I now work for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as an Administrative Assistant. This will be my first trip with Habitat. I'm very excited to have this opportunity and be able to experience something new...out of my comfort zone. I'm looking forward to meeting you all.

Jennifer Ouellette
  

Hi!  My name is Jennifer Ouellette and I'm soooooooo excited to be a part of this great group of people travelling to El Salvador to help some families have what we take for granted every day!  I have been a stay at home Mom for the past 10 years working part time doing something that I love... interior decorating!  I have two wonderful kids; Matthew and Renee, a very hard working hubby, John (some of you might know), a dog (Sami) and a cat (Freddie).  I love to spend my free time golfing, gardening, hiking (Sami loves that), camping/cottaging in the summer and downhill skiing and more hiking (Sami really loves the cold weather) in the winter.  I enjoy getting together with good friends (and a glass of wine)...which is sometimes disguised as “book club” or “cooking club”!  I can’t wait to meet everyone and start working with that cement and rebar!