Strathroy, Ont. high school students help build home, raise money for hospital
The first two homes have now been completed in a project that teams high school students with local builders in Strathroy. But the big winner in the Building Foundations Project is the Strathroy General Hospital and its patients.
“I think it was very cool. Like I love seeing what I started, like what us as a crew started,” said Emma McPherson, and grade 12 student in the construction program at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School in Strathroy.
She was among a group of students touring two new semi-detached homes they helped build on Haddon Lane in Strathroy.
“So it’s for grade 11 and 12 students at Holy Cross. We help builders build a home from start to finish,” explained grade 11 student, Craig Kopal.
The land for the project has been donated by the municipality. Six semi-detached homes will be built in total.
“Because students will see the build-through from beginning to end they get to work with a number of different trades and find out which one suits them the best. So it will really help them hone in on where they want to go after high school,” said Holy Cross construction teacher John Drahushchak.
Students from Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School in Strathroy, Ont. tour a new home on Haddon Lane they helped build on Feb. 8, 2024. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)
The homes will be sold, with the profits going to the Strathroy General Hospital Foundation.
“So much of the materials, some of the labour, has been either discounted or donated,” said Foundation CEO Ed Wheatley. “We suspect that at a minimum we will be looking at about 1.4 million [dollars] that will go to the hospital when all is said and done.”
The money raised will help purchase an MRI — the first in the hospital’s more than 60 year history. Hospital officials said it’s going to be a game-changer for patients from Strathroy and surrounding communities.
“Local people can have that MRI locally, but it’s more than that. It also takes pressure off of MRIs in the city, in London, in Sarnia,” said Wheatley.
The next two homes will be built this year, with the final two slated for 2025.
Students from Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School in Strathroy, Ont. tour a new home on Haddon Lane they helped build on Feb. 8, 2024. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
4th Indian national arrested, charged with murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Homicide investigators in B.C. say murder charges have been laid against a fourth Indian national in connection to the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Surrey gurdwara last year.
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
Man ticketed after allegedly trespassing again at Drake's Bridle Path mansion to get his bike
A man who tried to access Drake’s Bridle Path mansion earlier this week returned to the property Saturday and was apprehended again for allegedly trespassing, Toronto police say.
Couple randomly attacked, 1 stabbed, by group of teens in Toronto, police say
A man has been transported to hospital after police say he was stabbed in a random attack carried out by a group of teens in Toronto on Friday night.
Millions of Canadians have been exposed to potentially toxic chemicals, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Biden calls Trump 'unhinged,' says 'something snapped' in former president after he lost 2020 U.S. election
U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday called Donald Trump “clearly unhinged” and claimed that “something snapped” in the former president after he lost the 2020 election.
Wildfire that forced evacuation of Fort Nelson, B.C., caused by tree falling on wires, mayor says
The wildfire that prompted the evacuation of more than 3,000 people near Fort Nelson, B.C., was caused by a tree falling on wires, according to the municipality's mayor.
Switzerland's Nemo wins 68th Eurovision Song Contest
Swiss singer Nemo won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night with 'The Code,' an operatic ode to the singer’s journey toward embracing their nongender identity.
IN PICTURES Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Grand Bend, Collingwood and Guelph, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.