Devoted and proud mother, community activist, civic leader, music and dog lover, business entrepreneur, world traveller and mentor to many.
I never knew Valerie Kines; such is my loss for such a power house of determination and positive will in order to create a better world has rarely walked amongst us. Valerie was the founder of Habitat for Humanity Thousand Islands. Some might say that in itself is a huge achievement and I would agree but Valerie was so much more. Her natural curiosity for what goes on in the world and how ordinary people can improve themselves and in turn improve society was the spark that ignited her vast achievements.
Born in Brighton, England Valerie began her adventurous life when as a youn
g woman she graduated from business college and made her way alone to the vast country of Canada. Once again, her curiosity had driven her to know what the Canadian experience was like and of how she could make a difference and what a difference she has made!
You can’t get more Canadian than the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. While in her early twenties, Valerie worked for CBC in covering such memorable and notable exposure as the six-week 1959 Canadian Royal Tour by Queen Elizabeth across the country.
A few years later, after marriage to her husband who was posted with the United Nations in New York, Switzerland and Kenya and 4 boys en route Valerie joined the UN High Commission for Refugees, resettling Ugandans who were expelled by Idi Amin.
Upon returning to Canada Valerie found herself in western Canada where she founded the Women’s Bureau of the Department of Labour in Manitoba. Sometime later, she took on student counselling at Saskatchewan’s Notre Dame College while also overseeing a kitchen feeding over 300 budding hockey stars!
Throughout her travels she thrived on hiking and camping in the Swiss alps, the slopes of Kilimanjaro, Nepal, and the badlands of Alberta. Later on, her travels took her to Costa Rica coffee plantations, Icelandic volcanoes, and dog sledding in Nunavut.
Never to rest content, Valerie decided to lend her hand at opening a Second Cup franchise right here in Brockville. Customers became friends and allies and Valerie’s name became a house-hold name in Brockville. At the same time, Valerie became Deputy Mayor on Brockville’s City Council. The time was ripe for the next step.
This is when Valerie rallied the community to make a huge difference in the lives of those who have so little and need so much and Habitat for Humanity Thousand Islands was launched.
Habitat for Humanity Thousand Islands builds homes for needy families in the area and requires them to pay for them through long-term, interest-free mortgages. The affiliate works by seeking donations of money, materials and volunteer labour as well as purchasing new materials for the overall construction. The new home owner must offer 500 hours of sweat equity on the home itself while it is being built.
Valerie knew to realize the true value of anything you have to work for it. Valerie started the branch in1997 after being drawn to the international aid organization supported by such luminaries as Nobel Peace Prize winner, Jimmy Carter. Decent, affordable homes for those who could never afford homes in today’s market and the philosophy of working together towards what you want was their reason for existence.
Habitat homeownership provides families with more than just equity, it instills in them a renewed sense of pride and responsibility. Research has shown that Habitat homeowners are happier, healthier, and more financially stable. Meanwhile, their children are more confident and do better in school. Not only is the impact of a Habitat home felt by the family, but also in the community where there is reduced reliance on social housing and food banks.
Valerie believed that involving businesses, volunteers, service clubs, church groups and other organizations in Habitat for Humanity Thousand Island projects was important as it builds a spirit of community, so evident on every build.
In 2015, on Canada Day Valerie was awarded Senior of the Year for her involvement on Brockville Council, Habitat for Humanity Thousand Islands and her successful 20 years of running her Second Cup Coffee Shop. It was awarded to her from the Mayor of Brockville.
Valerie Kines died on April 18th, 2017 in Brockville of pancreatic cancer at the age of 80 and in her memory the Valerie Kines Memorial Scholarship was created. It is awarded to a female student enrolled in the first year Business program at St. Lawrence College in Brockville who shows entrepreneurial spirit, is community minded, and is active in making a difference in their community.
Her life and her efforts have truly been inspirational and we who have witnessed the results are all the better for it!
Thank you, Valerie Kines.
To find out more about Valerie’s Habitat for Humanity Thousand Islands, and how it continues her mission of helping the greater Thousand Islands community, click here!