Wanted: Windsorites to join Ontario Corps

Ontario Corps is looking for volunteers to respond to emergencies around the province. CTV Windsor’s Michelle Maluske has the details.

Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex is recruiting local volunteers to be deployed during emergencies.

“We could be deployed anywhere in the province,” Habitat CEO Fiona Coughlin told CTV News.

“We need people who are ready to dig in, help out, ready to roll up their sleeves and pitch in, which is pretty much a regular Habitat volunteer.”

Coughlin said the local branch was approached this year to join 12 other agencies in the Corps.

Ontario Corps is available to respond to natural disasters or other emergencies with a team of skilled professionals and hundreds of volunteers.

“We’re the first Habitat affiliate in the province piloting this program,” Coughlin said.

“We’re well known for having a massive team of volunteers in Windsor-Essex.”

As of Thursday afternoon, Coughlin said they had 30 people registered for Thursday’s information meeting with 11 already working on their training.

Each volunteer will go through the standard Habitat training first.

“And then, phase two will be working specifically on emergency response and preparedness, how to use the tools that we’ve got,” Coughlin said.

The $580,000 in provincial funding will also pay for the local Habitat to buy a response vehicle.

“In case of floods, will we be able to transport volunteers, generators, pump equipment, fans, things like that,” Coughlin said.

She hopes to be ready to deploy local volunteers by Nov. 1.