Annette’s journey with Habitat for Humanity began with a simple desire to help others — and a powerful realization that meaningful change can start right at home.
For years, she dreamed of traveling overseas to build homes. But when she discovered the impact she could make in her own community, she knew exactly where she was meant to be.
“It was a wonderful realization that I could make that profound difference without ever leaving,” Annette shared.
Building a stronger Medicine Hat
Annette’s leadership has played a major role in moving Habitat’s work forward in Medicine Hat. From rallying community support for the 2020 build, to championing fundraising efforts, to collaborating with the city to secure land, her work has helped open the door to more families who need a stable place to call home.
As Chapter Chair, she brings people together, asks the right questions, and keeps the chapter moving toward meaningful, lasting impact.
Skills that support local families
Annette brings a rare understanding of what “home” truly means. As a realtor, she walks alongside families as they search for the right place to call home. And long before that, she built homes with her own hands as a carpenter, shaping the walls, rooms, and spaces where life unfolds.
With both perspectives — the practical and the personal — Annette knows exactly how transformational it can be when a family finally has a home that feels safe, stable, and within reach.
Life beyond volunteering
When she is not volunteering or working, Annette focuses on spending meaningful time with her children. She loves outdoor activities such as kayaking, golfing, skiing, and baseball, and she’s always ready for her next travel adventure.
A lifelong commitment to community
Habitat is only one of the many ways Annette gives back to her community. She has volunteered with the Medicine Hat Charitable Realtor Foundation, supported seniors through Cyber Seniors, helped run community events like the Colour Run, and contributed to local food security programs such as the Medicine Hat Food Bank and the Brown Bag Lunch Program.
She’s also spent years supporting her children’s sports teams as a coach, manager, and fundraiser, and staying active in their school through parent council. “It’s hard to remember all of them through the years!” she laughed — a sign of just how naturally volunteering has become part of who she is.
Why Habitat?
For Annette, there’s one moment that inspires her time and time again: seeing a family receive the keys to their Habitat home.
“My commitment to Habitat for Humanity is driven by the profound realization that we aren’t just building houses—we are changing life trajectories. The moment a family takes possession of their home is extraordinary.”
“It’s the moment that a dream — one they often thought was unreachable — finally comes true. That overwhelming joy and the visible shift in their lives are the reasons I find myself coming back; it’s a reward that’s hard to articulate, but impossible to forget.”
A community she’ll always treasure
Annette says her time on the Medicine Hat Chapter has been one of the most rewarding experiences of her life.
She feels grateful for the relationships she’s built with fellow board members, the ReStore team, and the Habitat Southern Alberta staff — connections she describes as meaningful, lasting, and deeply fulfilling.
“My time with the Medicine Hat Chapter has been immensely rewarding, largely thanks to the exceptional people I’ve worked with… I will be forever thankful for these profound relationships.”
Annette accepts a $10,000 donation from the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta.
Breaking ground with future homeowners on a new duplex in 2020.
