Event celebrates Qualico's big milestone of developing communities and building homes, and helps raise funds for Habitat for Humanity.

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In early September’s pre-dawn chill, six cyclists gathered in Dawson’s Landing in Chestermere to embark on a 1,500-kilometre journey of endurance, fortitude and leadership seeking to raise funds to help house families in need and celebrate a commitment to create communities and all it means.

At journey’s end, the riders all surmounted weariness and adverse weather, and came out of the experience renewed in spirit with a new commitment to achieving the ride’s goal of creating stronger communities.

Six executives from Qualico’s group of companies came together for the Ride for 75 that took them from Calgary to Winnipeg. A five-day journey to raise $500,000 for Habitat for Humanity affiliates across Southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and help mark Qualico’s 75th anniversary this year of developing communities and building homes.

Qualico has been supporting Habitat for Humanity for the past 13 years with it annual Ride Through the Rockies fundraising bike ride.

“This year, we thought we’d make it something special to celebrate Qualico’s 75th anniversary and link up with the Ride Around the Lake annual event that our Winnipeg offices hold,” says Claudio Palumbo, regional vice-president, Qualico Southern Alberta.

Palumbo is one of the six riders that represent Qualico’s Western Canada divisions, including Curt Keil, vice-president, Sterling Homes, Calgary; David Eggerman, senior vice-president, supply chain, Manitoba; Kal Hourd, vice-president, NuVista Homes, Calgary; Ken Crockett, vice-president, Star Building Materials, Edmonton and Calgary; and Mike Saunders, senior vice-president, Qualico Properties, Edmonton.

Palumbo tells Postmedia at the end of the five-day ride that it was a rewarding experience that brought the team closer through their shared experience.

“Everyone is feeling good, but the legs are getting sore for all of us. The weather conditions have been the biggest challenge and reward. Rainy and head winds to Swift Current, which is very unusual this time of year,” he says.

He recounted that the team got some much-needed help on the Day 4 leg to Brandon, Man., with a strong tail wind. “All the guys broke personal records for speed on 10- to 100-kilometre distances, cutting our travel time by hours.”

This was supposed to be the longest and toughest stretch of the day at 350 km. “That felt good and provided a much-needed boost.” They also got a encouragement from family members of Keil and Hourd, who visited the team in Grenfell, Sask.

“We can’t tell you how much this partnership with Qualico has meant for us,” says Gerrad Oishi, president of Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta. “It’s a natural partnership that is all about community and creating communities.”

The site for the send-off was also meaningful, he says, as it was at the new Habitat for Humanity 24-unit townhome development in Dawson’s Landing, Chestermere. “We’re just about ready to receive their first family for this development,” Oishi adds. Dawson’s Landing is Qualico’s first community development in this city just east of Calgary.

Ride for 75 is part of Qualico’s 75th anniversary celebrations and is helping raise funds and awareness for safe, affordable homeownership through Habitat for Humanity Manitoba, Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta and Habitat for Humanity Saskatchewan.

“At Qualico, we believe every home is a foundation for possibility, connection, and hope,” Palumbo says. “That’s why we support Habitat for Humanity — through fundraising, donations, and hands-on volunteering — to help more families access safe, affordable homeownership.”