Matthew and his father will be heading to the Dominican Republic on Nov. 15 as part of a humanitarian mission with Builders For Change. The non-profit builds homes in developing areas and was founded based on the vision of Melissa Bazely, who was just 15 years old at the time. Matthew and Bazely’s fathers knew each other through work as they built custom homes across Simcoe County and Muskoka, so Matthew got to watch as her ideas grew into Builders For Change. Each time he saw her, he loved to hear about her travels.

“She got about 70 or so builders in her dad’s connections through the home builders associations and such, and they took a group over [to the Dominican Republic] and did several of these builds,” said Matthew’s mom Kim. “Year on year, it just got bigger and bigger, and her family just helped her to spearhead this charity called Builders For Change.”

Like the rest of the world, the organization was forced to pause its efforts during the cancellations and shutdowns of COVID. Then, in 2021, Bazely died from cancer at the age of 32.

Now that Matthew is 13, nearly 14, he’s old enough to participate in a mission through Builders For Change. His trip to the Dominican Republic this November will be his first mission trip, but Kim said he’s been waiting seven or eight years to get involved. She’s extremely proud of him for following through on his plans.

“He’s always been a big follower of Melissa’s, and he really looks up to her, and so it was just a case of when he was old enough, he wanted to go,” she said. “It’s just unfortunate that his first trip now is going to be without Melissa, but her legacy [and] her family are keeping going along with many families, and they’re heading out again this November.”

While some people might be surprised to hear that a 14-year-old boy is so excited to do charity work, Kim said that anyone who knows her son won’t be. He’s the kind of person to give you the last piece of candy in the package or give you the shirt right off his back, she said. He goes above and beyond to help people whether they need it or not.

Their family takes annual trips together, and it’s been one way Kim has noticed the kindness in her son. During a trip to Mexico last year, their family came across a boy and his family selling produce and other items by the side of the road. They bought a few things and gave a good tip, but as they were sitting there, Matthew had a question.

“We’re just about to leave and he said to me, ‘Could I give him something else?’” Kim said. “I said, ‘You have money in your wallet, you do whatever you want.’ And he took out the last of his money and gave it to this young boy. And that’s just Matthew through and through. He just wants to help and to make life a little less burdensome for somebody else.”

Along with fundraising for the home builds Matthew is also collecting a variety of other items to help the locals in the Dominican Republic. One of his goals is to collect a range of shoes in different sizes so that the children will have properly fitting footwear. He’s also accepting donations of sports equipment, clothing and cell phones to help ease the financial burden for families in the area. 

Cell phones can be anything from flip phones to smartphones since most families sell them to make money for their daily needs, so all donations are welcome. Matthew plans to fit all of his personal items in a carry-on so that he can use his suitcase strictly for donation items.

“I just want to thank [the donors] so much because without them contributing to Matthew’s page and donating, really, a lot of these things aren’t possible,” Kim said. “The money does go a long way to helping these people in the communities to receive what we take for granted.”

Matthew said he’s looking forward to the home-building process, but more than that, he can’t wait to see people moving into the homes before they leave. Knowing they’ll make a positive impact on the lives of others is what makes him most excited for the trip.

“It allows me to give back and make a difference in the world,” Matthew said. “Giving children a home and a safe place to live makes me happy.”

He said the best way to support their efforts is by making a financial contribution through his donation page, but donations of shoes, cleats, phones and other supplies are also greatly appreciated. 

As he sets out on his trip this fall, he wants people to remember Bazely and the idea she came up with at just 15. She travelled not just to the Dominican Republic but also to Mexico and parts of Africa to empower young girls and women with tools for education and self-care, he said, so he is happy to carry her memory with him.

“She was a big inspiration for me,” he said. “It feels good to know that even though she isn’t with us, her legacy can still be carried on.”

To make a financial contribution, visit Matthew’s donation page on LiveDifferent. Email Kim Meredith at k-i-m@live.com to arrange other donations.

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• Safe Sustainable and Affordable Homes
• Secondary Suites
• Short-term Rentals
• Recruitment

For more information about the OBOA’s Building Safety Month visit oboa.on.ca

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“People across Ontario were spending most, if not all, of their time at home during the pandemic and many decided it was an ideal time to take out building permits to update their homes,” explains Carmelo Lipsi, MPAC Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “Now that COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, people are starting to gravitate back to experiences and travel. Coupled with the fact that the cost of borrowing has increased with higher interest rates, we’re seeing fewer permits issued, signaling a shift in priorities.”

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), which tracks property data across the province of Ontario, reports residential home improvement permits decreased by more than 9 per cent in Ontario, to more than 63,000. These permits were for home improvements including renovations, additions, swimming pools, sheds, garages and decks. Despite a decrease from the previous year, permits are still up from pre-pandemic, 2019 levels by 22 per cent (51,597 permits issued).

Below is an overview of the data analyzed by category:

• Total Building Permits – 108,080 permits were issued across Ontario, down by approximately 11.6 per cent from 2021. Toronto led the province with the most permits issued (9,359), representing almost no change from 2021 (9,478). Kitchener, Mississauga, Guelph and Oshawa saw an increase in the number of permits from the previous year (2,478, 2,041, 1,416 and 1,370, respectfully).
• Residential Home Improvement – 63,047 permits were issued province-wide in 2022, a decrease of 9.27 per cent from 2021. The City of Toronto remains at the top of the list with 6,803 permits; however, the city did see a 3.2 per cent drop from 2021. Brampton is second with 5,485 permits (down 25.7 per cent from the previous year) and in third was Ottawa (down 16 per cent).
• Residential Renovations/Additions – permits decreased by almost 3.5 per cent, dropping to 37,068. This is still 28 per cent higher than pre-pandemic, 2019 levels, and 15.7 per cent ahead of 2020 levels.
• Residential Swimming Pools – down substantially from pandemic highs, the number of swimming pool permits dropped by almost 27 per cent with 6,617 permits issued in the province. Ottawa remains the pool capital of Ontario, despite experiencing a nearly 43 per cent decrease from the previous year. In 2022, 780 pool permits were issued across the city compared to the 1,372 issued in 2021.
• Residential Sheds – shed permits are also down, dropping to 3,409 permits in 2022— almost a 20 per cent decline from 2021. To require a permit, a shed must be a minimum size, so this category includes large, stylish sheds that have become increasingly popular as separate living/workspace or backyard getaway. Ottawa had 122 shed permits issued which was an increase of 14 per cent over the year prior.
  
  
• Residential Garages – permits for garages decreased with 6,014 issued across the province in 2022 (more than a 9 per cent decrease) compared to the 6,579 issued in 2021. Toronto had the most, with 330 permits (an increase of about 41 per cent). Only two other municipalities experienced an increase in garage permits last year: Sault Ste Marie with 104 permits (an increase of almost 12 per cent) and the Township of Muskoka Lakes with 81 permits (an increase of more than 12 per cent).
• Residential Decks – deck permits decreased in 2022 to 8,257, down about 13 per cent from 2021. Hamilton continued to lead in this category with 572 deck permits issued in 2022 (a decrease of more than 35 per cent from 2021).

MPAC receives notification of these building permits from municipalities, initiating a review of the changes to a property. Prioritizing a clear and accessible assessment process, MPAC is committed to delivering the most accurate property assessments possible.

“The information in these permits is a valuable input for our assessments but Ontario property owners can make sure the information we have on file is up to date at any time,” says Lipsi. “This can be done via our online portal, AboutMyProperty, on the MPAC website or by calling our customer service line.”

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