On land that once formed part of Canadian Forces Base Griesbach, a ground breaking ceremony is bringing together federal land, provincial funding and local builders. Habitat for Humanity Edmonton broke ground on four new homes in the Village at Griesbach on Tuesday. The build became possible through Canada Lands Company, funding support from the Alberta government and construction being led by Build Edmonton Homes. “There are massive affordability pressures, not only in this community but across the whole country. It’s very difficult to pick up a newspaper these days or read a story online without coming across something related to affordable places to live, whether it’s through rental or home ownership,” said Gord Johnston, CEO of Build Edmonton Homes. “We thought that this partnership with Habitat would be an amazing opportunity to build homes for what will be affordable homeownership for four families here in Edmonton.” Local philanthropists Dr. John Lilley and Eileen Guilfoyle also supported the build through a lead gift. The groundbreaking is something that Habitat for Humanity Edmonton CEO, Ann-Marie Reddy, believes is what’s possible when there’s a shared purpose. “We can’t do this in isolation. We can’t do this on our own. It really does require working with various partners, donors, our province, and when you get that level of support, these projects become a lot easier to put together,” said Reddy. “The more partnerships that we can build like this, the more opportunities we can create for affordable homeownership in Edmonton.” Habitat Edmonton is aiming to add 45 homes to its portfolio between 2026 and 2028. The organization is on track to add 15 this year, including these four homes. “This is going to be that opportunity for four families to get into homeownership that would otherwise be blocked out. Trying to save for a down payment while you’re trying to make all your monthly commitments just doesn’t add up for individuals,” Reddy added. The program does not require a down payment, removing one of the biggest barriers for aspiring homeowners. The new homes, which will have three bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, an oversized detached single-car garage and a covered porch, are located at 298 and 299 Griesbach Road NW. Applications are now being accepted for all four homes, with completion expected in Oct. 2026.
