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New Regional Housing Office Named After the Late Joe Mullins
The Honourable
Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and MHA for Humber
West, today officially named Newfoundland Labrador Housing’s (Housing)
new Corner Brook regional office building after the late Joe Mullins.
Premier Williams was joined by Marie Rideout, widow of Joe Mullins; son
Peter Mullins; Len Simms, Housing’s Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer; colleagues, friends and local dignitaries for the official
ceremony. A bronze plaque was unveiled which will be placed in the main
lobby of the Corner Brook Housing office, once construction is
completed later this year.
“It is an honour for me to name this building after a man who was such
a great ambassador for his community,” said Premier Williams. “I can’t
think of a better way to set the bar higher for the work that will be
done under this roof over the coming years. I’m quite certain that Joe
would be proud to know his name will be associated with an organization
dedicated to providing social housing programs and services to some of
our society’s most vulnerable citizens.”
Mr. Mullins, a legendary sports broadcaster, hockey and baseball
athlete, and a pillar of his community, died in December 2002, at age
60. He was an active volunteer for countless charity events and
community service groups, such as the Janeway telethon and his local
municipal council. He was serving his second term as Deputy Mayor of
Corner Brook at the time of his death.
“Housing has had a regional office in the Corner Brook area for nearly
30 years,” said the Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of
Transportation and Works and Minister Responsible for Housing. “However
the administration and maintenance operations worked out of separate
locations. The new building is strategically located close to many of
Housing’s rental properties in Corner Brook and will enable Housing to
consolidate its maintenance and program delivery functions under one
roof.”
The Joe Mullins Building will be located on 34 Boone’s Road, Corner
Brook. Brook Construction (2007) Inc. started construction on the $2
million facility in April 2009, and it is anticipated to open early in
2010. Designed by Gibbons and Snow Architects of St. John’s, the new
one-level building will be about 9,000 square feet, completely
wheelchair accessible and able to accommodate the entire Corner Brook
staff complement of 38 permanent and seasonal workers.
The Corner
Brook regional area has the second largest social housing portfolio in
the province outside of the Avalon region, with more than 760
dwellings, serving 1,900 families and individuals throughout Corner
Brook, the entire Northern Peninsula and as far east as Hampden.
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