New housing project in Gananoque supports Canada’s heroes

GANANOQUE – With hard hats on and shovels in the dirt, veterans, dignitaries and community leaders gathered Friday afternoon at 295 Oak Street to break ground on Moving Heroes Home, a 16-unit subsidized housing development that will provide safe, accessible living for Canada’s national heroes.

Co-developed by veterans Martin Ouellet and Jordan Morelli through the non-profit Moving Heroes, the project is designed for those who serve and have served, including military personnel, veterans, peace officers, first responders and health-care professionals.

“This is more than a build, it’s a message that Canada stands with its heroes,” said Ouellet, director general of Moving Heroes. “It’s about giving back with real, lasting support.”

The project was met with praise from officials and guests during Friday’s ceremony, which featured remarks from Kingston and the Islands MP Mark Gerretsen, retired Brigadier-General Larry Aitken, Bob Howard of Legion Branch 92, representatives from Homes for Heroes and CFB Kingston, and Gananoque Mayor John Beddows.

“It is to serve those who have served, and I’m grateful for this initiative that will provide such a place for people who need a place that they don’t just call home, but where they feel at home,” said Beddows.

The homes will be built to universal accessibility standards and located near local trails, the St. Lawrence River and Gananoque’s downtown core, ensuring a high quality of life and community integration.

The project’s funding model includes a portion of real estate commissions from Moving Heroes-affiliated realtors — many of whom are veterans or military spouses — as well as support from private donors, community partners, and local organizations.

Construction is expected to begin this summer, with completion targeted for 2026.

More information can be found at movingheroes.ca.

Keith Dempsey is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Brockville Recorder and Times. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.