Operation Home Delivery in Banff

The Texas Roadhouse (TRH) Restaurant chain held their Managing Partner Conference in Banff, March 5-9, 2006. Part of TRH’s conference included a Humanitarian Project where the 800+ delegates participated with their third year dedicated to helping Habitat for Humanity (HFH).

This year’s focus was helping the Hurricane Katrina rebuilding effort and the local community.

The Humanitarian Project included building nine “House in a Box” packages to be shipped to New Orleans, construction of walls for 12 condominium units for HFH Calgary, painting two senior apartments, building a large dividing wall in the local day care, and constructing eight kiosks for local non-profits to use during fundraising events. All of this activity was successfully completed between 11:00am and 5:00pm, culminating with a parade down Main St., Banff, followed by a concert in the town park. It was an impressive and very well organized event.

The House in a Box event took place in a parking lot beside the Town Park. All wall plates and other components had been prepared ahead of time, which meant it was just a matter of nailing everything together. The “Symphony of Hammers” started at 11:00am, and by 3:00pm the delegates and volunteers were cleaning and loading up the trucks. By 5:00pm the trucks were loaded, and the parade started at the north end of town. The TRH Delegates led the procession, followed by the Calgary Stampede Marching Band, the Mayor and a couple of covered wagons carrying City Councilors and other town dignitaries.

The nine houses were loaded into three semi trucks each displaying a Texas Roadhouse logo, “Helping Hands – Homes for the Gulf Coast” and “Habitat for Humanity Canada”. In addition, 48 long walls were constructed for HFH Calgary and loaded onto flatbed trucks by the end of the day.

A special thanks to Texas Roadhouse Restaurant’s delegates, HFH Calgary and the volunteers which helped put on a very successful event!