Shovel Ready Success

The Kind Foundation

An exciting time for our Canterbury team in November with the official opening of The Kind Foundation's new home, Papa Hou. The project, won by Cook Brothers Canterbury, was a part of the Government's shovel-ready scheme, and the team have worked hard to bring the new space to life. The development provides new facilities and sources of income for the foundation, previously known as the Christchurch YMCA.

Complete with a gym, a professionally equipped theatre, childcare centre, cafe, dance school, a physiotherapy clinic, meeting rooms, a commercial kitchen with a chef, and space for the foundation’s other activities, plus those of the South and Mid-Canterbury YMCA. The project was a unique and rewarding one for all involved.

To launch the facility, 400 guests were invited to explore the new space. They were treated to an evening of storytelling explaining the culture native gifted to the kind foundation by local iwi, performances from past and present members of the YMCA with music and dance.

It was a real highlight to see our team recognised by the attendees, with Josie, CEO of the Kind Foundation, making special mention of Cook Brothers Site Manager Glenn Whitney, who "restored [her] faith in the construction industry". No doubt this has been a long journey for the Kind Foundation and the Cook Brothers Construction team, but we are so grateful and proud to be able to gift back an amazing facility like this to the community. Well done all.