Three Saskatoon homes will be a little warmer this Thanksgiving weekend.
When Joanne Ecklund heard the news that she one of the recipients of a new free furnace, she could hardly believe it.
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“At first I thought it was a scam or something, then they called me back and I was surprised,” Ecklund said.
On Saturday morning, Ecklund, along with two other deserving Saskatoon families, received brand new furnaces thanks to a program called Heat Up Saskatchewan.
“She’s got a beat up old furnace and stuff here, so we’re coming in donating our time and product. Lennox is giving the furnace and we’re giving the time and we’re throwing it in for her,” said Barrett Misiwich, an installer with J & A Heating and Plumbing.
Lennox donated the furnaces to those who were nominated by the community, who need a helping hand. Three local businesses donated the materials and labour for the installation.
“This is completely volunteer, they’re really the unsung heroes here, not me, not Lennox. It’s the companies. They’re donating their time, the tools, the trucks, the owners are doing all that and it’s amazing,” said Cam Yelenik, the northern Saskatchewan territory manager for Lennox.
The Heat Up program started in 2010 in Wisconsin, and has spread to Western Canada. It’s the first year the program has been in Saskatchewan.
Rick Ryan and his wife were nominated by Terry Bivand, who works for Five Star Plumbing and Heating.
Bivand said the furnace was due for an upgrade.
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“Knowing Rick and his wife, and getting to know them and just helping them out. Knowing their stuff is upgraded and they won’t have any worries with it,” Bivand said.
“I’m very happy. I thank Terry, and I thank the bosses and I thank Cam for it. We’ll never have to buy another furnace in our lifetime,” Ryan said.