A Williamsburg, N.B. man is feeling grateful after his community rallied behind him after he lost everything in a house fire.
Hermal Duguay says he almost feels settled into his new home.
“Starting to feel good now, feels more like home,” says Duguay.
Efforts to rebuild his home began almost immediately.
The non-profit group Big Hearts, Small City brought together volunteers and businesses to donate time and material.
Jill Dickinson owns a plumbing business and donated fixtures for the project.
“We normally donate to local charities and we thought this was good because we would be able to see the results and see the appreciation of the recipient,” says Dickinson.
As soon as the snow melted in late April, construction on Duguay’s new home began and he moved in about a month ago.
Duguay says going from losing everything, to having a brand new home in a matter of months has been overwhelming.
“Half asleep, half awake, sort of lost, feel like you're still in your own house waking up,” says Duguay. “I don’t have to climb up any stairs anymore, before it was a split level, now it’s just the one, so with my bad leg its perfect,” says Duguay.
Fortunately for Duguay, his new home is in the same neighbourhoood as the one that burnt down.
“It’s nice to stay in the same area, and the neighbour up the road is getting older and I’m going to help him hay,” says Duguay.
Duguay is planning to have a barbeque at his new home on Saturday, between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., so he can thank the people who helped him directly.
“You don’t realize how nice, generous people are, but when something like this happens you see how many people who are out there willing to help,” says Duguay.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Nick Moore
