It may not heal a heart, but the newest roof on Aspen Crescent will at least keep the heads of Jeanette Robinson’s family dry, as it has now for three generations.
Last Friday morning, Aug. 30, was all it took for the fast-moving hands of the Roe Roofing and Exteriors crew to install the prize in this year’s win-a-roof giveaway.
Just half of the prizes, actually, since they were moving on to installing this year’s second winner at Rauldon Augustine’s home in central Edmonton on Saturday.
Standing in the front yard while the shingles flew, Jason Roe said it was nice to find a winner in the company’s backyard. Entries to the contest come in from across the Capital Region.
“We love the St. Albert community, it really supports us as a business,” he said. “So it was really nice not just to search her out through the competition and find her story and give her something back, but it’s also giving back to the community that helps us every year.”
Roe said he feels charity should be a part of every small business.
“It’s the best feeling every day,” he said. “Every time we do a roof, we get to see somebody happy, even if they’re paying, seeing that look on their face.
“We thrive as a business because of the people we service. We’re thankful for our situation.”
Robinson, her husband John Duncan and son Steve are thankful, too. The house has been in the family since the 1970s. Robinson grew up there, and bought it from her mom nine years ago after living elsewhere for some time.
A machinist, Robinson was working full time when she had a “widowmaker” heart attack in April, her heart’s largest artery blocked by a blood clot. It has had a lasting effect on her stamina and she has been off work since.
“I get tired very quickly,” she said, with some routine chores now taking her days to complete.
Robinson applied to the contest, run through KiSS FM’s Pepper and Dylan morning show, last year, but didn’t win. She knew the roof wouldn’t last another winter, but the quotes she had for the job were out of reach. That left doing the work with friends for “half the cost” as the only way forward, but getting up there in her condition, and with a husband who has broken his back twice, was a fraught prospect.
“It feels pretty good,” she said as the last few nails were being driven in. “It’s something we wouldn’t have been able to afford with me off on disability. It’s a big relief off our shoulders.”
