“Partners in Learning – Building Together,” brings together Shane Homes and Ernest Manning in a mutually beneficial fundraising and educational effort. Students at Ernest Manning High School learn about design, construction, finishing, interior decorating and more, while Shane Homes generates a pool of possible future employees. The high school also receives a minimum of $15,000 from the overall profits from the sale of the home, which is deposited into the Griffin Fund.

Drafting and Design students at Ernest Manning first design a range of possible floor plans, from which a panel of judges at Shane Homes chooses the house which will be built. Shane Homes then builds the home at cost, and the students have the opportunity to take part in the interior design. This includes a trip to Shane Homes’ Expressions Design Centre, where they help to choose everything from the carpet and paint to light fixtures and tile.

Students who took in the unveiling of the Griffin V are currently working on the design of next year’s Griffin VI. Excitement was in the air as the students and a variety of other visitors explored the attractive Griffin V. Many of the participants from Ernest Manning expressed their pleasure at having gained insight into their future career options.

Willy Maul, a Grade 12 student at Ernest Manning who is currently taking the Drafting and Design class, explains that he has decided to pursue home building in a different capacity than he originally thought he would. He states that his school’s partnership with Shane Homes has given him the opportunity to follow through with the knowledge he has gained in his drafting class.

“We actually get to go do it,” says Maul. “We don’t plan it and pretend we did it – we plan it, get picked, and then get to see the after-effects.”

The 2087 sq-ft., two storey Griffin V, located at 27 Cougarstone Common SW features a great room with corner gas fireplace, kitchen with breakfast bar and corner pantry, and den with French doors. On the second floor, the whole family can relax in the cozy loft area, with built-in entertainment centre and adjacent IT centre. The master suite features a spacious ensuite, and the second and third bedrooms include built-in desks.

The design of the home is highly contemporary and warm, with dark, espresso-stained wood and lots of stainless steel accents. At $268,400, the Griffin V is a perfect move-up home in the beautiful new community of Cougar Ridge.

While the aesthetic value is readily apparent, the Griffin V is worth much more than that to students at Ernest Manning. Matt Christison, principal of Ernest Manning, points out that not only does their partnership with Shane Homes allow participating students to get a taste of life after high school, it also gives many students the chance to stay in school, thanks to the Griffin Fund.

“It’s not the money that matters so much,” says Christison. “It’s the opportunities that it then creates for our students, particularly students who are disadvantaged, who do not have enough money to pay for their membership on the sports team, to pay for fees, to pay for materials, or students who run into financial difficulties.”

Since its inception seven years ago, the partnership has raised over $60,000 from the sales of the Griffin homes. The program has also received three Mayor’s Excellence Awards, which celebrate business and education working together to enhance the quality of public education.

As Shane Wenzel, of Shane Homes points out, the sooner the Griffin V sells, the more money Ernest Manning receives. Be sure to have a look at the finished product at 27 Cougarstone Common SW.