For Timmins residents, marvelling at how quickly the construction of 18 apartment units has proceed through winter on the old athletic field south of the Timmins Native Friendship Centre, these words of determination may come to mind.
"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds".
This phrase, associated with the US Postal Service's determination to deliver the mail, was actually penned by ancient Greek writer Herodatus, about the ancient Persian postal couriers.
But it might as well apply to the construction workers at the TNFC development.
The following photographs taken a week ago capture the construction crew working through a snow storm.
A crew member, when asked about the gruelling weather conditions, simply responded:
"We got to get this completed no matter what."
The foundation was dug last November. Since then the water and sewer lines were put in; the frames of the apartment units went up and the roofs were raised.
Now work will begin on completing the exterior of the buildings before heading indoors to complete the interiors.
There was an array of impressive heavy construction equipment on site.
The construction workers on this day were examining something on the roof of one of the apartment units.
Not an easy feat when the winds are howling and the snow is falling.
But using a lift, the worker gets up on the roof and does his job.
A nearby resident, Tony Cantera, walked by while the work was being done.
He marvelled at the work and how fast it was proceeding. But he had one question.
"How come the buildings don't have windows on the Cedar Street side?"
Fair question. So we asked one of the workers on site.
His response: " Oh that, we haven't cut the windows and back doors out yet. But there will be windows facing Cedar St. We will do that once the snow stops so we don't have deal with moisture getting in and perhaps damaging the wood," he explained.
The answer for Tony and others who are puzzled by the lack of windows on Cedar Street then is that they will be built when the weather warms up and snow won't accumulate in the structure.
Makes sense, wouldn't you say?
When completed, the project will feature 18 two-bedroom houses that will be 50 percent geared to income, low income, seniors, young families and the other 50 percent will be sold at market value.
