Mr. Kevin Callahan reports

BARRIE MUNICIPAL NON-PROFIT HOUSING CORPORATION IS THE LATEST AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDER IN ONTARIO TO MANDATE THE SAFE-T-ELEMENT COOKING SYSTEM FOR INSTALLATION ON ALL STOVES IN ITS HOUSING PORTFOLIO

Pioneering Technology Corp. has received notice that Barrie Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corp. (BMNPHC) has taken receipt of 953 brand new ranges that feature the Safe-T-element cooking system. Financing for the program was in part from the Canadian federal government's social housing renovation and retrofit program (SHRRP).

Earlier this year, BMNPHC issued a tender for the replacement of all of the stoves in its housing portfolio. Specific conditions of the contract being tendered required the supply and installation of 953 Whirlpool, Frigidaire or GE 30-inch electric stoves complete with Pioneering's Safe-T-element technology installed prior to delivery.

In the end, BMNPHC elected to proceed with upgrading 953 GE 30-inch electric stoves pre-equipped with the Safe-T-element cooking system.

BMNPHC is a non-profit housing provider in Barrie, Ont. The portfolio has a total of 953 apartments and townhouses located at 14 different locations across the city. Approximately 60 per cent of these rental units are for people who qualify for a rent geared to income subsidy through the Social Housing Department at the County of Simcoe.

SHRRP is a capital grant program that helps eligible social housing providers renovate and upgrade social housing projects. There is a strong emphasis on improving the health and safety of tenants as well as increasing the energy efficiency and physical accessibility of the buildings. These are investments that will extend the life of a building system, improve operating costs and contribute to an improved quality of life for the tenants.

Pioneering's chief executive officer, Kevin Callahan, said: "Pioneering's Safe-T-element is having a significant impact in helping affordable housing providers deliver a safer and more energy-efficient environment for the tenants they serve. Barrie is the latest in an ongoing trend of housing providers in Ontario and throughout North America that are making the Safe-T-element cooking system an important part of its overall safe housing strategy."