Greg Heilman
Update: Oct 16th, 2026 11:26 EDT
Sharefacebooktwitter
whatsapp
Make us preferred on Google
Marcel LeBrun says that he “won the parent lottery, the education lottery, the country lottery,” adding “it would be arrogant to say every piece of my ‘success’ was earned, when so much of it was received.” His parents instilled in him an appreciation for working hard and not hesitating to get his hands dirty when capable of doing the job himself.
The French-Canadian took a career in software after graduating with a degree in electrical and computer engineering and developed technologies that were ahead of the curve. That helped him start new ventures that became multi-million-dollar businesses.
In 2011, at the spritely age of 41, he sold one of them for US$326 million in cash and stocks. He told Maclean’s Sarah Treleaven that it was like “winning the Stanley Cup of entrepreneurship.”
While he could’ve doubled down and use his record of success to try to accumulate more wealth, he became inspired to do something better with his time and money after attending a social-justice event. The candor of speaker Rick Tobias about how he viewed the current situation of poverty and homelessness as worse than ever despite his 23 years of effort spurred him to action.
After talking the matter over with his wife and daughter,LeBrun decided that he would tackle the problem of homelessness. After much research, which took him to projects across Canada and the U.S., even to Ghana, he decided to set up a tiny-home community of 99 dwellings, dubbed “12 Neighbours” in Fredericton, the city where he lives.
He did some community outreach to get a feel for what potential residents currently living in tents felt about living in tiny homes and the feedback was positive. He purchased a 65-acre plot of land, specifically chosen so that its future residents would have access to transportation, groceries and services as well as avoiding any NIMBYism interference.
Next, he had to overcome bureaucratic and financing hurdles to move forward with the plan. However, he didn’t wait idly on his hands. By the time he got confirmation of federal funding for the program he had already built 35 homes.
LeBrun has received help from businesses and church groups as word of his project spread that have provided the new residents of 12 Neighbours with the supplies and resources they needed not only to sustain themselves but to strive. The goal for him is not just to get people into homes but help the vulnerable people in his community reconnect with society and thus strengthen the city as a whole.
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment.Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out ourTikTokandInstagram reelsfor bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.
- Sociedad
- Canadá
- Vivienda
