The Conifer Village Voice

11/09/2026

The houses are small enough to be delivered on trailers, but each one contains something its resident may not have had for years.

A front door that locks.

Canadian technology entrepreneur Marcel LeBrun founded 12 Neighbours, a tiny-home community providing permanent, affordable housing in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

LeBrun was previously CEO of Radian6, a social media monitoring company acquired by Salesforce. The announced deal was worth approximately $326 million in cash and stock.

That number describes the price paid for the entire company, not the amount LeBrun personally received.

After turning his attention to poverty reduction, LeBrun researched housing programs and spoke with people living in low-income communities. Construction on 12 Neighbours began in 2021.

The completed development contains 96 tiny homes arranged in eight neighborhood blocks. Each 240-square-foot home has a kitchen, bathroom, living space, storage, and a small private yard.

Residents rent the homes rather than receiving ownership. Rent is capped at 30% of income, meaning many residents receiving assistance pay no more than about $200 a month, including utilities and Wi-Fi.

The project also offers support services, skills training, and employment opportunities through businesses including a café and print shop.

LeBrun’s family foundation provided $2 million in seed funding. The nonprofit later received additional support through provincial and federal housing programs, so it was not funded solely from his personal fortune.

The final house rolled into the community as home number 96 💛

10/09/2026

4 Destino Place, Conifer Grove $989,000.

OFF MARKET - Be quick!! View Sunday 1-1:30pm

Its "over the bridge" ( if you know, you know ) set on a fully fenced site of 631sqm perfect for kids and pets. Great first home or retirement home with 3 bedrooms, family bathroom, separate laundry and open plan living. Bonus for the Dads is the superb MAN CAVE (converted double garage) complete with pool table! Kids - The trampoline is staying! Walk to sought after Conifer Grove School, coastal walks, local cafes or the supermarket!
This home is seriously for sale as the family is moving out of Auckland.
Call Kevin 021 273 6061
Heather 021 649039

06/09/2026

Sometimes, the biggest acts of kindness happen quietly. ❤️

A story circulating online tells of a shy student who struggled to connect with his classmates. Rather than putting him on the spot, his teacher reportedly came up with a clever and compassionate idea: she asked him to draw on a sheet of paper, telling the class that if the paper were left blank, everyone would earn free play time.

But there was a hidden twist.

According to the story, the teacher had secretly given every student a blank sheet—creating a situation where the boy could succeed without realizing that his classmates were helping him. What could have been an embarrassing moment became an opportunity for him to feel included.

And then came the part that says it all: a simple classroom activity turned into a moment of connection, laughter, and friendship. 🥹

Whether every detail of the viral story can be independently verified or not, its message is powerful: sometimes inclusion doesn't mean asking someone to change. It means changing the environment around them so they feel safe enough to belong.

Teachers don't just teach lessons from books. Sometimes, they teach children that kindness, patience, and looking out for one another matter too. ❤️

If you had a teacher who made you feel seen when you needed it most, tag them below. 👇

05/09/2026

05/09/2026

In Tokyo, losing your phone or wallet does not always mean it is gone forever.

Police data from 2018 showed that around 83% of lost mobile phones were returned to their owners.

About 65% of lost wallets were returned too.

That is an unusually high recovery rate for a city of millions of people.

One reason is that returning lost property is deeply built into everyday life.

Children in Japan are taught from a young age that if they find something that does not belong to them, they should hand it in.

Japan also has thousands of neighborhood police boxes, known as kōban, where people can easily turn in lost items.

There are legal rules around found property too.

But the cultural expectation matters just as much.

For many people, keeping something that belongs to a stranger is simply seen as the wrong thing to do.

So in Tokyo, dropping your wallet does not automatically mean someone else just got richer.

There is a surprisingly good chance it may find its way back to you.

01/09/2026

🚨 A snow leopard is hiding in this photo… and it's almost impossible to spot at first glance !
Somewhere among the rocks hides one of the most elusive big cats on the planet.
The snow leopard lives in the high mountains of Central Asia, particularly in the Himalayas, where its camouflage allows it to blend almost perfectly into its surroundings. 🐆

Its light grey coat, scattered with dark spots and rosettes, mimics the colors and irregular shapes of the rocks around it. When it stays still, even its prey can have an incredibly hard time telling it apart.
And this camouflage is essential to its survival.

The snow leopard is a predator that hunts mountain goats and wild sheep, among others. It uses the mountainous terrain to stealthily close in before pouncing on its prey. 😯

It also has a long tail that can nearly reach the length of its body, helping it maintain its balance as it moves along steep cliffs.
So, did you find it ? 👀

01/09/2026

A teacher in Kenya was giving away 80% of his salary to help struggling students.

Then the world noticed.

His name is Peter Tabichi.

He taught science and mathematics at a rural school where many students came from extremely poor families.

The school had very limited resources.

Just one computer.

Unreliable internet.

And students who often lacked basic supplies.

So Tabichi used most of his own income to help.

He paid for school materials.

Helped families.

And supported students who otherwise might have been forced to give up on their education.

Despite the challenges, his students began excelling in science competitions and improving academically.

Then in 2019, Tabichi was named the winner of the Global Teacher Prize.

The award came with $1 MILLION.

A teacher who had spent years giving away most of what he earned...

was suddenly rewarded with one of the biggest prizes in education.

He gave because his students needed it.

Then the world gave something back.

31/08/2026

Happy Fathers Day to you!

10/05/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing mums, mother figures, and soon-to-be mums out there 💐💛

To celebrate, we’re excited to announce the TWO lucky winners of our Mother’s Day Giveaway!

✨ Winner of the $100 voucher for Conifer Grove Hair & Beauty Salon

✨ Winner of the $100 voucher for Natcha Thai Restaurant

Thank you to everyone who joined us at our open homes this weekend and supported local businesses with us 🏡

Congratulations to our winners — I’ll be in touch shortly to arrange your vouchers. Wishing everyone a beautiful Mother’s Day 🌸

07/05/2026

🌸 MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL 🌸

Join us at one of our open homes this weekend and go in the draw to WIN one of TWO $100 vouchers to support our amazing local businesses 💝

✨ 1 x $100 voucher for Conifer Grove Hair and Beauty Salon
✨ 1 x $100 voucher for Natcha Thai Restaurant

Hosted by your local & loyal agents Heather Obern & Kevin Arthur 🏡
Simply attend one of our open homes this weekend to enter!

Don’t miss this special Mother’s Day opportunity to treat yourself or someone special 💐

Winners will be drawn at the end of the open homes this weekend.