James Hyer removing the old basement window at Tammy Hawkins house that will be replaced under the KT Fairglass Community Give Back program (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

By Liam Verster

Community Give Back Program

Windows donated, installed at Vernon woman’s home

Apr 25, 2025 | 12:26 PM

A local company has replaced windows at the house of a person in need.

Through its Community Give Back Program, KT Fairglass Windows & Doors learned about Tammy Hawkins, who had two cracked windows at her home.

Speaking outside her home Friday, April 25, Hawkins said she had recently faced some health and financial issues.

“I had brain surgery last summer, I had to be off work for a couple months, and that was really hard financially” Hawkins said.

“After the Christmas holidays, I had to make the decision to go down from 40 hours to 24 hours [of work a week], because I physically just couldn’t do it anymore. It’s been really tough financially.”

Possible firearm involved

One person apprehended in connection with suspicious activity in Coldstream

Dec 13, 2025

Fatal Collision, Highway Closed

One person dead in crash near Revelstoke

Dec 13, 2025

Salaries

Vernon Council to discuss lesser pay increases

Dec 12, 2025

Hawkins said she was very grateful for the company being able to donate and replace the windows, one of which was in the basement and the other over the front door.

Hawkins has lived in the house in the South Vernon neighbourhood “off and on” since she was 10, and inherited it from her mother when she passed away. Hawkins said she did not know if the windows had ever been replaced in all those years.

Also at the home during the installation Friday was Todd Embley, owner of KT Fairglass, who said this work would not have been cheap.

“Because we use Milgard, and Milgard is at the higher end of the budget-friendly line of windows that are in the market today, I would say that for the average consumer looking to do a window, say a transom window (over the door) like this that is about five feed wide and three feet tall, all in you’ll probably be looking at around $1,500 after taxes,” Embely explained.

“So it’s about a $3,000 package that we’re gifting to her.”

The project was made possible after a person nominated Hawkins to have her windows replaced, and Embely said the goal of this program is to help those in need.

“Those who can’t afford it but really do need to have those old windows replaced, whether its for health reasons or other, or just to save on their energy bills, we’d like to see exactly what we can do,” Embely said.

“We get all the information, we measure up the windows and take a look at the project and we talk to Milgard. We all kind of come together and arrange to get the products over here, and then show up and do the installation and hopefully we have healthier, happier people living here that can enjoy the new windows and the energy savings that come with it.”

He noted they want to offer a free installation every month under the Community Give Back Program, but there has not been many applications or nominations. Embely said he understands it’s hard to ask for help, but still encouraged people nominate themselves or others through their website.