Jacques Corbeil and Chantal Clement were uninsured when they lost their Chateauguay home to fire last Christmas but thanks to the kindness of strangers they now have a brand new place to call home.

The adventure began when electrician Michel Enault read an article about the disaster which included the victims' phone number. "I picked up my phone, one second later without thinking and I said, ‘I’m going to try to rebuild your house for free.'”

He then called upon other construction companies in an effort to recruit similar pledges. Those companies agreed to help with the effort that eventually raised $80,000 in cash and $220,000 in other services.

Even city hall helped out, as Chateauguay helped swap terrains for the family, which was not permitted to build on the same land.

Corbeil was emotional at the generosity when walking into his new house Saturday. “It’s hard to find words to say thank you to everybody. It’s unbelievable. It’s overwhelming,” he said.

“We were at a low that a lot of people can’t imagine but Mr. Enault took us under his wing. It was like a rollercoaster. Sometimes you get so down but now the buggy isn’t touching the tracks. It’s peaking up, it’s really crazy,“ he said.

His wife Chantal Clement was similarly struck by emotion after receiving the house keys at a celebration Saturday. “I’m going to have trouble sleeping for a few days because I want to look at everything that they did in that house. It’s the most beautiful house I’ve ever seen. It’s full of love. You feel that nothing bad is going to happen anymore," she said.

Enault told CTV Montreal Saturday that the project was a gift for all involved.

"I did construction all my life. We go into the field and try to make money. But here people were saying, ‘how can I do more?’ Everybody was smiling coming in and coming out. The roofer did the roof at -35C. People like to give. They want to please. There was a need. I was amazed.

Enault’s wife was along through the emotional ride. “It has been an incredible journey. It started in December and it has been nonstop. The generosity has been incredible. It’s heartwarming to see that there are still people in this world willing to give so much," said Mercedes Barrios.