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Co-ops
People
Programs
If you have information about exciting news and
features from your co-op or people living there, send us an e-mail
and we will publish them.
info@coophousing.com
Co-ops
October 2009
Century of Co-operation Award
See the photo album.
October 2009
St. Lawrence Community Mosaic Unveiling and Reception
See photo album
Feburary 2009
Feburary is Black History Month. Several co-ops have hosted events to celebrate. Below is the list of events:
OWN Housing Co-operative
Hickory Tree Co-op
Atkinson Co-op
Campden Green Co-op
YMCA Youth Leader Corps program at
Campden Green Co-op
Kick-off date – Saturday February 7 at 4:30 pm
Spring 2008
Mosaic Art Project at Bleecer Street Co-op
October 22, 2008
Co-operative Housing Awards Night
Celebrations of the achievements of our co-operative communities at Metro-Central YMCA.
September 16 , 2008
Century of Co-operation Award
CHFT held a special recognition ceremony at Toronto City Hall on September 16. This ceremony recognized people living in housing co-ops who had achieved a century of co-operation. A century of co-operation is reached by taking the combined total of years living in housing co-ops and a member’s age. When the total adds up to 100, the member has achieved a century of co-operation.
The event was hosted by CHFT President, Felicia Davis and Toronto City Councilor Pam McConnell. 17 of this year’s 25 recipients were in attendance along with many family members, riends, fellow co-op members and staff. Several recipients spoke passionately about their life in their co-ops and the importance of co-op housing.
See photo.
February 9, 2008
Black History Month Celebration at Atkinson Co-op
To view the photos click here.
November 2008
Celebrating co-ops achievements at the CHFT Awards Night.
Read more.
Virtual garden tour of all the housing co-ops who entered 2007 Green Thumb contest. See the map.
People
In Memory of Kathleen Blinkhorn
The non profit housing movement has lost a passionate supporter and a tireless ally. Kathleen Blinkhorn was most recently the Assistant Deputy Minister of Housing. After she moved to Canada, she began her life’s work in non profit housing in a co-op in Peel Region.
Kathleen went on to work for Canada Mortgage and Housing where she brought a good willed approach to solving problems with co-ops and non profits. She later worked as a development consultant at Lantana Non Profit, a resource group that built housing co-ops. She worked at the Ontario Non Profit Housing Association (ONPHA) before she took on the huge task of managing the City of Toronto’s Social Housing Unit.
Kathleen’s work was a small part of who she was. Her kindness and compassion shone through in dealings with people. Kathleen affected the lives of thousands of people who never met her. She ensured that they had safe and affordable housing through her tireless efforts.
Kathleen was a great parent and was very proud of her children Quinn and Casey. She also took a keen interest in other people’s children.
When Kathleen was the Director of the Social Housing Unit, she played a major role in preventing a crisis. The owners of the land evicted the residents of Tent City. Kathleen personally worked to make sure everyone had a bed that evening. Kathleen’s passion and dedication kept her working most of the night.
She brought vision and determination to the city. The downloading of social housing to the city was complex and at times overwhelming. Kathleen tackled the problems and today the portfolio has been strengthened.
Kathleen was modest and humble. She shared these traits with the thousands of people that she affected through her work. Kathleen Blinkhorn played a major role in shaping the direction of housing in this province. Kathleen will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
-Tom Clement
Brian Burke
Brian Burke, his daughter Yvette, and his wife Marg Bacon
We have lost a great friend, mentor and a true leader of the co-op housing movement. Brian Burke was a member of Riverdale Co-op who worked at CHFT for over 15 years. Brian was a modest, humble man who did his best to keep out of the limelight.
It was over 20 years ago that Brian introduced us to the idea of conflict resolution. The idea was simple. It helped people to resolve conflict without following a legal route. In those days the term eviction prevention had not been coined. Brian began talking about different ideas of community development that few had thought of at the time. He quietly inspired us to embrace new ideas.
Brian had a belief that people provided with the tools would make good decisions. It was a guiding principle for him and he passed it on to many of us. Much of our CHFT member services program revolves around this principle.
He introduced us to plain language. He was well read and knew how to communicate ideas clearly. For Brian it was really a way of ensuring democracy in co-ops. He wrote and edited over 20 plain language publications. The Co-op Housing Bookstore grew from Brian’s work.
I was in Kenya this summer and visited UN Habitat. The UN staff raved about our plain language materials. Brian’s vision was even a little broader than I realized.
While at CHFT Brian organized his work schedule so he could be home when his daughter arrived from school. His daughter Yvette was greeted by her father everyday. His example and influence encouraged men in the office to take their parenting more seriously.
He never wanted any awards. He finally agreed to accept the CMHC Award for Co-op Housing which was awarded at the 1998 CHF Canada Annual Meeting in London, Ontario. In his speech he called on the delegates and the leadership of the co-op housing movement to embrace diversity.
Brian will be sadly missed but his lasting influence on the co-op housing movement remains.
Tom Clement- Executive Director of CHFT
See more tributes to Brian Burke.
Brian Burke's Obituary by the Toronto Star
Randy Padmore
September 2008
Toronto Regional Champion Campaign: Increasing Women’s Participation in Regional Government.
On September 17, the City of Toronto launched a new initiative, the Toronto Regional Champion Campaign.
Mayor David Miller and Toronto Regional Champion Chair, Councillor, Pam McConnell introduced the 26 young women who will spend the next year learning the job of a municipal councilor...
See details
Programs
Summer 2009
CHFT-NACHU Youth Exchange Program
The second part of the exchange is well on its way. The Kenyan youths are set to arrive later this week. Click here for the youths' bios and partner information.
Spring 2009
Rooftops Canada: Youth Exchange Program
Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT) – National Cooperative
Housing Union (NACHU), Kenya,
Both NACHU and CHFT are concerned about developing youth leadership in co-ops. They are implementing programs that build this leadership.
Four young leaders from Toronto co-ops have been chosen to be part of an exchange program with Kenya. The exchange is organized by Rooftops Canada and the National Co-operative Housing Union in Kenya.
The co-op youth will be in Kenya for 11 days where they will meet with young Kenyans to develop a joint project. Later in the summer, the Kenyans will travel to Toronto to continue the work.
Details
November 10, 2008
Apprenticeship and Skilled Trades Forum
The forum was scheduled for Thursday, November 13, 2008 at Carpenters' Local 27 Training Centre.
To see the flyer for the event please click here.
November 10, 2008
CHFT and the Scarborough YMCA lunched a meeting for co-op staff in Scarborough about Youth Services at Campden Green Co-op.
Details
September 23, 2008
Update on Garbage, Recycling and Green Bin Composting
Right At Home
Report on the consultation on human rights and rental housing in Ontario- Ontario Human Rights Commission
See the Report
Queen’s Park announces capital repair funding
Details
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