April Ager-White

April’s parents grew up in the depression era and she comes from a family of residential school survivors. When visitors arrived, for whatever reason, they were always offered food in case they hadn’t eaten. No matter the purpose of the visit, it wouldn’t go well if people were hungry. That lesson has stayed with April, and she tries to ensure that both physical and mental well-being take precedence in her interactions with others. A former co-op manager and bookkeeper, April was also a licensed funeral director for 15 years, a job which helped her to understand the process of grief, and honed her skills in dealing with strong emotions. She currently serves as Treasurer at First Nations Housing Co-operative in London, Ontario, and works with the non-profit Atlohsa Family Healing Services.

Sitting on the Board of CHF Canada fits into the flow of April’s passions, which include strong advocacy for urban Indigenous housing and co-op housing in particular. Having spent several years lobbying the City of London to allocate resources for more housing, her priorities are to help CHF Canada move forward on its mandate to work towards reconciliation with Indigenous people and to push for more access to funding through the National Housing Strategy.

Family is of paramount importance to April. As a member of the Bear Clan, she grew up in a family that put an emphasis on volunteering, and taking seriously one’s responsibilities to the community. As a result, April feels she brings strength, resiliency, and the ability to provide support and a different perspective to the Board. Her experience reading and understanding financial statements gives her insight into the concrete operating details of an organization.

April is a mother and a grandmother with a strong interest in food security. She keeps her own garden. She’s also an avid reader and enjoys knitting.