Workshop descriptions

This workshop will equip co-op members with practical tools and strategies to advocate for co-op housing. Participants will learn what the latest public opinion
polling says about co-op housing, and how to use that information to communicate the value of co-op housing.  You will develop skills on how to effectively talk about co-op housing when working with elected officials, and in your community.

Join us for an insightful panel discussion about what happens after completion of a big project. What is it like for members, managers and co-op leaders after the dust has settled? In this workshop, co-operative leaders will share their transformative journeys of joining with another co-op (amalgamation), gaining a new property (acquisition), or undertaking a redevelopment.

This workshop will delve into the challenges and triumphs experienced by our panelists as they navigated significant growth and change within their co-ops.

Gain new insights and knowledge into the art of assertion in challenging situations. This workshop provides an excellent opportunity to learn how to develop and use key assertion skills that allow you to express your perspective clearly, honour the other person, and protect and build the relationship. 

Special attention will be given to:

• defining assertion
• recognizing the difference between passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive, and assertive responses
• identifying what causes you to lose your assertiveness
• using assertive language in challenging situations
• disengaging from difficult interactions

Get to know the new Getting Our Co-op Principles Right guide recently reviewed and rewritten to bring co-operative principles into the everyday lives and operations of housing co-op members, boards, and staff.

Susanna who is a co-author of the guide, will highlight how the new version embeds values of justice, equity, diversity, decolonization, and inclusion (JEDDI) in the practical application of co-op principles. This workshop will include a presentation as well as an interactive exercise to reimagine and co-create what our co-op futures could look like.

What is accessible housing, anyway? Join us for an informative session on accessible housing. This session will focus on:

• the rights and protections of disabled people in housing
• the gaps that exist in Ontario and Canada’s Building Codes that impact disabled people.
• the intersections with homecare

What standards should we be aiming for? At its core, this workshop will focus on how co-ops can organize together through ideas of disability justice for a better, truly accessible Canada.

Reconciliation is an ongoing process for us all. Establishing a mutually respectful relationship between Indigenous peoples and Canada will take time and effort. In this workshop about continuing conversations, we recognise that awareness and understanding is part of the journey, not the destination.

We will engage in conversation to reflect on how Indigenous Ways of Knowing can be integrated into the lives of co-op members.

Chairing is key to good meetings and takes special knowledge and skills. An effective chairperson will start and end the meeting on time. They will provide a safe space for different points of views to be expressed, ensuring everyone has a chance to speak. They keep the meeting focused on the agenda and understand the rules of order. This workshop will cover:

• how a chairperson can prepare for meetings
• the role of the chairperson at the meeting
• key rules of order for making motions, amendments, and voting

Has your Ontario housing co-op updated its Organizational By-law to reflect the changes made to the Co-operative Corporations Act in October of 2023?  If not, this workshop is for you. During this workshop, we will explain the changes to the Act and review the model Organizational By-law developed by CHF Canada to help Ontario housing co-ops become compliant with the new legislation.

We will share how adopting a new by-law can be a simple process that also educates members. We will also highlight CHF Canada’s new election resources for Ontario housing co-ops.

Cyber attacks are on the rise. Fires and water damage can be devastating to co-ops and impact insurance premiums. Co-op boards are increasingly facing human rights lawsuits.

This workshop is an invitation to gain insights into these challenges and how you can contribute to keeping your co-op safe and sound. Led by Co-operators staff, this workshop will outline:

• the basics of fire prevention
• how to minimize the risk of cyber threats by maintaining “cyber hygiene”
• how to reduce the risk of human rights claims

You’ll have the chance to get advice and learn from experts, ask questions, and engage with others in group discussions.

This year, the local co-op tour will be onsite!

By bringing the co-op tour to the event site, we will spend less time in traffic and more time learning from and engaging with co-ops from the Toronto and Peel-Halton regions. This tour will offer state-of-the-art video tours of 3 co-ops, so that your experience is as close to being there as possible. Members of the featured co-ops will be on-site to bring the experience to life and answer your questions. The Peel-Halton and Toronto regions are innovators in development, inclusion and activism within our movement, come join the virtual local co-op tour to learn more!

Facilitators from Arcadia Housing Co-operative are exploring dynamic ways to revive old ties and weave new social connections.

Using a variety of approaches, we will guide a workshop on inventive
ways to reanimate community engagement, including with the wider community. We will focus on how to creatively cultivate engagement in the post-pandemic era through artistic projects.

In this learn-by-doing workshop, we will use storytelling and art making to explore the artful path for inclusive collaboration and positive change.

One of the core concepts of living in housing co-ops is that we create community – and community takes care of one another. However, sometimes that level of care for others becomes challenging and intense over prolonged periods of time. We face risk of elevated levels of stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue, where it becomes difficult to be helpful and compassionate. This experience results in personal strain that can show up as physical, mental, or emotional stress.

Join this workshop to:

• understand the source and signs of compassion fatigue
• learn the difference between burnout and compassion fatigue
• explore ways we can help ourselves and others in this experience

This workshop will introduce Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) through a hands-on activity. Participants will discuss how to use ABCD as a tool for community empowerment in their own co-ops.

This workshop will explore concepts of validation, trust, and low-stakes community building. It will share how recognizing the potential of all members can lead to stronger communities.

Participants will be given a copy of the activity to take home to their co-ops.

As a co-op business, property managers and directors are focused on member satisfaction, marketability, and property safety.  How does a co-op decide which projects to prioritize and where to start?  A solid plan relies on good information from technical reports. Understanding these reports is essential for co-op boards and property managers to ensure buildings work safely and effectively.

The operating and capital plans that are derived from building reports need member support. Learn to recognize the differences between various technical reports, the information they offer, and how to effectively communicate the information to your members.

Join members of the Co-op Housing for All – Peer Network for an interactive storytelling and networking event. Hear inspiring stories from co-op members and staff who have risen to the challenge of expanding and strengthening the co-op housing movement.

From major site expansions to interesting new governance models, these peer leaders will share their knowledge and experience of coming together to develop solutions to common co-op challenges.

2SLGBTQ+ communities have been part of the social fabric of housing co-ops in Canada since the beginning of the movement. Learning the history of their contributions, as well as how to foster inclusive and supportive communities, is essential. In this workshop, participants will be led by representatives of local organization The 519 to:

• understand who 2SLGBTQ+ communities are and some of their unique housing experiences.
• learn about some of the unique ways 2SLGBTQ+ communities have cultivated safe and secure housing
• understand best practices in fostering the inclusion of 2SLGBTQ+ communities in co-operative housing

In this workshop participants will take a deep dive into the values of justice, equity, diversity, decolonization, and inclusion (JEDDI) and how they apply to co-op life.

This interactive workshop will involve activities, discussion and sharing of our collective learnings about how embedding these values into co-ops can be challenging, rewarding and necessary.

We will discuss how these values can be used as a lens to foster better communication and allyship through conflict and restorative justice initiatives. We will also discuss how to implement these values into your co-op education work.

A board of directors elected by members is the foundation of co-op democracy and one of the most important responsibilities of membership. And yet, sometimes elections involve a last-minute scramble to find directors to fill vacant board positions. Successful elections require year-round planning and commitment to the democratic process.

This workshop will discuss how to plan for elections. We will cover member education, candidate nominations, and the election itself, including electronic voting and hybrid meeting options.

Attend this workshop and leave with a roadmap you can use to ensure ongoing election success!

Making sense of all the legal obligations that apply when operating a housing co-op can be challenging. Housing people, operating as a co-operative enterprise, employing staff and working with contractors all involve legal matters.

This workshop will help you understand the legal framework for housing co-ops. We will have two lawyers on-hand to answer the legal questions you’ve had on your mind.

You will be invited to send in questions in advance so that our lawyers can be ready to discuss. Please note they can’t get into the specific circumstances at your co-op.

This year, the local co-op tour will be onsite!

By bringing the co-op tour to the event site, we will spend less time in traffic and more time learning from and engaging with co-ops from the Toronto and Peel-Halton regions. This tour will offer state-of-the-art video tours of 3 co-ops, so that your experience is as close to being there as possible. Members of the featured co-ops will be on-site to bring the experience to life and answer your questions. The Peel-Halton and Toronto regions are innovators in development, inclusion and activism within our movement, come join the virtual local co-op tour to learn more!