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2016 Annual Meeting – Hamilton

The Minister Responsible for CMHC, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, addressed the Annual Meeting, explaining how his government responded to CHF Canada’s You Hold the Key campaign.

The Minister Responsible for CMHC, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, addressed the Annual Meeting, explaining how his government responded to CHF Canada’s You Hold the Key campaign.

Close to 700 housing co‑op members, managers and supporters attended CHF Canada’s 2016 Annual Meeting in Hamilton, Ontario, held June 8-11, to learn, network and deliberate on the future of co‑operative housing.

Highlights

Highlights included a speech by the Minister Responsible for CMHC, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, explaining how his government has extended federal assistance for thousands of co‑op households in response to the You Hold the Key campaign.

The AGM also featured a keynote speech on prospects for new co‑op housing development by the managing director of New Market Funds, Vancity vice president Andy Broderick.

At their meeting on Friday, Ontario delegates gave a standing ovation to  Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Ted McMeekin. And Ontario’s five regional federation presidents and executive directors signed a historic Memorandum of Co‑operation.

During the week, participants chose from scores of workshops at the Member Education Forum, while the Co‑operative Management Conference offered professional development opportunities for housing co‑operative managers.

Social events included a welcome reception and social, a Rooftops Canada reception, a local sightseeing and co‑op tour, and the annual meeting dinner.

Awards

Representatives of Unified Saint John Housing Co‑op received CHF Canada’s Award for Co‑operative Achievement. Eight Saint John co‑ops benefitted from economies of scale when they merged to form Unified Saint John this year.

Tom Clement was this year’s Honorary Life Associate. Tom has been the executive director of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto since 1993. Among his numerous contributions to co‑op housing, Tom developed CHFT’s incredibly successful Diversity Scholarship Program, which has inspired diversity scholarships for co‑op members across the country. He also played a key role in a Canadian first: the conversion of Alexandra Park public housing into Atkinson Co‑op.

The Honourable Mauril Bélanger was this year’s recipient of the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Co‑op Housing. During the course of his eight terms as a Member of Parliament, Mauril Bélanger dedicated himself to speaking out for co‑op housing and effected positive, large-scale changes for the co‑op sector in general.

Sponsors

CHF Canada thanks sponsors who supported this year’s AGM: CMHC, The Co‑operators, Meridian Credit Union, Encasa Financial, Morneau Shepell, Prentice Yates & Clark, Alterna Savings, Co‑op Cost Cutters, Phillips, Hager & North, Credit Unions Atlantic Canada and 108|ideaspace.

Visit our photo gallery to enjoy some of the highlights of the meeting.

Resolutions

Delegates approved seven national resolutions, including support for the next phase of the You Hold the Key campaign, funds for the Canadian Co‑operative Investment Fund, a member consultation on CHF Canada’s mission and vision, and by-law amendments for electronic voting and directors’ terms.