NEW VIDEO SHOWS IMPACT OF USING CHF CANADA�S REFINANCING AND ASSET MANAGEMENT SERVICES

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CHF Canada�s newest digital video shows the positive results of the Refinancing Program and Asset Management Services on housing co‑ops across the country.

The video show co‑op renovations in several provinces. CHF Canada�s Janet Shim and David Spackman explain how refinancing and asset management help make seemingly daunting major co‑op renewal projects not only simpler and easier, but also more effective and long lasting.

These two major CHF Canada Co‑operative Enterprise Services complement each other, but can also be contracted independently. For example, a co‑op that doesn�t refinance can still use Asset Management Services to oversee a major project.

And as the video shows, both of these services are in full swing with over $50 million in refinancing loans secured and over 80 co‑ops using Asset Management Services.

ON PARLIAMENT HILL: CHF CANADA LOBBIES FOR HOUSING CO-OPS IN BUDGET 2017

The affordable housing crisis in Canada can be fixed if the government acts now.

This was the message when a CHF Canada delegation appeared on October 27 before the Standing Committee on Finance to give input to the federal government prior to the creation of the 2017 budget.

Allison Ferris, Vice-President of CHF Canada (pictured above), and Tim Ross, Program Manager of Government Relations (pictured below), outlined steps that the current government can take to protect low-income households and build a more co‑operative housing system.

The point of CHF Canada�s pre-budget submission: Budget 2017 can make a difference. The goal is to ensure that the National Housing Strategy is turned into housing dollars for co‑ops. CHF Canada asked the committee to recommend that the 2017 federal budget:

• protect co‑op housing for low-income households,
• help co‑ops to leverage private investment to renovate and modernize buildings, and
• earmark funds to build more co‑op housing in Canada.

One in four people living in Canada cannot find safe, affordable housing. A quarter of a million live in housing co‑ops. Low-income households are particularly at risk because federal funding partnerships with co‑ops that have provided subsidies for many years are expiring. CHF Canada has asked that the upcoming federal budget contain a commitment to replacing expired operating subsidies by putting new, long-term funding in place.

The federal government also needs to continue to support and expand on recent measures that have allowed some co‑ops to pre-pay high interest mortgages without penalties and re-finance at a lower interest rate. This will allow co‑ops to devote funds to repairing and renovating buildings, and become more energy efficient.

Building new co‑op housing in Canada will ensure that economic growth and prosperity in this country includes everyone. �In the case of housing co‑operatives, people from all walks of life are empowered to build and own housing that meets their needs in a manner that is inclusive, affordable and sustainable,� said Ferris at the hearing.

The message was clear: the current federal government has unprecedented popular support to develop and fund a housing strategy that works, and CHF Canada is ready to work right alongside them to build new co‑ops and keep existing ones healthy for generations of Canadians to come!

VOICING OUR VISION CONSULTATION: ENTER TO WIN!

Another reason you should join the national conversation about the future of the Canadian co‑op housing movement? You could win one of five $25 Tim Horton�s gift cards!

To join the conversation sign up here. You�ll receive an email inviting you to take part in the online dialogue and to SHARE your thoughts on three questions. Those who sign up and share their ideas will be automatically entered into the draw to win.

Over 230 ideas have been shared so far � now is your chance to put your ideas on the table about what you want for the future. The SHARE stage is open until November 13 � but don�t wait, get involved now and voice your vision!

CHF CANADA CELEBRATES 2016 DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

CHF Canada is excited to introduce the recipients of our 2016 Diversity Scholarships: one presented in Southwestern Ontario on Saturday, two in Manitoba earlier in October and one in Nova Scotia last spring.

Lauren McQuaid of Truro�s Hubtown Housing Co‑operative is the recipient of the Nova Scotia scholarship. In high school, Lauren gained national attention by developing a Tech Centre to assist youth with career development. She serves on the National Youth Council where she is an advocate and a voice for youth across the nation. She�s taking her Bachelor of Arts at Mount Saint Vincent University and plans to teach.

Village Canadien�s Aramide Akanbi is one of the Manitoba winners. Aramide is a graduate of Glenlawn Collegiate and studies Business Information Technology at Red River College. He is active in his co‑op community where he has been a part of a summer youth program through his co‑op, serving the St. Vital community. He has also volunteered at Peaceful Village, an afterschool program that helps immigrant and newcomer students.

The second Manitoba scholarship went to Village Canadien�s Oreoluwa Akanbi. Oreoluwa is in her third year of a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Manitoba, with the goal of pursuing a future in medicine. She has demonstrated a commitment to diversity as a volunteer at Victoria General Hospital and with the �Let�s talk Science� program, where she promotes science and diversity in public schools.

Jessica Boyce of London�s Mary Campbell Co‑op is the Southwestern Ontario winner. She studies Human Rights and Conflict Resolution at the University of Ottawa.

Jessica volunteers with Alphabet Community Centre, a non-profit organization founded by her family, where she fundraises and travels across Southwestern Ontario to talk about LGBTQ issues. She volunteers at the United Way, working to promote housing and food security in order to build strong communities.

These scholarships recognize and support outstanding young people who live in CHF Canada member co‑ops, are in financial need and have shown leadership in promoting diversity in their communities. It provides $1,500 for each year the student attends post-secondary education as a full-time student, for up to four years. Diversity scholarship programs offered by regional federations across the country have helped hundreds students reach their academic goals.

CHF Canada is committed to recognizing and supporting emerging leaders of our movement.

Encourage young people in your co‑op who are involved in promoting diversity in their community to apply! Next year�s scholarship deadline is February 27, 2017.

Pictured top: Nova Scotia scholarship recipient Lauren McQuaid (centre) with Co‑operative Housing Management Network staff Kim Weiman and Jamie Eyers. Pictured middle: Manitoba recipients Oreoluwa Akanbi,(second left) and Aramide Akanbi (right) with representative of Assiniboine Credit Union and CHF Canada. Pictured below: Southwestern Ontario recipient Jessica Boyce with CHF Canada Ontario Council president David Waters.

FEATURED RESOURCE: NEW! LGBTQ INCLUSIVE CO-OP COMMUNITIES

November�s Featured Resource is LGBTQ Inclusive Co-op Communities. This new brochure shares some useful tips:

• how you can help your co‑op become a more inclusive community
• learn what LGBTQ stands for
• learn how to support equal rights for LGBTQ communities
• learn how to be an ally to ensure your co‑op is a safe space for everyone

In the last year, five of our Featured Resources have been new. You can check them all out on the Education homepage. The resources featured include brochures, posters and presentations developed with your co‑op in mind.

PRIME MINISTER APPOINTS CO-OPERATOR TO SENATE

On Monday, Prime Minister Trudeau announced he will recommend the appointment of six new senators representing Ontario, including the current president of Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada, Lucie Moncion.

Ms. Moncion�s name was put forward for consideration to the Prime Minister by the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments as one of 2,700 applicants.

Moncion is an accomplished professional who is a leader in Canada�s co‑operative movement. She has been president and CEO of the Alliance des caisses populaires de l'Ontario since 2001, when she became the first woman to hold such a position in a credit union federation in Canada. She became president and chair of the board of Co‑operatives and Mutuals Canada in 2016 and serves as President of the Conseil de la coop�ration de l�Ontario.

"We are delighted that this week�s senate appointments include Lucie Moncion,� said Nick Sidor who represents CHF Canada on the board of Co‑ops and Mutuals Canada. �Lucie is a great co‑operator who well understands the relationships between co‑op housing and Canada's other kinds of co‑ops, including credit unions."

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