Our diversity
CHF Canada encourages co-ops to ensure that their boards of directors reflect the diversity of their members – and their members the diversity of the community.
Here are tools and programs to help co-ops learn more and take action.
CHF Canada diversity committee
The diversity committee’s mandate is to:
- promote equity among all groups in the Canadian co-op housing movement,
- develop leadership from among underrepresented groups,
- develop materials and a training program for facilitators on diversity issues,
- provide education for CHF Canada’s members on issues of diversity,
- develop education resources necessary for diversity work,
- receive recommendations from AGM caucuses and propose follow-up action.
The five members of the committee and one CHF Canada board member are appointed by the CHF Canada Board for two-year terms. The current committee members are:
- Helen Friel
- Ayanna Inniss
- Adan Jemmott (Board representative)
- Eleanor McDonald (co-chair)
- Susan Roberts
- Bob Shirley (co-chair)
For more information about the committee, please see its terms of reference.
Contact the diversity committee.
Regional diversity grants
CHF Canada wants to support diversity projects in your community. How do you promote and celebrate diversity? Are you working on a special project that involves diversity? Do you have plans for a new project?
CHF Canada will fund innovative diversity initiatives at the regional level to help keep diversity issues a high priority for housing co-ops and federations. CHF Canada invites member federations and co-ops to apply for regional diversity grants. Find out more in the regional diversity grant brochure.
AGM Diversity workshops and diversity discussion forum
Each year at the CHF Canada AGM, there is a stream of workshops on diversity issues. We also set aside some time for co-op members and staff from diverse groups to talk about diversity issues.
In 2008, CHF Canada’s diversity committee introduced a new format, a diversity discussion forum.
The diversity discussion forum brings together members from different groups for an inclusive discussion on CHF Canada diversity activities. It welcomes all co-operators who wish to learn more about CHF Canada’s diversity activities and participate in a discussion about finding common ground for organizational action. Members develop the agenda together.
Leadership renewal
Who will be leading the co-op housing sector over the next five to ten years? When we talk about leadership renewal, we are talking about training people to fill governance and leadership positions so our sector can stay strong and representative. We want to attract leaders from our membership who may be of different ages, from different educational and professional backgrounds and geographic origins, with different sexual orientations, gender, and family status, and with different personal values and beliefs. Promoting strong and diverse leadership is a principle valued by CHF Canada, by regional federations, and by member co-ops across Canada. Find out more about
Youth
CHF Canada places a high value on the contributions that youth make to the co-operative housing sector. We look to co-op youth for a fresh perspective, innovative ideas and the renewal of leadership in the co-operative housing movement.
To give voice and opportunity to co-op youth CHF Canada supports youth involvement at the CHF Canada annual meeting and in a variety of education, mentoring, job placement, internship and youth leadership programs.
Seniors
CHF Canada supports a statement of principle that senior members should be able to live in dignity in their housing and to participate meaningfully in their co-op communities. We have a poster of the statement of principle for seniors and housing co-ops (pdf) for you to download and post in your co-op.
Members of housing co-operatives should be able to remain in their co-operative communities. The seniors’ resources webpage creates one central place for members to share resources and promote best practices on aging in place.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender caucus
CHF Canada adopted a resolution on Human Rights for LGBT People in 2004. The resolution outlines different ways CHF Canada and its members can work to raise awareness, break down barriers to participation, and challenge thinking that discriminates against LGBT people wherever they see it in the co-op housing movement, in our communities or in Canadian society. CHF Canada has a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender caucus and co-op members often participate in gay pride days activities across Canada.
Barrier-Free access
Through our Barrier-Free Access Policy, CHF Canada supports the full participation of people with physical disabilities in their housing co-ops and in the larger community. Barrier-free access to businesses and community services is a critical factor in making that participation possible.
Inclusiveness in Action. Looks at how six housing co-ops across the country have achieved integrated communities (54 pages, (pdf))
AGM resolutions
Each year some members of CHF Canada submit resolutions for debate at the AGM. In the past few years several of the resolutions touched on issues of diversity. Here is a listing of AGM resolutions that were adopted by the CHF Canada membership.
- Protecting seniors housing, (2006)
- Safety systems for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, (2006)
- Remaining In Our Homes, (2006)
- Promoting youth employment, (2005)
- Visitability, the access measure for assisting elderly or disabled Canadians to remain in their neighbourhoods, (2005)
- Security of Tenure for Seniors Members, (2005)
- Barrier-free access policy for CHF Canada members, (2004)
- Human rights for LGBT people, (2004)
- Seniors and Housing Co-ops, (2002)
- Accessibility by the Hearing Impaired (Annual General Meeting), (2001)
- Accessibility by the Hearing Impaired (Video), (2001)
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Visibility, (2000)
Diversity resources
Check out Diversity Updates and Diversity in Action leaflets in the Resource Centre diversity pages.
