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CHF Canada media release
 Previous release Media release index Next release June 14, 2008 – Toronto’s Bleecker Street Co‑operative Homes has been awarded the 2008 Jim MacDonald Award for Social Change. The award will be presented today at the Co‑operative Housing Federation of Canada’s annual general meeting in Toronto, at the Westin Harbour Castle Convention Centre. The award is CHF Canada’s highest honour and recognizes housing co‑ops for special work in health and social services, the environment, human rights and civil liberties, or housing and co‑operation. Bleecker Street , a 254-unit co‑op in downtown Toronto, is receiving the award in recognition of their community Rwanda Project. This initiative aims to raise public awareness and donations for the Ineza Women’s Co‑operative in Rwanda. The Ineza co‑op supports HIV-positive women and children many of whom are survivors of genocidal rape and sexual violence. The co‑op helps them with housing, healthcare, food, job-skills, therapy and social support. The Bleecker/Ineza partnership was spearheaded by Bleecker board member Brian Finch – a long-time HIV/AIDS activist. Bleecker Street held workshops that included slide-show presentations with testimonials from the women themselves. They raised $5,100 through raffles, member and corporate donations, a bake sale and car wash. The goal is not only to raise money to support Ineza’s programs, but to form a meaningful and mutually beneficial partnership. The co‑op plans to follow up by producing a video to send to Ineza Co‑op and implementing a youth exchange program with Ineza Co‑op. “Bleecker Street’s Rwanda Project demonstrates to the public and to the co‑op sector itself what we are all about – social justice, diversity and community,” says CHF Canada President Ken Elliott. For more information, visit www.bleecker-street.com or contact: Brian Finch, Bleecker Street Co‑operative Homes, 416-520-6248 Diane Frankling, Bleecker Street Co‑operative Homes, 416 -920-7340 or dfrankling @ bleecker-street.com Merrilee Robson, Program Manager, Communications, (778) 227-3864(cell), (416) 861-8755 (CHF Canada conference office, June 11 – 14) or mrobson @ chfcanada.coop |
