Young Champions of Co-op Housing in Canada
A group of young champions of co-op housing have taken up the call for leadership, and are connecting with one-another, and the Co-op Housing Federation in Canada to lead the next generation of co-op leaders.
I got in touch with Cam who resides in a housing co-op in British Columbia and Lindsey Reed from Apex Property Management and Consulting to find out more.
Lindsey was thrilled to hear about co-op housing in Australia and shared the background to the Young Member Network and her and Cam’s involvement.
Lindsey shared how both her and Cam got involved in the Young Member Network set up by CHF Canada.
CHF Canada sent out correspondence to all young leaders in cooperative housing in Ontario, seeking 'champions' to lead the Young Member Network. Previously, it's my understanding that CHF Staff lead the network and they felt it would best lead by young members themselves, following an "Emerging leaders in cooperative housing" conference many attended.
Both Cam and I (Lindsey) responded to CHF, showing our interest.
Cam
Cam resides at a co-op in British Columbia, to my knowledge he's lived there for many years. Cam and his co-op friends kept asking for clarification on topics concerning their co-op, but as they were not on the Board, they were unable to find out the detail.
Cam and his friends decided to create a youth board to work and learn alongside their co-op board of directors. They experienced great success with this set up. Cam choose to become one of the champions for the CHF Young Member Network and we have a facebook group called Think Young: Emerging Leaders in Co-op Housing
Lindsey
I work for APEX Property Management as their Regional Director. I have been working in co-operative housing for about 6 years now and, also serve on the Northumberland County Housing Board as a Director (running for Treasurer this week).
Although I do not reside in a co-op, I grew up in poverty under the care of a single mother and always thought if safe and affordable housing was available to us, during the most difficult of times, maybe we would have not struggled as much. There is a profound need for safe and affordable housing, and I truly believe it is a human right.
I’m eager to champion for the young member network as I believe that it is with us, the young emerging leaders where the responsibility lies.
Read more about Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada
Youth Leadership in co-ops around the world
The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) is celebrating 125 years and is firmly focused on the next generation of young co-op leaders.
With the emergence of technology and youth leadership in global issues, there is re-emerging interest toward cooperative models as agents of social transformation. Read more about ICA Celebrating 125 years