Submitted by Jacky Durrie
Co-ops celebrate National Seniors Day: Oct 1
National Seniors Day is coming up on Monday, October 1st. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the seniors in our lives – friends, coworkers, family and members of our co-op communities.
At the 2015 CHF Canada AGM, members adopted a resolution to encourage member housing co-operatives to annually recognize National Seniors Day on October 1st. The resolution, put forward by Toronto’s Hugh Garner Housing Co-op, encourages co-ops to call on their municipalities to issue a proclamation for Seniors Day with recognition from local politicians and dignitaries.
There are many ways to recognize and support older co-op members in your housing co-op. Some ideas include:
planning a celebratory event,screening CHF Canada’s Aging in Place Videoor just taking the time to check in with an older person in your co-op who could benefit from support or a social visit.
This year, Ottawa’s Dovercourt Housing Co-operative will hold a meeting with all members to celebrate senior members with a cake and snacks. Each senior will receive flowers and letters of recognition.
What is your co-op doing to celebrate National Seniors Day? We invite you to post your activities on CHF Canada’s Facebook page or Twitter or email them to Emily Doyle at edoyle@chfcanada.coop.
Daly Co-op renovations make Aging-in-Place easy
Ottawa’s Daly Co-op is undergoing a serious makeover!
This 88-unit co-op is in the middle of a series of major renovations that are making the co-op safer, more modern, and more accessible, especially for seniors and members with disabilities.
Most of the approximately 130 members in the 35-year-old co-op are over 45. The building was designed to be wheelchair-accessible, and more than 30% of members use wheelchairs.
With CMHC’s agreement, the co-op negotiated a $3.1 million loan from Your Credit Union through CHF Canada’s Refinancing Program to pay off a line of credit and fund the reconstruction.
Among other things, the updates include:
bathroom renovations,rolling and walk-in showers for wheelchair users,exterior safety lighting,replacing carpets with flooring,parking lot reconstruction and resurfacing,washer and dryer upgrades.
Five ways to celebrate Co-op Week: Oct 14-20
Did you know that the third week of October is Co-op Week across Canada?
Co-op Week is a chance for members to celebrate the co-op advantage. Here are five ways your co-op can join in the celebration:
Show your love for co-ops by downloading these Co-op Week posters. Post in common areas of your co-op to get members excited about Co-op Week.Host a screening of A Silent Transformation, a film about co-ops. Invite neighbours in your community to join.Hold a Cheese and Chocolate Social featuring products from co-op producers. Camino, Gay Lea & St. Albert Cheese are just a few of the delicious co-op options you can try.Organize a co-op walk to explore the other co-ops in your neighbourhood.Decorate your Co-op Week event with the latest co-op merchandise from The Flag Shop.
If your co-op is on social media, be sure to share your events using the hashtag #CoopWeek2018.
Happy Co-op Week!
October Featured Resource: Good Member Service Charter (new)
Housing co-op boards of directors should strive to deliver good service to co-op members.
Your co-op can use CHF Canada’s new Good Member Service Charter to commit to a high standard of member service.