A new program, a new board and new hope for members caught in the co-op housing crunch were all unveiled at a meeting that took AGMs to new heights. A record-breaking 64 delegates plus observers and guests packed the ballroom at the Executive Inn in Burnaby on November 28 for CHF BC’s Annual General Meeting.

Delegates and observers were kept buzzing with a steady flow of updates on everything from the Aging in Place Survey results, the Federation’s work to help co-ops on leased land, to updates on the Refinancing and Renewal Program. Highlights that generated the most excitement were:A unique new partnership with TELUS to offer co-op members HDTV, home phone and wireless Internet services at deeply reduced rates. The Co-op Telecom program with TELUS will roll out in the New Year. Watch for an information package coming to your co-op with details and how to sign up.The unprecedented success of the You Hold the Key Campaign during the federal election, with co-op members across Canada coming together to “vote co-op housing.” A record number of MPs who pledged to fix the co-op housing crunch were elected: 227 nationally and 32 in BC. And the newly-elected government has pledged to maintain rent-geared-to-income subsidies for low-income co-op members. A dynamic election with eight candidates competing for five vacancies on the CHF BC board. Delegates elected two new directors to the board, Thomas Robson (Lore Krill) and Charles Sandor (Ford Road) and re-elected Lorien Quattrocchi (Paloma), Eddie Sabile (Killarney Gardens), and Amanda Skillin (Delta Green). Departing directors Manon Bertrand (The Brambles) and Fred Silvergieter (Fraserview) were also recognized for their contributions. The Member Forum saw delegates and observers work together in an engaging brainstorming exercise to enhance services and generate revenue for the co-op housing sector using co-operative enterprise models.  See some photos from this event on our Flickr page.