Who We Are
Union Co-operative is working to buy residential and commercial properties in Waterloo Region for permanent affordability through community ownership.
The Co-operative was founded in response to rising rental rates in Waterloo Region that are becoming unaffordable for a growing share of residents and local businesses.
Learn more about our Supporters, Memberships, Members, Board, Team, & News Appearances.
Our Supporters
Note from CMHC: This project entitled “Developing a model to leverage retail-level investments to finance affordable housing partnership for refugees” received funding from the National Housing Strategy under the NHS Solutions Labs; however, the views expressed are the personal views of the author and CMHC accepts no responsibility for them.
Union Co-operative gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Community Environmental Fund administered by the Regional Municipality of Waterloo.
Memberships
The Canadian Worker Co-op Federation (CWCF) is a national organization that supports a growing, cohesive network of democratically controlled worker co-operatives. CWCF delivers a program that enables the shares of co-operatives to be held in a self-directed RRSP, with Concentra Trust as the trustee. Union Co-operative is an Associate Member of CWCF, a membership type available to non-worker co-operatives, which provides access to the RRSP program
Co-operatives are a different kind of business model that are driven by people, planet, and profit. We are proud members of the Ontario Co-operative Association (OCA) that supports, develops, educates, and advocates for Ontario’s 1,500+ co-operative businesses.
Say hello to a few of our members
Board of Directors
AARON STAUCH
Chair, Director (He/Him)
Aaron currently provides senior government leadership to a unit of over 200 staff members, 12 managers, and 3 contract managers. He manages an operational budget of over $16 Million, and a transfer payment budget of approximately $65 Million. Aaron is responsible for stakeholder management with organizations ranging from small non-profits to large municipal governments.
He has been recognized as a 40 Under 40 leader in Waterloo Region. Aaron has 10 years of staff and service delivery leadership experience. Aaron also has served on several non-profit boards of directors, and teaches in the public service program at Conestoga College.
NICOLE LANGLOIS
Treasurer, Director (She/Her)
After a career in book publishing as a non-fiction editor, Nicole Langlois works with Langlois Eco Homes to develop regenerative communities of new homes that meet Passive House or Net Zero building standards. She is a mother of two daughters, an active community member, an environmental activist, and a refugee advocate.
ALEX SZAFLARKSA
Secretary, Director (She/Her)
Alex is a founding member of Together We’re Bitter Co-operative Brewery, and Hold the Line. She is on the board of Neruda Arts, and Local Food and Farm Co-operatives.
Alex is an instructor at Wilfrid Laurier University, and a doctoral candidate. She researches collaborative and inclusive governance based on co-operative principles in Canadian conservation land trusts.
Alex holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Toronto, and a Masters in Forest Conservation focusing on ecological commodification from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Forestry. Alex has two and a half years' experience in teaching in Geography and Global Studies departments at WLU.
JOEL MARCUS
Director (He/Him)
Dr. Joel Marcus is Associate Professor of Management at York University’s School of Administrative Studies. His research addresses sustainability phenomena from an organizational behaviour perspective, with a primary focus on individual differences that motivate sustainable versus unsustainable behaviour across the economic, social, and environmental domains. He is currently conducting SSHRC and ORF funded research examining behavioural factors within green office buildings and is embarking on a new research stream exploring the North American lutherie industry as a leading model of sustainable industry.
RAY GORMLEY
Director (He/Him)
Ray Gormley is a Senior Economist in the Information Management and Strategy Branch, Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development and is currently the Labour Market Research Coordinator. He leads a team of economists within the branch, whose work includes the development of occupational projections, creating content for the Ministry’s labour market information website, and analyzing the impact of employment trends on the demand for postsecondary education. Prior to joining MTCU, Ray worked as an economist in HRSDC’s Economic Analysis and Information Directorate.
Ray is a long-time resident of Kitchener, Ontario and engaged in a variety of social justice initiatives within Waterloo Region. From 2016-2020, Ray served as a Director for the board of LIFE Co-op, a renewable energy co-operative in Waterloo Region with assets of $1.6 million.
Our Team
SEAN CAMPBELL
Executive Director (He/Him)
Sean is the Principal of Scaled Purpose, a management consultancy for non-profits, charities, and co-operatives. He is an instructor at Wilfrid Laurier University. Sean is the Treasurer at the Fourth Pig Worker Co-operative, a Director at Hold the Line, and a Partner at Social Venture Partners Waterloo Region.
Sean holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University, and a Master of Environmental Studies at the University of Waterloo. Sean is currently a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Waterloo where he researches the governance and financial strategies of community organizations.
You can reach Sean at sean@unionsd.coop