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.
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.
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 hellow to a few of our members
MAJD AL-SHIHABI
“Union’s vision of shifting how we think about housing gives me hope that there is a future in which my community can prosper and thrive.”
DEVON KRAINER
“I value being connected to the local community and working together on initiatives that help our region grow in the right ways – with dignity, equity and inclusion. It is my hope and aspiration that Union can be a part of that vision.”
SAM TRIEU
“I’m a community manager in the KW tech scene, and an avid volunteer at the intersection of arts and social responsibility. I believe in giving back to the best of your time and ability. Union gives me the platform to invest in my values.”
TOM NAGY
“What really excites me about Union is that it is on the cutting edge of merging local business voices and vision with socially progressive policies. There doesn’t need to be a dichotomy of business investment versus sustainable social progress - we can make both happen right here.”
ANTHONY PISCITELLI
“Union has the potential to ensure the impact of real estate in Waterloo Region is positive. Democratizing investments in property will ensure the owners of land are acting in the interests of the community.”
VENKAT REDDY
“I see Union Co-op is helping to make our community more inclusive and affordable especially for those in immediate need of such housing.”
KATHIE MUST
“There are so many things in Union Co-op that resonate for me – it’s innovative, it’s cross-sector and collaborative, it engages people widely, and it brings very practical solutions to the region.”
JOHN LOUGHEED
“Union Co-op is a great response and community partnership!”
MELISSA BOWMAN
“I appreciate Union’s grassroots approach along with the focus on cooperation, sustainability, and democratizing city-building. Also, I love that Union Co-op provides one way for individuals to take concrete action in supporting affordable housing in our region.”
GARY ABBOTT
“I am excited for Union to successfully promote a more cooperative approach to place-building in Waterloo Region: a movement from competition to collaboration.“
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
Melissa Bowman
Member Engagement (She/Her)
Melissa is an early childhood educator, a passionate volunteer, and is active with neighbourhood associations, city committees, the Food Bank of Waterloo Region, and Midtown Radio.
Melissa is interested in municipal politics and ran for Kitchener Council in 2018. Her second place finish in that campaign has only heightened her interest in local politics and you can often find her on social media, sharing updates on local council meetings and decisions. Melissa is particularly interested in issues related to housing affordability and is a co-founder of Waterloo Region Yes in my Backyard.
You can reach Melissa at members@unionsd.coop
In the News
Federal government makes investment into regional effort to end homelessness
October 16th, 2020 by Aastha Shetty in KitchenerToday
The regional government, the House of Friendship and Union Sustainable Development Co-operative have received funding from the federal government to help them more effectively tackle the affordable housing crisis.
Conestoga awarded over $4M for applied research projects
March 28th, 2020 by Blair Adams in KitchenerToday
In collaboration with Union Sustainable Development Co-operative and other community partners, researchers will support the launch of a community real estate co-operative to buy, upgrade and manage commercial and residential properties to improve environmental, social and economic health in Waterloo Region.
