Canada's Housing Co-ops a proud part of International Year of Co-operatives in 2012

OTTAWA, Jan. 11, 2012 /CNW/ - In advance of tomorrow's launch events in 14 cities across Canada, the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHF Canada) announced today that Canada's housing co-ops will join other co-ops across the country to celebrate the International Year of Co-operatives (IYC).

CHF Canada, local co-op housing federations and housing co-op members will be part of tomorrow's local launch events and a live national webcast at 12:30 pm EST organized by the Canadian Co-operative Association and the Conseil canadien de la cooperation et de la mutualité (www.canada2012.coop).  Similar events are planned in other countries.

In 2012, many CHF Canada member housing co-ops will display banners advertising the 2012 slogan: "Co-operative Enterprises Build a Better World."

"Thousands of housing co-ops provide secure, safe, affordable housing to Canadians with a diverse range of backgrounds and incomes," said CHF Canada President Wes Hosler.  "This is indeed something to celebrate."

Canada's housing co-ops serve a diverse, mixed-income membership, providing secure, not-for-profit affordable housing to nearly 250,000 Canadians.

The United Nations has declared 2012 the International Year of Co-operatives in recognition of the strength and social benefits of the co-operative business model.   According to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, "Co-operatives are a reminder to the international community that it is possible to pursue both economic viability and social responsibility."

There are nearly 1 billion co-op members around the world, and the world's top 300 co-operative enterprises generate close to $1.1 trillion in annual revenue, only slightly smaller than Canada's GDP.  Canada's co-operative sector is very robust, with 9,000 co-ops serving 18 million members.

CHF Canada is the national voice of the Canadian co-operative housing movement. Its members include over 900 non-profit housing co-operatives and other organizations across Canada.  More than a quarter of a million Canadians live in housing co-ops, in every province and territory.

Nicholas Gazzard, Executive Director 1-800-465-2752 ext. 230, [email protected]

Scott Jackson, Program Manager, National Communications 1-800-533-2667 ext. 122,  778-227-3864 (cell), [email protected]