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Northeastern Ontario Member Fall Regional Education Event
Saturday, October 18th, 2025 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Agenda

Registration: 8:30am – 9:00am
Days Inn by Wyndham Sudbury and Conference Centre, 50 Brady St., Sudbury, ON, P3E 1C8


  1. Unlocking Your Inner Co-op Champion: Tips and Hacks That Work                                                    Facilitator: Janine McDonald
    9:00 – 10:30 am
    Learn the unspoken rules, avoid common pitfalls, and gain confidence as a co-op leader. This session offers real-world tips and strategies to strengthen governance, engage members, and tackle challenges—helping you become a more effective co-op champion. Discover the tools that turn everyday members into strong co-op champions—and unlock your own potential to help your community thrive.
  2. Break
    10:30 am – 11:00 am
  3. Do the Right Thing: Deep Dive into the Ethical Conduct Agreement
    Facilitator: Celia Chandler
    11:00 am – 12:30 pm
    Every director agrees to uphold their duties by signing the Ethical Conduct Agreement—but busy board life can make it easy to forget. Drawing on years of legal experience, Celia Chandler will help directors reconnect with and reinforce these key responsibilities.
  4. Lunch
    12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
  5. Ask a lawyer… almost anything!
    Facilitator: Kiel Ardal
    1:30 – 3:00 pm
    Understanding the legal obligations of running a housing co-op can be complex, from housing members to managing staff and contractors. This workshop, led by lawyer Kiel Ardal, will clarify key legal issues affecting housing co-ops today. Participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance for a focused discussion.

    Note: Kiel will provide general legal guidance but cannot advise on specific co-op situations.


FACILITATORS

Janine McDonald – Housing Co-op Manager and Educator
Janine has 28 years of experience as a co-op manager and currently works at two Section 95 coops in Peterborough. Over the years, she has learned a thing or two about bad contractors, longterm planning, bat guano, leaking roofs and basements, and lobbying governments. For 10 years Janine lived in a co-op, and her kids still refer to it as “the best place we ever lived.” She is happy to share her experiences with others so they might find their silver lining in the chaos.

Celia Chandler – Deputy Executive Director, Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT)
Celia took her role at CHFT in early 2023 after 17 years at an Ontario law firm serving Ontario housing co-ops. As a lawyer, Celia found her niche working on member issues, including evictions and human rights where she developed a particular interest in issues related to mental health and housing. She's excited to work directly in the sector now where she can focus on broader issues, including good governance and management practice.

Kiel Ardal
Kiel Ardal is a partner at Lewis & Collyer. Kiel has worked with Bruce Lewis and Nancy Collyer for about 11 years. He joined Lewis & Collyer in January 2018. For over 30 years Lewis & Collyer has focused its legal practice on assisting housing co-ops and other not-for-profit housing providers, as well as sector organizations. Kiel enjoys his work advising staff and boards on a wide variety of issues, including bylaws, human rights, employment and governance, as well as development and financing. Prior to joining Lewis & Collyer Kiel assisted many co-op and not-for-profit clients to successfully resolve their cases at the Landlord and Tenant Board, the Human Rights Tribunal and Superior Court.

Registration fees:


Registration type
 CHF Canada Members
 Non-members
Early bird by October 4, 2025
 Regular after October 4, 2025
First participant
 $135
 $155
 $355
Additional participants
 $85
 $105
 N/A
Young member (35 & under)
 free - after first member registration
 free - after first member registration
 N/A

Discounts

Early bird registration discount: Register online by October 4th, 2025 and save $20 on each registration fee.
Additional participant discount: Once you've registered one member, you'll save $50 on each additional registration.
Young member discount: Once you've registered one member, each additional young member (under 35 years) is free.
Travel rebate for member co-ops: If you live more than 100km away from the Sudbury area, we'll provide a $100 travel rebate per co-op. If you would like to apply for a travel rebate, click here.

Scent free event

This is a scent-free event. Please do not use scented products like fragrances, perfumes, colognes, aftershaves, hand creams or hand sanitizers.

Cancellation policy

All cancellations must be made at least 3 days prior to the event, and a $20 cancellation fee will apply. No refund will be issued for cancellations received less that 3 days prior to the event.

Register

Questions:

Registration:
Motunrayo Bada, Education Program Coordinator
education@chfcanada.coop
613.230.2085


Event:
Peter Gesiarz, Regional Manager, Ontario
pgesiarz@chfcanada.coop
416.366.1711 ext. 236 / 800.268.2537 ext. 236