CO-OP
CONSULTANTS

We are very fortunate to have a diverse team of highly skilled co-op educators, facilitators, and consultants. They have in-depth knowledge of the co-operative housing sector and are passionate about supporting your housing co-op thrive.

The CHF BC facilitator was fantastic; objective, probing, knowledgeable, and challenging; as well as easy to follow and understand.
I never saw one glazed-over eye at all!
” – Member feedback

Cheryl Alsop

Cheryl worked as a Senior Maintenance Coordinator in the housing co-op sector for over ten years and during this time did everything from managing routine repairs to coordinating large retrofit projects and everything in between. Cheryl also trained and coached staff in maintenance coordination and brings dynamism and humour to her work.

Larry Birckhead

Larry has a background in community mental health and behaviour change and has served on the board of directors, maintenance committee, and membership committee at his own co-op, Marine Court. Larry’s expertise is in organizational development and training and offers a range of innovative engaging workshops, as well as insightful board coaching and trouble-shooting. Larry is also a trained facilitator for the Co-op Compass initiative.

Brian Eng

Brian has been an activist within the co-op housing sector since 1990.  He has lived and worked in co-ops and has been on the board of local  and national federations.  He has worked as a manager in a number of housing co-ops and is familiar with different operational and program systems.  He is a skilled meeting chair and workshop leader.  Brian is always excited to help housing co-op boards and members achieve their operational, planning and community development goals.

Grant Haddock

Grant Haddock was called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1992 and is the principle of Haddock & Company. His core areas of practice are co-operative housing law, strata property law, residential and commercial tenancy, human rights, privacy and construction law. Grant has acted for numerous housing providers and construction companies, appearing for them at all levels of court and at various tribunals. Grant has been a course leader and frequent speaker at educational conferences sponsored by industry leaders.

Cassia Kantrow

A Chartered Professional Accountant with over 25 years of experience working with non-profit organizations, small businesses and co-operatives, Cassia utilizes her unique combination of professional training and skills, as well as her lived experience as a co-op member, in her work with housing co-op boards and members.  She brings nearly a decade of sector governance experience to your co-op’s general meetings and town halls.  She believes that robust preparation and planning is key to the creation of positive and engaging members meetings.

 

David Lach

David is a founding member of Quebec Manor Housing Co-operative, where he still lives. He has served as director, treasurer and president of the co-op. He served as president of CHF BC in its early days and in 2012 was again elected to the board. In addition to his involvement with housing co-ops, David serves or has served on other co-op boards, including Modo, Co-operators Group Limited and the BC Co-operative Association. David mostly offers chairing services and has particular expertise with Model Rules 2.0 and with the British Columbia Cooperative Association Act.

Terra Macdonald

Terra has more than 25 years of experience working in the co-operative sector. She has resided in two different housing co-ops starting in 1985. Terra worked with a housing co-op management company where her principal responsibilities included client and employee recruitment, maintaining client loyalty and the day-to-day supervision of close to 50 on-site and off-site property managers. Terra is known for her in-depth knowledge of the housing co-op sector and her expertise in privacy legislation (PIPA).

Pat McClain

Pat has been a member of Paloma Housing Co-op since 1985 and was Program Manager, Member Relations for the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada from 1995 to 2009. She was also previously on the CHF Canada Board from 2012 to 2018, and currently serves on the CHF BC’s Aging in Place Committee. Pat’s area of expertise is community-building and governance workshops with a current interest in the topic of aging in co-op communities. Pat is also a trained Co-op Compass facilitator and has assisted many co-ops through that process.

Sue Moorhead

Sue has been active in housing co-ops and federations in British Columbia and Quebec for most of her working life. From 1997 to 2014 she was CHF BC’s Education Director. A CHF Canada honorary lifetime associate, Sue also worked as a technical advisor for Rooftops Canada in South Africa for five years. Now a CHF BC consultant, Sue chairs meetings, facilitates workshops and provides advice on co-op housing governance issues. She is also an engaged member in her own housing co-op in Vancouver.

Lindsey Murphy

Lindsey Murphy is a workshop facilitator with a passion for cooperative governance. Drawing from her experience living and serving on the board of a member-managed co-op over the last decade, Lindsey brings invaluable insights to her role. Currently employed with CHF BC, she collaborates with numerous co-ops across British Columbia, advocating for cooperation among cooperatives and empowering member-managed entities and good governance. Lindsey’s workshops focus on fostering effective systems tailored to the unique needs of co-op communities, ensuring their sustained success. With a dedication to cooperative principles, Lindsey is committed to cultivating thriving member-managed co-ops through education and collaboration.

Kate Neale-Hughes

Kate Neale-Hughes is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Approved Clinical Supervisor with the BCACC with extensive experience in community-building, conflict resolution, and mental health advocacy. With a deep commitment to fostering inclusive, supportive environments, Kate specializes in helping housing cooperatives build neuro-affirming, trauma-informed practices that promote emotional well-being and member collaboration.

Kate’s approach is grounded in empathy, cultural humility, and evidence-based practices, making their workshops not only educational but also deeply transformative for cooperative communities

Anya Phillip

Anya Phillip is the Co-op Services and Meeting Support Services Co-ordinator of CHF BC. They hold a bacherlor’s degree in Cognitive Science from the University of British Columbia and have research experience with UBC’s Social Identity Lab and Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab.

She has facilitated training related to unconscious bias and accessibility, showcasing their commitment to creating inclusive and accessible spaces. Anya’s expertise in coordinating meetings, combined with their passion for creating equitable spaces, make them an invaluable member of the CHF BC team.

Andrew Sitko

Andrew has been an active member of three housing co-ops over a 15 year period. He has served on finance committees and as the treasurer of the board. He has worked for a housing co-op management company since 1995, holding positions as Office Coordinator, Accounting Coordinator, and Training Coordinator in addition to his current position as Accounting Staff Supervisor. Andrew’s expertise is in financial management and corporate management of housing co-ops.

Chris Whyte

Chris is a registered social worker who lives in False Creek Housing Co-op. Chris’s area of expertise is in conflict resolution and mental health social work. Chris is a trained group facilitator and therapist. He has assisted co-op members on a number of challenges and has facilitated difficult conversations among members, boards and committees. Chris also delivers CHF BC’s workshop ‘Mental Health in your co-op community’, and has facilitated several workshops on Mental Health and the Law with Geoffrey Dabbs.

Jordan Zhu

Jordan is a Certified Professional Accountant and has been working as a property accountant for more than 10 years. Currently he works as Asset Management Program Analyst with CHF BC. In this role he helps member co-ops to access professional planning services and financing, making sure that co-ops remain viable, sustainable and able to provide members with good-quality housing. His expertise is in accounting and financial management, as well as long term planning for housing co-ops.