Posts by Iler Campbell

Laura Bowman nominated as Provincial NDP candidate for York-Simcoe

April 16th, 2014 by Iler Campbell

We’re very pleased to announce that Laura Bowman is the provincial NDP candidate for York-Simcoe. Laura grew up in Holland Landing, East Gwillimbury and maintains many ties with the area. Regular readers of our blog will recall her articles on development issues in the Lake Simcoe region.

She plans to campaign on curtailing sprawl, improving transit infrastructure, protecting water,  affordable housing, local agriculture, improving local employment opportunities and municipal and planning reform.

Laura will continue working at Iler Campbell until the election, in which we wish her all the best. For more about her and her platform, visit her website at laurabowman.ca.

Iler Campbell at CHFT Spring Member Education Event

April 15th, 2014 by Iler Campbell

Shelina Ali will be leading a workshop on minute taking, Saturday April 26, at the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto’s 2014 Spring Member Education Event. Her workshop, entitled Minutes Matter, aims to take the mystery out of taking minutes for housing co-ops.

For more info about the event, see the brochure here (PDF).

If you’re interesting in having us lead a workshop for your event or organization, let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

Client Profile: North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce (NDACT)

April 4th, 2014 by Iler Campbell

NDACT is an incorporated, not for profit, entity which was formed in January 2009 by concerned citizens, including a number of farmers from Melancthon and Mulmur Townships.

NDACT was formed when members of the community gathered to voice their concerns about The Highland Companies plans to build a 2,316 acre “Mega‑Quarry” on more than 6,000 acres of prime agricultural land that they had amassed as of that date.

Concerned about the future of the croplands and water resources in the community and province wide, residents gathered together to rally opposition to the project.

Our relationship with NDACT goes back to 2011.  Iler Campbell provided NDACT with legal advice and assistance in their fight to stop the Mega‑Quarry and protect farmland and water in Ontario.

In late 2012 the Quarry application was withdrawn and in 2013 the land was sold to a farmland investment company.   Although this application has been withdrawn, there are still many communities around Ontario that are facing challenges with land use and agricultural protection.  NDACT continues to advance farmland preservation and the protection of water resources through its “Food and Water First” campaign.  You can find out more at foodandwaterfirst.com

Iler Campbell at Central Ontario Co-operative Housing Federation Spring Education Conference

April 1st, 2014 by Iler Campbell

Celia Chandler and Lauren Blumas will be presenting at the Central Ontario Co-operative Housing Federation Spring Education Conference this Saturday in Cambridge. Their workshop will explore human rights issues and issues that people claim are human rights issues in co-op housing. They’ll address how to determine which issues are really human rights issues, what to pay attention to in by-laws and policies concerning human rights, how to respond when questioned and what to do if you receive a human rights application.

If you’re interesting in having us lead a workshop for your organization, let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

Client Profile: Mondragon Co-operative Homes Inc.

March 20th, 2014 by Iler Campbell

Mondragon Co-operative Homes Inc. is a housing co-operative located in Brampton, Ontario which has been providing affordable housing since 1983. Mondragon consists of seventy eight townhouse units ranging in size from one to four bedroom units in a beautifully landscaped neighbourhood complete with a park and community room.

Our relationship with Mondragon goes back to 2007 and in that time we have dealt with a number of corporate and member issues. Our relationship has strengthened however in the last few months. Starting in 2011, Mondragon volunteered to participate in a pilot program with Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada and Alterna Credit Union with the support of its property management company, Homestarts, to refinance its existing mortgage with CMHC to provide funding for repair and upgrades to its building envelopes (foundation walls, siding, insulation, doors, windows and roofs) as well as to its furnaces and walkways.  Continue reading “Client Profile: Mondragon Co-operative Homes Inc.”

Client Profile: Amsterdam Square Apartments Inc.

March 18th, 2014 by Iler Campbell
A full page ad in The Globe for "Toronto's most modern apartments" -- September 30, 1925. Click to view the full page (pdf).

A full page ad in the Globe for “Toronto’s most modern apartments” — September 30, 1925. Click to view the full page (pdf).

Amsterdam Square Apartments Inc. (ASAI) was founded in 1984 by the tenants who occupied the stately but somewhat neglected building on St. Clair Ave. West in Toronto, adjacent to Amsterdam Square Parkette on Avenue Road. The building had been erected in an astonishing four months in the summer of 1925: the permit had been issued in early June, and the building was almost fully occupied by the end of September the same year. It was advertised in the Globe newspaper as “Toronto’s Most Modern Apartments,” boasting central refrigeration, automatic elevators, and a valet who was to “make himself useful generally.” It was operated as a rental apartment building for six decades.

Continue reading “Client Profile: Amsterdam Square Apartments Inc.”