As 2024 draws to a close, we’ve been reflecting on the eventful year that Compass NS has had.
We’re deeply proud to have been able to welcome the first members to the Unity North Neighbourhood. It was exciting to see the first building come together over the course of the year and we look forward to the second building completion in early 2025. The process of working with the community to come up with a fitting name for the development that reflected the shared values of Compass NS and the surrounding neighbourhood was a wonderful opportunity to connect with neighbours. It’s also a great honour to have been able to commission a metal art piece from Alan Syliboy (Redcrane Studios) for the new neighbourhood.
It has also been a busy year of capital repairs. Central Dartmouth and Topshee Neighbourhoods had repairs completed early in 2024. Repairs at Spanish Bay, first to roofs, siding, kitchens, and stairway flooring, later to HRV’s, heat pumps and electrical panel upgrades, were ongoing throughout the year, and are now finished. New Armdale West Side & Gimmie Shelter Neighbourhoods had site inspections completed, and a project plan has been made and approved for their capital repairs, which will be supported by the Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing (DMAH) Community Housing Infrastructure and Repair Program (CHIRP).
Canada’s broader co-op sector got some very exciting news this summer, when the federal government announced the largest investment supporting the co-op housing sector in the last 30 years. The $1.5 billion Co-op Housing Development Program will support the development of thousands of affordable rental co-operative homes.
Compass NS is proud to take part in Canada’s wider co-op movement. Three Compass NS Board Members and three Members attended the CHF Canada Annual General Meeting June 6-8, 2024, in Winnipeg and completed shifts at a tradeshow booth that Compass NS shared with The Range Housing Co-operative and Unified Saint John Housing Co-operative.
As the weather gets colder and the year comes to an end, we wish all co-op and community members a cozy, restful end to the year. We’re looking forward to the many exciting things that 2025 will hold, including occupancy of the second Unity North building, and the construction of the Tri County development.