Broadview Co-op Welcomes its New Housing Manager

Broadview Co-op's new housing manager, Lynda Micallef, is the newest kid on the Broadview Co-op block. Working with departing manager Nicole Toledano over the last few weeks has introduced her to some of the co-op's day-to-day workings, but she's also anxious to meet and get to know its members.

"My main focus will be to do everything I can to have a smooth transition," she says. "I'm not going to go into Broadview and try to fix anything that's not broken."

Originally from Toronto, Lynda's been involved in the co-op sector for about 20 years, starting when her friend introduced her to one in city's east end. The concept of co-operative housing sparked her interest, and Lynda soon became an incorporating board member for a Pickering co-op , where she also lived for 10 years. That experience led to a job as a marketing consultant at a co-op resource group, Lantana Non-Profit Community Development Corp., where she helped to market new and rehabilitated housing co-ops. Over the years, she's completed rent-to-geared-income training at the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association and City of Toronto, as well as studied non-profit and voluntary sector management at Ryerson University.

"I really believe in the whole principles of co-operative living," she says. "Personally, I really believe in having a say in what goes on."

In recent years, Lynda has worked at a number of co-ops in the greater Toronto area on a variety of projects and tasks. She is also a mother, a singer and musician, and her interests include reading, self-improvement study and personal growth. Apart from her involvement in co-operative housing, she's has also co-owned and run a floral and gift store in Toronto and worked as a management consultant on a project promoting alternative energy products in British Columbia, where she lived for a few years.

While filling Nicole's shoes will be difficult, she says she's looking forward to building a whole set of new relationships with both Broadview's members and its staff.

"It's going to take me a good six months to a year to just sort of fit in, see where things are, find out what the community wants," she says. "My role is to act as a resource person for your members, as well as administer the law -- what's required legally -- my job is to see what people want there and to help you achieve it."

Committee Recruitment

We are currently looking for members to join our committees. If you are interested in getting more involved with the co-op, please contact the office. Visit our committees page for more information about our committees.

More news to follow...