It’s hard to imagine living in downtown Toronto, walking (or biking) distance to everything you need, and not paying sky-high housing costs for the privilege but that’s been the case for Dawn Obokata who has called St. Nicholas Co-op home for more than 30 years.
Dawn and her late husband, Richard, heard about this new co-op as it was opening. They both worked in theatre and were expecting their first of two children, so the affordability was appealing.
The co-op soon fully absorbed Dawn. She attended education events to deepen her understanding of the principles underlying co-ops, and, after initially feeling anxious about volunteering, she joined committees. Eventually, she was elected to the St. Nicholas board where she enjoyed numerous years as a director, including holding the offices of president, vice-president, and staff liaison.
Obokata credits Tom Clement, executive director of CHFT, with encouraging her to run for the CHFT board where she was elected in 2017 and served as president for two and a half years. Her greatest memories of her time on the board involve working with a group of diverse co-op directors and staff who share her passion for guiding the federation in serving its members.
In 2020, Dawn ran for the board of CHF Canada, where she currently holds a position as director-at-large and has just been re-elected to the board as an Ontario regional director. She has also recently been part of the first cohort of the new Co-op Educators Training Program.
Dawn’s a self-proclaimed “governance junkie” and credits her gratitude and a desire to give back as the driving force behind her continuing leadership roles in the co-op housing sector. She especially enjoys mentoring younger people who come on board.
“Leadership is a renewable resource, and serving on a co-op board is a great training ground. The amount of work that goes on behind the scenes so that people can continue to live in co-op housing is immense. I want to do all I can so that others can have the same opportunity.”
While recognizing that not everyone will feel comfortable putting themselves forward, Dawn nonetheless encourages diverse voices to come to the table. “Sometimes you just need that little nudge; we maybe don’t think of ourselves as ‘that person’.”
Dawn is a graduate of the University of Toronto, and has acted professionally for four decades, including touring in Canada and Europe with her solo performance Soulscape Wilderness Trilogy, a project which was supported by the Redress Foundation. She has also taught ‘Movement for Actors’ at the Centre for Indigenous Theatre. Dawn’s enthusiasm for governance has not been limited to co-ops. She served for nine years as a national councillor of the Canadian Actors’ Equity and was honoured in 2012 with the Larry McCance Award for outstanding contribution to the association and its members. She is currently a core member of Act 3, a group of senior professional theatre women who write, perform, and produce work dealing with issues of relevance to their demographic.
As a third generation Japanese Canadian, Dawn has strong cultural ties to her Asian heritage, which has been an influence both to her acting and to her role as an ESL instructor. Working with newcomers to Canada reinforces her belief that everyone has something to contribute and makes her just that much more resolved to help ensure people can find suitable housing, like the safe, secure, and affordable co-op community she continues to call home.
Dawn is a passionate advocate for co-operatives. “Affordable housing is a huge community and political issue. I have seen the movement in Canada mature in such an impressive way, and I am always deeply inspired by the energy and commitment of those involved. As a board member, I have learned the value of calm, thoughtful leadership, the importance of listening to diverse viewpoints, and the value in thinking outside the box.” At CHFT, we’re proud of Dawn’s many accomplishments, inside and outside the sector. And for this, in 2024, CHFT’s board named her an Honorary Lifetime Director.
