Mark Goldblatt had packed a lot of co-op living and working into his 62 years when he died unexpectedly in 2015.
For all his adult life, Mark contributed his unflagging passion, vision, and own sweat to building the co-operative movement. In his early 20s, he co-founded the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT). Soon afterwards, he recognized the need to develop member education programs that would encourage more effective resident participation in the management and governance of housing co-ops. As the first co-ordinator of CHFT’s development staff, he oversaw the construction of thousands of co-op housing units. When in 1978 the federal government surprised the co-op movement with a new, ill-conceived program, he led a campaign to replace it with what became Canada’s most successful housing program, the S95 Co-op Housing Program. He continued to serve as an active volunteer with CHF Canada and on its board until, in 1986, he took on the role of executive director.
But Mark didn’t limit his work to just Toronto or just housing. His enthusiasm for the Co-operative Principles meant that he turned his hand to a wide array of co-operatively run endeavours. He co-founded both the Canadian Worker Co-op Federation and Rooftops Canada, a charity that acts as the international program for Canada’s co-operative and social housing sectors. Mark was a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) (the forerunner of Canadian Co-operatives and Mutuals) and later worked for CCA as its co-operative development manager, where helped stimulate the development of in other co-operative sectors and promoted First Nations, Metis and Inuit co-operatives. Perhaps his greatest passion, however, was for the Funeral Co-operative of Ottawa. Mark was the founder, first president, and inspirational driving force behind FCO.
The words Goldblatt left us upon his death reflect his approach to the world, reveal what motivated him in the work he did, and inspire us to carry on his legacy:
“I wish to thank the co-op movement that has given direction and purpose to my life. I know it is customary for people with my kind of life to hope that they leave the world a bit better than they found it but I have been more ambitious. I wanted to create that better world on a sustainable basis. I don’t think there is any future for mankind unless we build institutions of mutual assistance to guide and unite us in our day-to-day lives. Co-operatives are better than any institution I know to get this job done. In particular I want to thank all my friends that I have met through the co-op movement making life rich even as we struggled to realize our dreams.
“As you can see, I feel I have been surrounded by friends throughout my life. I feel their arms around me and my life has been complete.”
Among his honours were: CHF Canada Honorary Life Associate, CMHC Award for Outstanding Contribution to Co-operative Housing, Lifetime Achievement Award from On Co-op, and the Queen’s Jubilee Medal. CHFT named him an Honorary Lifetime Member in 1998.
