We are thrilled to announce the name of the housing co-operative at our 981 Davie development: Fuller-findlay Housing Co-op.
The project is our first in Vancouver’s West End and is the result of an ambitious partnership with Qmunity and McLaren Housing Society. Given the prominent location and vibrancy of the area, we knew we needed to be thoughtful when selecting the name. Which is why we asked our community for ideas. We put out a public call, asking our partners, current co-op members, and the local community to submit name suggestions.
We received over 100 ideas. Some took inspiration from nature, local history, or the surrounding streets. Many sought to reflect the 2SLGBTQ+ spirit of the West End. And one received over 300 online signatures in support: Fuller-findlay Housing Co-op.
Named for Janine Fuller and barbara findlay, we’re proud to associate our new co-operative with two local S2LGBTQ+ advocates and trailblazers. Looking at Davie Street today, it can be easy to take the vibrant and inclusive space for granted. But this sense of belonging and right to expression did not come without prolonged effort from those like Fuller and findlay.
“Naming this new co-op after Janine Fuller and Barbara Findlay would root the building in that legacy, ensuring that future generations understand and honour the struggles and victories that made inclusive housing and safer communities possible,” explained David Graham in his name submission. “Together, Janine Fuller and Barbara Findlay represent complementary pillars of progress: one fighting censorship and defending queer cultural expression; the other advancing legal rights and protections in the courts. Both have made Vancouver not only more inclusive, but more just.”
“When we saw the level of community support for the Fuller-findlay name, we felt the decision was made,” says Thom Armstrong, Community Land Trust CEO. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to recognize two legends who have done so much for their community, and we hope it really sets the stage for the inclusive and welcoming community we want this co-operative to become.”
Janine Fuller
Janine Fuller is best known in the context of a landmark Supreme Court case on freedom of expression and equality rights: Little Sisters Book and Art Emporium v. Canada (Minister of Justice). Through years of tireless activism challenging discriminatory censorship practices by Canada Customs, Fuller defended not only a bookstore but the fundamental principles of freedom of expression and equal treatment under the law.
Beyond this historic legal battle, Fuller has been a writer, playwright, performance artist, and community organizer. Her advocacy efforts include support for gender equality and freedom of expression. Following her diagnosis with Huntington’s disease she also become a disability advocate. Her contributions have been recognized nationally, including her appointment to the Order of Canada in 2024. She has also been inducted into the Q Hall of Fame Canada and honoured by The ArQuives: Canada’s LGBTQ2+ Archives, reflecting her enduring impact on Canadian cultural and civil rights history.
barbara findlay
barbara findlay is a distinguished lawyer and founding member of the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Conference (SOGIC), a queer lawyer group that is part of the Canadian Bar Association. She has spent decades at the forefront of 2SLGBTQ+ legal advocacy in British Columbia, championing family law rights, child custody protections, and trans rights.
findlay’s life story, documented in the film “In particular, barbara findlay”, reflects resilience and courage, from being involuntarily institutionalized as a young university student for acknowledging her attraction to women, to becoming one of the country’s most respected queer legal advocates. Her career embodies a steadfast commitment to justice, dignity, and the protection of marginalized communities.
Her contributions have been recognized with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Georges A. Goyer QC Memorial Award for Distinguished service, and an appointment to the Queen’s Council, among others.
Curious about the lowercase name choice? barbara explains it herself on her website.
“I think it is absolutely terrific that we are on that building together, because it is a symbol that nothing gets done alone,” said findlay. “We have to have community, we have to have capital ‘Q’ community, and we have to have small ‘c’ community, or we’re never going to survive.”
Applications for Fuller-findlay Housing Co-op open in late 2026. Sign up now to be the first to know when applications open at fullerfindlaycoop.ca