When Dianne Pollock moved into Cardston Court Housing Co-op (formerly 115) 18 years ago, she immediately noticed how different it felt from apartment living. “I’ve lived in apartments before and never knew my neighbors. I’ve made a couple of very good friends in here… It’s a community and that is what I really like.”
Nearly two decades later, that sense of connection remains, even as the community has continued to grow and change. Today, Dianne describes her co-op as “a melting pot of languages,” where many cultures, ages, and perspectives share daily life. These shifts mirror a broader story across the Community Land Trust (CLT): co-op communities evolve naturally as they welcome new residents, while still maintaining a strong sense of home and belonging.
Photo Credit: Geoff Howe
Shared Daily Life in Diverse Co-ops
Over time, Cardston Court has welcomed new residents with different languages, backgrounds, and experiences. Through these changes, what has remained constant for Dianne is the feeling of connection and ease in her home.
What stands out most to Dianne is how neighbours look out for one another. There’s a familiarity within the building. People notice each other, and they check in when something seems out of the ordinary. That everyday awareness is part of what creates a strong sense of safety and belonging in the co-op.
Rooted in Equity and Long-Term Affordability
These experiences connect directly to CLT’s core purpose. Michelle, CLT’s Chief Operating Officer, shares that the community land trust model has long been rooted in equity and access.
“It’s really important to remember that it burst out of the civil rights movement in the States and has been used by people of African descent to gain financial empowerment,” she says. “And it can also be used for other ethnicities to gain financial empowerment in terms of universal, secure, and affordable housing.”
Photo Courtesy of CHF BC
CLT holds land in trust and leases buildings to co-ops on long-term terms, often 60 to 90 years, ensuring stability at the foundation. When housing remains permanently affordable, communities have the conditions they need to strengthen and grow.
Partnerships That Support Access
Developing partnerships with other non-profits serving underrepresented or marginalized communities helps support diversity in co-ops.
“We partner with non-profits that are serving marginalized communities and give access to those individuals they’re supporting to get housing, instead of relying solely on the traditional method of filling a housing co-op,” explains Michelle.
These partnerships help ensure that co-ops remain open, welcoming, and reflective of the communities they serve.
Ten Years of CLT Stewardship
For Dianne’s co-op, CLT’s role has been central to long-term stability. There was a period when the future of her building was uncertain. When CLT took ownership, that uncertainty eased. “It was unsettling when we didn’t know whether it would be a co-op or not,” she said. “But we’re still here, and I’m happy.”
As CLT marks its 10th anniversary, the impact is clear. Co-ops remain places where people can put down roots, form lasting friendships, and build community across generations.
Photo Credit: Geoff Howe
Removing the barrier of housing insecurity and instability lifts people up, reduces the inequality gap, addresses inequities, lessens the burden on healthcare, and gives people a chance to thrive.
Michelle emphasized that stable, affordable housing supports quality of life in many ways.
“Housing is a social determinant of health,” she says. “When households spend a reasonable portion of income on housing, families have more resources for food, education, and everyday life… When housing is affordable, you make different decisions. You have healthier choices. And that has a ripple effect through society.”
Dianne sees this ripple effect in her own community, in neighbors looking out for one another, in friendships that grow, and in the steady comfort of knowing her home is secure.
A Decade of Diversity and Belonging
Together, Dianne’s experience and Michelle’s perspective reflect a shared truth: CLT co-ops evolve through both structure and spirit. As CLT enters its next decade, its mission remains clear: to protect affordability, support belonging, and help diverse communities thrive.
Across co-ops in British Columbia, that evolution is already underway, one neighbour, one community, and one decade at a time.
10th Anniversary Series:
Read the first article, ‘10 Years of Building Permanently Affordable Housing at Scale‘
Read the second article, ‘How CLT Stewardship Builds Security Over Time‘