Nicole Chaland

Email: nchaland@ccednet-rcdec.ca

Nicole Chaland has worked as a community economic development researcher, instructor, animator, author and speaker. Her areas of interest and expertise include affordable housing, community economies, women-centred CED and co-operatives.  She is a founding member and director of Roofs and Roots Housing Co-op, which converts private rental buildings to co-operatively-owned green buildings. Nicole is proud to be an associate member of Sustainability Solutions – a worker co-operative that nurtures and embodies a holistic understanding of sustainability and works with clients and collaborators to meaningfully integrate social, ecological and economic practices in their organisations and work. Since 2002, Nicole has worked with the Canadian Community Economic Development Network (CCEDNet) and among her accomplishments are spearheading the first national survey of CED organizations, CCEDNet’s highly successful CreateAction internship program, the formation of CCEDNet’s Immigrant Community Action Network, and a bursary program for mid-career CED professionals. Currently, Nicole is the BC Coordinator of CCEDNet and Program Director for SFU’s Certificate Program for CED Professionals where she teaches CED Approaches to Affordable Housing.