We interrogated the young people in the office about what gifts they actually want this year. Their first answer? Money. So we pushed: “Okay… other than money?” Then they said a time machine—so they could go back and buy a house before they were born. So yes, our official recommendation is to get the young people […]
The federal government’s new budget was approved this week, and while it touches many important national priorities, we’re looking at it through a specific lens at Toboggan Flats: What’s missing Housing for young people. This budget places strong emphasis on economic growth and competitiveness. But if young people are expected to help fuel that future,
When a big-bank CEO starts talking about youth, we listen. In his recent pieces for the Financial Post, Victor Dodig, CEO of CIBC, makes a clear argument: if Canada wants to grow, it has to invest in young people. He’s worried our economy has drifted into “suspended animation” — stalled by high costs, slow policy, and
Back in January, Toboggan Flats launched a project with a big question at its heart: Could Canada’s empty offices become affordable coliving homes for the community housing sector? With support from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), we set out to explore what we’ve long believed—that converting underused office buildings can createhousing that is faster,
Growing up, a trip to Hudson’s Bay felt like an experience. Escalators humming. Perfume in the air. Winter coats on every rack. It wasn’t just a store—it was a Canadian landmark. A symbol of the ideal city life. But now? Storefronts are shuttering. Locations are closing. And HBC is filing for creditor protection. The energy
He dropped in a bedroom like it was a couch in The Sims. One drag. One click. Boom—the shell of an empty office floor started to look like a flat where young workers could actually colive. That’s how the energy shifted during our live walkthrough of the Toboggan Flats pre-assessment tool, Co-Convert Compass. In minutes,
Register for webinar 1 Register for webinar 2 Big ideas. Bold energy. And a crew of changemakers actually doing the work. Our webinar, Turning Empty Offices into Affordable Coliving, is offered on two dates and they’re coming up very soon. Same content. Same energy. Just pick the date that works best for you. Big thanks
Register for webinar 1 Register for webinar 2 Thirteen people. Eleven bedrooms. One questionable house in North York. That’s where Nathi Zamisa lived during their undergrad. Illegal under the bylaws? Probably. Tight squeeze? Definitely. But it was also full of late-night hangs, collective rent battles and chosen family vibes. Now, as Co-Executive Director of Housing
Register now for a sneak peek at our planning tool! We’ve been talking a lot about turning empty offices into affordable homes. Now? We’re showing you exactly how it works—and inviting you to be part of it. After months of collaborating with community housing providers in our CMHC-funded project, Turning Empty Offices into Affordable Coliving,
An election platform says much about what a political party thinks will win them votes. And if we had to guess? They might be betting that young people aren’t paying attention this time. They may not be wrong—some stats suggest fewer than half of youth voted in the last federal election. But here’s the twist:
