Little Burgundy Housing Coalition Starts “Home Base” Program to Help Concordia Students Find Housing

MONTREAL, QUEBEC — April 4, 2025 — The Little Burgundy Housing Foundation (LBHF) today announced “Home Base,” a new program to help Concordia University students find affordable housing in Montreal. The program aims to help both Canadian and international students who are struggling to find good places to live while they study.

“We see many students having trouble finding places to live that they can afford,” said Mari Ikeda, Director of LBHC. “When students worry about housing, they can’t focus on their classes. Home Base will help students find stable housing so they can do well in school.”

The program supports UN Goals for making cities better (SDG 11) and improving education (SDG 4). As rent gets more expensive in Montreal, many students report feeling stressed, spending too much time traveling to school, and having trouble with their studies.

“Students should be able to focus on learning, not worrying about where they’ll live next month,” said Graham Carr, President of Concordia University. “We support LBHC’s Home Base program and think it will really help our students succeed.”

LBHC will host a fundraising event on April 11th, 2025, from 10:00am to 5:00pm at Concordia University campus. The event will have live music, food and drinks from around the world, and art made by Concordia students. They hope to raise $25,000 to help students who need housing help right away. Holding the event on campus makes it easy for students and instructors to join throughout the day.

“As a student on Concordia’s Board, I’ve heard from many friends who have to choose between paying rent and buying books for class,” said Amir Khalid, Student Representative. “Home Base gives us hope and real help for this big problem.”

People who come to the event can share photos on social media with #HomeBaseSafety to win grocery gift cards. After the fundraising part, everyone will watch the film Little Burgundy and then join a question and answer session with special guests Bonnie Sherr Klein and Maurice Bulbulian.

“The housing problems students face today are similar to issues we showed in our film years ago,” said Maurice Bulbulian, Director of Little Burgundy. “Programs like Home Base can help fix these problems while building on our community’s history of helping each other.”

To learn more about Home Base or to buy tickets for the fundraising event, visit www.lbhcorg.com or follow social media including Instagram, Facebook and X.

About Little Burgundy Housing Foundation

The Little Burgundy Housing Coalition is a community group that works to keep housing affordable in Montreal’s Little Burgundy neighborhood. Started in 1968 when city changes threatened the community, LBHC fights for fair housing, helps renters, and creates affordable housing options. Through community work, teaching, and direct help, LBHC makes sure that everyone, including students, can find safe and affordable places to live.

Contract:

Yusuke Yoshizato
514-555-0123
yyoshizato@gmail.com

Fact Sheet

1. What is Home Base? Home Base is a new help program from the Little Burgundy Housing Foundation (LBHF). Its main job is to help Concordia University students find their way through the tough Montreal housing market to get places to live that are safe and that they can afford. The program will offer help, advice, and connections to make the housing search easier for students who need a place.
2. Who Does it Help? This program is for all Concordia University students, whether they grew up in Canada or came from another country, who are having a hard time finding a good place to live. Many students find it hard to pay rent and still manage student life, and Home Base wants to make this less of a problem. The idea is to help students worry less about housing so they can focus more on their classes and enjoy university life.
3. Why is it Needed? Renting an apartment in Montreal keeps getting more expensive, which causes a lot of money worries and stress for students. We’ve heard directly from people at Concordia that not having a secure place to live is a big source of stress, making it hard for students to focus on their schoolwork and take part in university life. This program is needed now to give real help with this problem.
4. Program Goal: The main goal of Home Base is to help students find stable, safe housing while they are studying. By reducing the worry about finding and paying for a place to live, we think students will do better in school and feel better overall. Having a stable home is a basic need for students to do well.
5. Supporting Bigger Goals: Home Base also helps with important world goals set by the United Nations. It supports the goal for better cities (making them safe and good for everyone to live in) by working on affordable housing. It also supports the goal for good education (making sure everyone gets a fair chance to learn) by removing a big problem that stops students from learning well. This program shows how local actions can help reach these important world goals.
6. Get Involved – Fundraising Event: You can help this important program by coming to our fundraising event on April 11th, 2025, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. It will be held right on the Concordia University campus, making it easy to get to. Coming to the event is a great way to show you support students and want to help fix the housing problem. Having it on campus means students and staff can easily stop by during the day.
7. Event Highlights: The event will be lively with music from local performers, tasty food and drinks from different parts of the world, and art displays by talented Concordia students. A special part of the event will be showing the important film Little Burgundy, and afterwards, you can join a Q&A talk with the director and others. It’s a great mix of fun, community spirit, and supporting a good cause.
8. Fundraising Target: We hope to raise $25,000 at this event to get the Home Base program started and give help right away to students who urgently need housing support. This money could help pay for things like damage deposits, the first month’s rent, or emergency help for students about to lose their homes. Every dollar raised will go straight to helping students find a stable place to live.
9. Share & Win: Help us get the word out! If you come to the event, share your pictures and thoughts on social media using the tag #HomeBaseSafety. When you do this, you show your support, and you also get a chance to win grocery gift cards – a little something to help you out too. Your posts help more people know about the program and the event.
10. Community History: The idea for Home Base comes from Little Burgundy’s history. This program carries on that tradition by using the same ideas of neighbors helping neighbors to deal with the student housing problems we see today. It connects the past ways of helping with today’s needs.
11. How LBHF Helps: Since the community started in 1968, when changes in the city were affecting the neighborhood, the Little Burgundy Housing Foundation (LBHF) has always worked to keep housing affordable by speaking up for fair housing rules, giving direct help and information to renters, and actively working to create more affordable places to live. Through our work in the community, teaching, and direct help, we make sure everyone, including students, can find a safe place to live that they can afford.

Media Assets

Descriptive Caption: This image represents the difficult and often precarious housing situations many students face, highlighting the urgent need for affordable and stable living conditions supported by programs like Home Base.

Author Credit: Yusuke Yoshizato

Usage Rights: Approved for media use in coverage related to the Little Burgundy Housing Foundation and the Home Base program

Descriptive Caption: From the 1968 film Little Burgundy, this image shows neighbors meeting to solve problems. It captures the history of people helping each other in our community, which is what LBHF continues with the ‘Home Base’ program.

 Author Credit: Michael Regnier and Claude Larue (photography of Little Burgundy<1969>)

 Usage Rights: Provided courtesy of the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) for media coverage related to the LBHF ‘Home Base’ program. Please credit the National Film Board of Canada upon publication.

Communication plan

Relevant Spokespeople and Content Ideas:

• Mari Ikeda (Director, LBHC): She can talk about the program’s goals, why LBHF is doing this, and why students need help now.
• John Brown (Student Representative): He can share what it’s like for students trying to find housing and why Home Base gives them hope.
• Bonnie Sherr Klein and Maurice Bulbulian (Directors, Little Burgundy): They can talk about how the community helped each other back then and how that relates to Home Base today.
• Graham Carr (President, Concordia University): She can explain why the university supports Home Base and how stable housing helps students succeed in their studies.

Blog Post:

• Blog Post 1 Title:Introducing Home Base: A New Initiative Helping Concordia Students Find Stable Housing
  • Focus: Explain what the “Home Base” program is in simple terms and briefly mention the upcoming fundraiser event.
  • Goals:
    • Clearly explain the purpose and need for the action.
    • Generate early interest in the April 11th fundraising event.
    • Establish LBHF as taking action on student housing issues.

• Blog Post 2 Title:“I Can’t Focus”: How the Housing Crisis Affects Concordia Students
  • Focus: Share directly from a student perspective how hard it is to find affordable housing. Talk about the stress, impact on schoolwork, travel time, and tough decisions (rent vs. food/books).
  • Goals:
    • Build empathy and understanding for the challenge’s students face.
    • Motivate readers to support Home Base and attend the fundraiser.

• Blog Post 3 Title:From Little Burgundy’s Past to Present: Our Community’s History of Supporting Each Other
  • Focus: Connect Home Base to LBHF’s long history of community action and the themes in the Little Burgundy film. Promote the film screening at the event.
  • Goals:
    • Build community pride and connection to the initiative.
    • Highlight the special film screening and Q&A session to encourage event attendance.

• Blog Post 4 Title:A Big Thank You! Celebrating the Success and Spirit of Our Home Base Fundraiser Event
  • Focus: Share positive highlights from the fundraiser (April 11th). Include photos/videos (linking to social media), sincerely thank donors, volunteers, and attendees. Announce funds raised or progress toward the goal.
  • Goals:
    • Express genuine gratitude to everyone who participated or donated.
    • Encourage continued donations for those who missed the event or want to give more.

• Blog Post 5 Title:Looking Ahead: How Home Base Will Connect Students with Housing and What’s Next
  • Focus: Explain the practical next steps for the Home Base program and talk about how can students actually access help or resources through the program?
  • Goals:
    • Build confidence in the program’s operation and future.
    • Provide clear, actionable information for students needing assistance.

Content Calendar:

• March 21, 2025: Publish the first blog post.
• March 28, 2025: Publish the second blog post.
• April 3, 2025: Release Public Release and publish the third blog post.
• April 11, 2025: Publish the fourth blog post. Hold the Fundraising Event.
• April 18, 2025: Publish the fifth blog post.

Audience Feedback and Engagement:

Our blog will be an interactive space. We’ll enable comments and ask questions in posts to encourage dialogue and gather insights. Blog content will be shared across social media (Instagram, Facebook, X) using #HomeBaseSafety to broaden reach and collect feedback; this hashtag also connects event social activity to a grocery gift card draw. An email sign up form will allow interested individuals to receive updates. At the April 11th event, a feedback station will offer attendees a way to share input on student housing needs. All feedback gathered from comments, social media, email sign ups, and the event will be carefully reviewed to adjust the program and refine future communications, ensuring our efforts remain effective and relevant.

4. Justification:

This blog strategy is vital for building a supportive community around Home Base, acting as a central hub connecting students, supporters, residents, and Concordia University. Through consistent updates, we educate the audience on student housing challenges and clearly present Home Base as the solution, enhancing community awareness. The blog provides clear calls to action attend the event, donate, share helping convert interest into tangible support. Crucially, it allows LBHF to shape the narrative around student housing relative to our program, ensuring our purpose is understood. This fosters a sense of shared responsibility and investment in Home Base’s success among stakeholders, strengthening our collective impact on student housing stability.

Vancity

Vancity, or Vancouver City Savings Credit Union, is a financial cooperative owned by its members in Vancouver, British Columbia. Vancity has become Canada’s biggest community credit union. Their goal is to have a decent system that protects the environment and ensures everyone has equal opportunities. Because of its values, Vancity focuses on the needs of members and communities, offering banking services that promote fairness, environmental protection, and financial access for everyone.

History achievement

• Vancity made history by being the first in Canada to offer loans to women on their own and mortgages to working families and immigrants in east Vancouver.
• provides investment options that align with ethical and sustainable values, focusing on companies that demonstrate positive environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.
• Vancity is targeting net-zero emissions by 2040 for all financed projects, drastically reducing the carbon.
•  They offer a range of financial products, including personal and business banking, mortgages, loans, and investment services.
• Serves over 569,000 members, maintaining an average member satisfaction rate of 81%, indicating strong community trust and engagement.
• The Board of Directors is 67% represented by women, transgender, and/or non-binary directors.

Vancity Outreach and Engagement Plan

The project is all about helping local street markets and, supporting ways to get food that are organic, and making our community stronger. I want to show how shopping locally helps everyone. Therefore; it supports our local farmers and businesses, gives us all access to fresh and healthy food, to make a better for the environment, and brings people together. The main targets are including audience and cooperator will be families, students, small business owners, and community groups who care about sustainability, and supporting the local economy. I will ask university and high school to share about volunteer opportunity. Also use online advertisement to reach specific groups of people in our community and sending out regular emails with news about market events, and information about the local farmers. I will also talk to local newspapers and radio stations, sharing news to journalists. The important part of the project is our live events at the Downtown Vancouver Farmers Market on June 16th and 17th. These events will give everyone a chance to get involved and experience the street markets firsthand. In addition, working with the market organizers and local businesses is key to making these events successful.

To see how well the project is working, by tracking how many people like, share, and comment on our social media posts about the market, and how often people are using our hashtags. Furthermore, follow the process of how many people come to our events, ask for feedback through surveys, comment cards, and count how many people register for events online. On top of that, the community will analyze about how many people are asking questions about the market, how many people want to volunteer to help, and how much people are talking about it online. Specific measures will be using Likert scale. Finally, communicating to the market vendors and organizers to get their feedback and see what is working well and what community could do better. Reviewing these results will help us measure project success and improve future processes. It is important goal to continue supporting local food systems and helping our community thrive. I believe that working together is essential to reach our goals. By teaming up with local groups, businesses, and schools, Vancity can make a bigger difference and build a strong, collaborative effort to create a more sustainable and lively local food system.

Vancity Teams Up with Local Farmers and Businesses for a Sustainable Street Market Celebration of World Environment Day

Vancouver, BC, June 5, 2025 – To celebrate World Environment Day, Vancity is excited to announce about our new project that helps local street markets and makes it easier to find fresh, healthy, and sustainable. We are celebrating the world environment day with special events at Downtown Vancouver Farmers Market on June 16 and 17. The project will help local farmers and businesses that care about the environment, and it will create more jobs in our community. Vancity will host events where families, students, business owners, and community groups can learn about the important project and how to support it. Thus, Vancity hope customers to understand how important it is to make choices that are good for the planet.

Wellington Holbrook, the president and CEO of Vancity, said, “When we shop at local markets, we get to know the people who grow our food, and that’s good for everyone. It helps the people buying the food, the farmers, the people selling the food, and the whole community.”

Vancity is working with local farmers and businesses that are committed to sustainable and organic practices. It is all part of Vancity’s plan to build a better community by being responsible and caring about how their finance process works. By helping the local community of the business and making it easier to find healthy, eco friendly food. Vancity is helping the local economy, protecting the environment, and making our community stronger.

Rita Parikh, Chair, Vancity Board of Directors, explained, “Vancity wants to create a healthy and sustainable food system for future generations with our new street market project, we are creating new opportunities for local farmers and businesses that are good for the environment.”

Vancity hopes everyone in our community will join the new project and help us build a more sustainable food future together. Whether you shop at farmers markets all the time or your first time to shop street market, the project is a great opportunity to experience new foods, support local businesses, and learn about taking care of the earth. Vancity want everyone to discover new tastes, support local businesses, and meet their neighbors. volunteers are key to making our local food system stronger. Volunteers can help out at market events, lead workshops, and share their enthusiasm for sustainable living with everyone.

 To find out more about the project, see who is selling at the market, find out about events, and how to participate, go to https://www.vancity.com/events/ and follow Vancity on social media (Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn). Share your favorite market finds and talk about the good choices you make for the environment using #VancityLocalMarket

Media contact:
Yusuke Yoshizato
yoshizatoy18@mytru.ca
236-313-2026

Fresher Food, Stronger Community: Come to Vancity’s Street Market Festival

Vancity is always thinking about how to make the future better, and they are excited about our newest project: helping local street markets. they are working with local farmers and businesses who care about the environment, and we celebrate the environment day at the Downtown Vancouver Farmers Market on June 16th and 17th. It is not just about buying food; it is about connecting with your community, supporting local businesses, and making choices that are good for the Earth.

Vancity are passionate about the project because it connects many process which we care about: building strong communities, helping local businesses grow, and protecting our environment. When you buy food from a local farmer, you are not just buying healthy food; you are also helping them earn a living and keep their farms healthy and sustainable. Also, buying local means the food doesn’t have to travel as far, which is good for the planet. It is a win for customers and business.

According to President and CEO, Wellington Holbrook, “When we shop at local markets, we get to know the people who grow our food, and good for everyone, so it is all about making those connections and creating a stronger community where everyone shares the same values.

Vancity are working side-by-side with local farmers and businesses who are committed to sustainable and organic practices. They are helping and supporting local farmers and business, which makes our local economy stronger and makes it easier for everyone to find healthy, environmentally friendly food.

Rita Parikh, Chair, Vancity, Board of Directors, explained that “Vancity wants to create a healthy and sustainable food system for future generations. We are showing that businesses can be successful and still take care of the planet.”

Vancity invite you to join us at the Downtown Vancouver Farmers Market on June 16th and 17th. Meet the farmers, sample the delicious offerings, and organic meals from local farms. Whether the person who are street market shopper or a first-time visitor, it is an amazing opportunity to embrace the warmth of our community and support a healthy planet. Explore new flavors, connect with the individuals behind the food, and enjoy the exciting atmosphere of a community gathering.

Extend the experience online and share your market discoveries on social media with #VancityLocalMarkets. Find additional information of more details, volunteers opportunity and ways to participate on our website at https://www.vancity.com/events/ and connect with us on social media (Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn). Together, we can create a stronger community, one market basket at a time.

Press Release: The Relaunch of The Omega

The Omega Rises: TRU Student Newspaper Relaunches with Renewed Vision and Expanded Reach

Kamloops, BC – Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is proud to announce the highly anticipated relaunch of its official student newspaper, The Omega, with a special event on April 10, 2025, at the TRU Grand Hall from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM. The event will honor The Omega’s rich history while looking ahead to its future as a platform for student voices and impactful journalism.

Since its inception, The Omega has played a crucial role in campus journalism, covering stories that matter to the TRU community. With this relaunch, the publication aims to solidify its legacy, foster student involvement, and embrace digital innovations. The new edition will introduce a modernized website, expanded multimedia content, and increased opportunities for student contributors. This relaunch is a testament to the dedication of the students and faculty who have worked tirelessly to ensure The Omega remains a relevant and engaging source of news.

“We want The Omega to be more than just a publication; we want it to be a legacy that future generations of students can build upon,” said Sean Brady, Manager of The Omega. “This relaunch is about creating a sustainable platform where student voices will continue to shape TRU’s story for years to come. Our commitment is to not only report the news but to spark discussions and encourage critical thinking among students.”

The relaunch event will feature speeches from Sean Brady and Robert McAlaster, Editor-in-Chief of The Omega, reflecting on the newspaper’s journey and its vision moving forward. Attendees can enjoy live music, interactive media exhibits, and networking opportunities with TRU faculty and student journalists. A panel discussion featuring past editors and notable alumni will explore the importance of student journalism and its role in shaping public discourse.

“The Omega has always stood for truth, integrity, and student expression,” said Robert McAlaster. “With this relaunch, we are reinforcing our commitment to preserving those values while evolving with the changing media landscape. This relaunch isn’t just about the present—it’s about paving the way for future generations of student journalists.”

A highlight of the evening will be the unveiling of The Omega’s redesigned website, featuring a more intuitive user experience, sections for investigative reporting, opinion pieces, and multimedia storytelling. The updated platform will enable student journalists to share their work more effectively and engage a broader audience. The event will also showcase The Omega’s digital transformation, highlighting how new tools and technologies will be used to enhance content delivery and audience engagement.

Students, faculty, alumni, and community members are invited to attend and celebrate this milestone. Light refreshments will be provided, and attendees will have the opportunity to sign up as contributors or join the editorial team. The event will also feature a networking session where students interested in media careers can connect with professionals and faculty members. For more information, visit www.theomega.news or follow The Omega on social media.

Media Contact:
Yusuke Yoshizato
yoshizatoy18@mytru.ca
236-313-2026

Distribution Plan

To reach a wide audience, we will share the press release through multiple platforms. TRU’s website, student newsletters, and digital bulletin boards will inform students and faculty. The Omega’s and TRU’s social media accounts, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter, will also be used. Additionally, email campaigns will target students, faculty, and alumni. We will collaborate with student organizations and faculty to further expand our outreach.

Local media outlets will help increase awareness beyond campus. The event will also be promoted through community partnerships, ensuring engagement from businesses, alumni, and local organizations. Using these methods, we aim to maximize attendance, generate media coverage, and reestablish The Omega as a leading student publication at TRU.

1. Castanet Kamloops – news@castanet.net
2. CFBX 92.5 FM (TRU Campus Radio) – radio@thex.ca
3. CFJC-TV – kamloops-newsroom@pattisonmedia.com
4. CHNL (Radio NL) – info@radionl.com
5. INFO News.ca – info@infotel.ca
6. Kamloops Chamber of Commerce –hello@kamloopschamber.ca
7. KamloopsBCNow –  News@KamloopsBCNow.com
8. TRU Alumni Association – alumni@tru.ca
9. TRU Career and Experiential Learning – careereducation@tru.ca
10. TRU Communications Office – communications@tru.ca
11. TRU Conferences Centre – conferencecentre@tru.ca
12. TRU Faculty of Arts – Journalism Program – hmacleod@tru.ca
13. TRU International Student Services – isa@tru.ca
14. TRU Marketing and Communications – dlindsay@tru.ca
15. TRU Student Union (TRUSU) – services@trusu.ca

This section will include all the assignments I complete for this course. Each post will contain details about the tasks, my approach, and any reflections on the process. Through these assignments, I aim to demonstrate my understanding of the course material and apply the concepts effectively. I will also share any challenges I face and how I overcome them. Additionally, I will provide a summary of the key lessons learned from each assignment and how they connect to the course goals. These posts will serve as a portfolio of my progress throughout the course.