This report's author has been a committee member for over a dozen years and will serve, along with Don Ament, as its Co-Chair commencing in September 2009. A single meeting in September was the only instance in which we were able to get together in the period under scrutiny here. This does not mean that our nucleus - comprising Lenore Saunders, Ken Shachtay, Bob McFaden, Wendy Raths, Don Ament and Mel Graham - have lost interest in exploring ways by which Manitobans with disabilities can have a greater influence in housing policy and practice. If anything, this somewhat long hiatus only means that we will be even more energized than those committee members who only had the all too short summer months to refresh and recuperate. That's our story, and we're sticking to it.

Though unaffected by our benign supervision, a few things managed to occur on the housing beat in '08-09 that are noteworthy. Greenheart Housing Co-operative, which has been in the works for the past 5 years and was initially undertaken by the West Broadway Development Corporation, is getting ready for its grand opening in a few weeks. It is both fully visitable and in the forefront of energy efficiency. The League was one of many community organizations that actively worked for its construction which, with the usual delays, has been going on over the past year.

Then there's TenTen Sinclair project Place Bertrand in St. Boniface. Its official opening was June 4, almost a year to the day from its sod turning last year. No fewer than three cabinet ministers were on hand for the big occasion which was emceed in the courtyard (under a light shower) by the Legislative Secretary for Disability, Jennifer Howard. Minister Gord McIntosh took the opportunity to announce a provincial disability strategy, for which community consultations may be expected soon. The serious attention disability housing is receiving in this province is entirely unique, and the government should get full marks from an organization like MLPD for efforts like Place Bertrand in financially precarious times such as these.

2008-09 was unexceptional in that housing, and closely allied issues, featured prominently whenever people with disabilities and their supporters met to pursue legislation-related concerns or exchange information. An active, well-connected League housing committee will not only promote a progressive focus on disability housing, but will continue to sort through and hammer out consensus positions that invariably arise in the course of the broader discussion. While welcoming all League members considering joining our committee, the co-chairs suggest that those with a specific personal problem they need to solve, or those with an interest in only a single portion of the discussion, will be less likely to fully appreciate the experience we have to offer as those interested in exploring all facets of housing as it effects Manitobans with disabilities. Apart from that minor caution, we wish the remainder of the League a most prosperous year to come and look forward to a lively and productive 2009-10.