Mark died suddenly on February 3, 2015, at the age of 62. He will always be remembered for his passion and visionary leadership in building the co-operative movement and spreading the co-op message across the country. Bringing co-operative values to life from his early 20s, Mark co-founded the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT) and contributed to the construction of thousands of co-operative housing units. He was a co-founder of Rooftops Canada, served on the board and as executive director of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHFC), was a co-founder and long-time president of the Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation (CWCF) and a founding member of the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA, now Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada). As co-operative development manager with CCA, he worked to expand and create federations of health care, car share and funeral co-operatives, and to promote First Nations, Metis and Inuit co-operatives. Mark dedicated himself with heart and soul to launching the Funeral Co-operative of Ottawa.
Mark’s honours included: CHF Canada Honorary Lifetime Membership, CMHC Award for Outstanding Contribution to Co-operative Housing, Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Co-operative Association, and the Queen’s Jubilee Medal.
Mark’s Philosophy
In his testament accompanying his will, Mark thanked the co-operative movement for giving direction and purpose to his life. Many people, he noted, want to leave the world better than they found it, but he was more ambitious:
“I wanted to create that better world on a sustainable basis. I don’t think there is any future unless we build institutions of mutual assistance to guide and unite us in our day-to-day lives. Co-operatives are better than any institution I know to get this job done.”
Tributes
With a bequest Mark left to CHF Canada for a legacy project, a music video about co-op housing: “A Special Place” featuring Domanique Grant was created.
Mark received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ontario Co-operative Association in 2002 which resulted in this video profile that encapsulates his commitment to co-operative values and the development of the co-operative sector.
A positive force for change in the co-op world…Mr. Goldblatt was an iconic figure of Canada’s thriving co-operative community. His actions paved the way for future generations of co-op entrepreneurs.
Hon. Mauril Bélanger, M.P. presented in the House of Commons shortly after Mark’s passing.
Mark was a true co-op housing pioneer and leader. He was a visionary whose ideas were before their time. His contribution in establishing co-op housing in Canada cannot be overstated.
Mark’s warmth, generosity and dedication to co-operatives are universally praised by his colleagues and friends in all corners of Canada’s co-op movement. He was one of the kindest, most generous people it has been my privilege to know.
Nicholas Gazzard, Executive Director, Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada
Mark’s contributions were instrumental in building the worker co-operative movement in Canada.
His outstanding qualities were his vision, intellect, dedication to co-operation, generosity, humility, sense of humour and fun, integrity, commitment, perseverance, and inability to be uncaring or mean to anyone, in other words a sort of radical kindness.
Mark Goldblatt’s personal engagement with co-operatives reflects the dynamism and innovation that have characterized the co-operative movement in Canada throughout its history…. Mark planted many seeds which have grown and are growing into lasting co-operative organizations.
Hazel Corcoran, Executive Director of the Canadian Worker Co-op Federation
Mark’s “Lives Lived” column in The Globe and Mail, July 22, 2015
Lives Lived: Mark Benjamin Goldblatt, 62 – The Globe and Mail
Visit CMC’s Mark Benjamin Goldblatt Memorial Blog for more tributes
The Mark Goldblatt Co-operative Ideas Foundation 