Remembering Kathleen Blinkhorn

Kathleen Blinkhorn Aboriginal Student Scholarship Fund

In December 2009, the social housing sector lost a dedicated colleague and passionate advocate in Kathleen Blinkhorn. During her 30 year career in housing, she worked at Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (ONPHA), and the City of Toronto, and most recently as the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH).  As ADM she was very involved in the creation of Aboriginal housing programs in the GTA and across the province. To recognize the work she has done for the Aboriginal community, her children suggested the creation of the Kathleen Blinkhorn Aboriginal Student Scholarship Fund to be managed by ONPHA's Urban Aboriginal Housing Advisory Committee.  For additional information on Kathleen or to make a donation to the Scholarship Fund, click here.

ONPHA is thrilled to announce that Appliance Canada will be an on-going sponsor for this scholarship. Thank you Appliance Canada!

Application Form

The deadline has passed for 2010.  The competition will re-open in June 2011.

2010 Scholarship Recipients

We will announce the successful applicants at the ONPHA Conference, November 19, 2010.

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Remembering Kathleen Blinkhorn

ONPHA is saddened to announce the death of Kathleen Blinkhorn, ADM,  MMAH and former staff member of ONPHA.  Community-based affordable non-profit housing was a lifelong passion of Kathleen's.  She believed in and advocated for the right to affordable and safe housing for over 30 years.  Her career in housing began in Canada with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.  She worked for several years as a development consultant, helping many supportive and alternative housing providers get their projects up and running.  Before her last position as the Assistant Deputy Minister for Housing, she directed the City of Toronto Social Housing Unit, easing the transition to Service Manager administration for over 250 housing providers.  She leaves behind a huge number of colleagues who will remember her as a friend and ally, a charming and compassionate woman with a strong work ethic and moral compass, and a tremendous sense of humour.

 

Or, please send us a cheque made out to Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association for the amount you are comfortable with.  Somewhere on the attached note or on the cheque itself please indicate it is for the Kathleen Blinkhorn Scholarship Fund.

The cheque should be sent to: ONPHA, 489 College Street, Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario. M6G 1A5.  The terms of reference for the scholarship fund will be designed through ONPHA's Urban Aboriginal Housing Committee - we will be involving her children in the design and distribution of funds.

Please note that this is not set up as a Registered Charity and therefore no tax receipt will be issued.

Click here to read Kathleen's obituary.

Click below to view photos of Kathleen over the years with many of her colleagues from ONPHA.  Click here to download a power point version.