Habitat volunteers walk out when CEO removed
Changes are needed if the South Georgian Bay chapter of Habitat for Humanity is to survive. That’s the word from interim CEO Rob Cikoja who was recently brought in to defuse the situation after a group of Collingwood volunteers walked off the job.
Cikoja is CEO of Habitat for Humanity Huronia, headquartered in Barrie. Huronia and South Georgian Bay are among 48 affiliate organizations in Canada, all of which operate independently under the Habitat for Humanity banner. When the South Georgian Bay board of directors recently decided to part ways with long-time CEO Joy Fleury, volunteers who felt she was being treated unfairly decided to withdraw their services and the Collingwood Restore was closed on Oct. 14. The store has since reopened with regular hours.
Cikoja says he was previously unaware of any turmoil.
Skyrocketing real estate costs in recent years have forced some changes to the Habitat model. Cikoja says the rationale for those changes may not have been effectively communicated to the volunteers and the South Georgian Bay chapter may have been clinging to old ways. In his role as CEO of Habitat Huronia, Cikoja is credited with significantly scaling up impact by building more homes, redeveloping mortgage and funding models and overseeing substantial growth in the Habitat Restore, the proceeds of which help fund building projects.
“As much as we’re a charity, we’re also a business,” he said. “If we lose money, we go under and no one gets helped.”
Following a meeting with the Collingwood staff, he says all 23 volunteers are united in their commitment to the Habitat mission – to help families build strength, stability and independence through affordable home ownership.
The South Georgian Bay and Huronia chapters have struck a service agreement that will see Cikoja spend the next four months balancing the two roles. He’ll start with a thorough assessment of the current situation, which he expects will take about one month, then make a recommendation to the two boards and to Habitat Canada. One potential outcome is a merger between the two affiliates. The South Georgian Bay board is composed of six members, whose expertise is mostly operational, whereas the Huronia board is a full governance board with 12 members.
Cikoja says the stability of the business and the need to fulfil the Habitat mission will guide decisions going forward.
“Habitat has a strong foothold in the community,” he said. “We rely on donations and community support and we don’t want to risk having people divert their support to other causes. We are back on track and committed to providing the same great service to the community that we always have.”
Habitat for Humanity has been active in the Southern Georgian Bay area for the past 21 years. Plans are currently in the works for the 18th Habitat home in the area, slated for completion mid-2024. The Restore, located on Sanford Fleming Drive in Collingwood, is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Bonnie MacPherson photo: Habitat for Humanity Huronia CEO Rob Cikoja is acting as interim CEO of the South Georgian Bay chapter after volunteers walk off the job.
