Skip to content
CMHC Home Canada Mortgage
and Housing Corporation
  • Sign In or Register
  • Français
  • MENU
MENU
× Français
  • Home
  • Professionals
    • Project funding and mortgage financing
      • Funding programs
        • Affordable Housing Fund
        • Affordable Housing Innovation Fund
        • Apartment Construction Loan Program
        • Canada Greener Affordable Housing
        • Community (social) housing
        • Federal Lands Initiative
        • Funding for Indigenous housing
        • Housing Supply Challenge
        • Innovation and research
        • National Housing Strategy Project Profiles
        • Rapid Housing Initiative
      • Mortgage Loan Insurance Products
        • Homeowner and Small Rental Mortgage Loan Insurance
          • CMHC Purchase
          • CMHC Improvement
          • CMHC Income Property
          • CMHC Refinance
          • CMHC Newcomers
          • CMHC Self-Employed
          • CMHC Portability
          • Eco Products for Lenders
        • Multi-Unit and Rental Housing
          • MLI Select
        • Default, claims and properties for sale
        • Underwriting centre
        • emili
        • NHA approved lenders
        • Calculating GDS / TDS
        • How to recognize and report mortgage fraud
        • Contact mortgage loan insurance
        • Insured Mortgage Purchase Program (IMPP)
      • Securitization
        • NHA Mortgage Backed Securities
        • Canada Mortgage Bonds
        • Canadian registered covered bonds
        • Blockchain in the housing industry
    • Housing markets, data and research
      • CMHC Reports Calendar
      • Housing markets
        • Housing market reports
        • Mortgage market and consumer reports
        • Fall 2024 Rental Market Report
      • Housing research
        • Consultations
          • Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act
            • Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act – Frequently asked questions
        • Housing research reports
        • Housing surveys
          • Mortgage consumer surveys
        • Research awards and scholarships
        • Understanding core housing need
        • Collaborative Housing Research Network
      • Housing data
        • Data tables
          • Household characteristics data
          • Housing market data
          • Mortgage and debt data
          • Rental market data
        • Housing market information portal
        • Residential Mortgage Industry Data Dashboard
        • CMHC licence agreement for the use of data
        • Housing Knowledge Centre
    • Industry innovation and leadership
      • Housing innovation
      • Our Partners
        • Partnerships
        • Federal, Provincial and Territorial Forum on Housing
      • Industry collaboration
        • Expert Community on Housing (ECoH)
      • Industry expertise
        • Affordable housing
        • Indigenous housing
        • Senior housing
        • Accessible and adaptable housing
        • Developing sustainable housing
        • Resources for mortgage professionals
        • CMHC newsletters
    • Events and speakers
      • Conferences
        • 2024 National Housing Conference
          • About
          • National Housing Conference - Agenda
          • Location
          • InnoZone
          • Details for participants
      • Speakers’ bureau
        • Kevin Hughes
  • Consumers
    • Buying a home
      • Homebuying calculators
        • Mortgage calculator
        • Affordability calculator
        • Debt service calculator
      • Buying guides
        • Homebuying step by step
        • CMHC's condominium buyer's guide
      • Mortgage loan insurance for consumers
        • What is CMHC mortgage loan insurance?
        • Do I qualify for mortgage loan insurance?
        • CMHC mortgage loan insurance costs
        • CMHC's Eco Products
          • CMHC’s Eco Improvement
          • CMHC Eco Plus
        • CMHC — home renovation financing options
        • FAQs — mortgage loan insurance
      • Incentives for homebuyers
      • Newcomers
      • The First-Time Home Buyer Incentive
    • Owning a home
      • Manage your mortgage
        • Mortgage fraud
        • Mortgage planning tips
        • Plan and manage your mortgage
        • Your credit report
        • Your home value
      • Aging in place
        • Housing options for Seniors
        • Housing and finance tips
        • Mortgage financing options for people 55+
        • Preventing fraud and financial abuse
    • Renting a home
      • I want to rent
        • Things to consider before renting
        • Types of housing for rent in Canada
        • Finding or advertising a rental property
        • Visiting the rental property
        • Lease and rental agreements
        • Signing the lease
        • Credit checks and bad credit
        • Rental payments and deposits
        • Roommates and pets
      • I am renting
        • Moving day
        • Landlord/Tenant responsibilities
        • Inspections
        • Maintenance and repairs
        • Complaints and evictions
        • Rent increases
        • When you can't pay rent
        • Renewing or terminating the lease
        • Moving out
      • One-Time Top-Up to the Canada Housing Benefit
      • COVID‑19: eviction bans and suspensions to support renters
  • About CMHC
    • CMHC’s goals, values and commitment to housing
    • Discover Life at CMHC
    • Management and governance
      • Speakers’ bureau
      • CMHC's Annual Public Meeting
      • CMHC’s board of directors and committees
      • Our management committee
      • Pension governance
        • Pension overview
        • Key roles and responsibilities
        • Annual reports
    • Corporate reporting
      • CMHC’s 2023 Annual Report
      • Program evaluation
      • Quarterly financial reports
      • Joint auditors special examination report to CMHC board 2018
      • CMHC’s Insured Mortgage Deferral
      • Corporate Plan Summary
      • Transparency
        • Access to information and privacy protection
        • Accessibility at CMHC
        • Accessibility feedback process
        • Briefing materials
        • Procurement
          • Vendor Diversity Program
        • Travel, hospitality and conference expenditures
    • Contact us
      • Contact mortgage loan insurance
      • Regional offices
      • Granville lsland
      • Indigenous and the North Housing Solutions
      • National office
      • Holiday service hours
  • Media Newsroom
  • National Housing Strategy
    • What is the strategy?
      • About the initiatives
      • How to apply
      • Help and resources
      • Priority areas for action
      • The National Housing Strategy Glossary of Common Terms
      • The Strategy in Action
    • Federal/Provincial/Territorial housing agreements
    • Other funding and financing opportunities
  • The Housing Observer
  • Canada’s Housing Podcast
  • Careers
  • Housing Knowledge Centre
 
  • Home
  • Professionals
  • Industry innovation and leadership
  • Industry expertise
  • Affordable housing
  • Managing affordable housing
  • Housing management hub
  • Governance for housing organizations
  • Board of Directors
  • Save
  • Share

Board of Directors

The role of the board and how it differs from senior management.

Save Icon

SAVE TO MY FOLDER

Board of Directors

SAVE
Close this Window   |   Manage my Folder
Save Icon

SAVE TO MY FOLDER

Board of Directors

Done Done!
Close this Window   |   Manage my Folder
Share icon

Share via

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • print
  • CopyLink

SuccessCopyLinkVersionLink copied

Share icon

Share via

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • print
  • CopyLink

SuccessCopyLinkVersionLink copied

share icon

Mail-blue Share via Email

Did You Know?

You can include an email signature?

Register | Sign In

×
Google Captcha Loader
share icon

Mail-blue Share via Email

Done Done!
Close this window
​

A board of directors is a group of people who are legally responsible for the supervision of the organization they serve.

The Board’s role differs from the roles of senior management and staff of an organization. Here’s how:

Role of the Board

Role of the Board

The Board’s main role is to approve policies and budgets that will best serve the organization from an ethical, financial and legal standpoint.

To act according to the constitution and bylaws set out in the organization’s articles of incorporation, and in accordance with its established budget and policies, a Housing Board of Directors:

  • provides financial oversight and monitoring
  • makes sure management/staff are following official policies
  • meets on a regular basis, typically once a month
  • organizes and appoints committees to make recommendations to them on complex issues
  • works collaboratively with key management/staff members
  • conducts periodic evaluations of the organization’s operations, with a view to improving them
  • hears and responds to complaints and appeals from residents

Note: The terms “board member” and “director” are used interchangeably.

See also: What are my responsibilities as an individual director?

Management/staff has two main roles:

  • Works with the Board in drafting budgets and policies
  • Operates the Corporation on a day-to-day basis in accordance with the established budget and policies.

In short, the Board governs the organization; management/staff operates it.

Your browser does not support the video tag.Transcript

Text on screen: Title- “A Strong Foundation for Your Housing Project: Board of Directors”

(Visual: M’akola housing)

Narrator:
Housing Co-operatives and non-profit organizations are both governed by a group of volunteers called the board of directors. The board sets the direction of the organization, and delegates the day-to-day operations to staff or committees.

(Visual: English Narrator)
Text on screen: “Sets the Direction”, “Delegates the Day to Day Operations”
Text on screen: Title - “Roles”

Narrator:
Legally, an incorporated organization must have a minimum number of directors who are appointed to certain official positions. No board member may receive financial gain for being on the board.

Text on screen: “Position: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer”
Text on screen: Title- “Board Training”

Narrator:
The make-up of each particular board is always different, so you must make sure board members understand their new roles and responsibilities. Copies of minutes from past meetings, and well documented processes, will help new board members get up to speed quickly. A strong board includes members who have experience in a variety of areas relating to the organization’s operations.

Text on screen: “Roles & Responsibilities”
Text on screen: “Experience: Finance, Accounting, Maintenance, Legal & Property Management”
Text on screen: Title- “Recruitment”

Narrator:
Get creative to find and attract the right people. Use your networks, including social networks, to create interest. People who are passionate and genuinely interested in the housing needs of the local community will often make the best board members.

Text on screen: “Passionate & Interested”
Text on screen: Title- “Succession Plan”

Narrator:
You should always be looking for the next leaders, and encouraging younger members of the co-operative or the organization to get involved.

Text on screen: Title- “M’akola Group of Societies, Victoria, British Columbia”

Opening: (Visual: M’akola housing)
Kevin Albers:
M’akola was created by a volunteer board of directors back in 1984, to address the issues that were facing urban Aboriginal people trying to secure safe, affordable, and reliable housing.
The board of directors of M’akola consists of 11 different community members. Everything from professionals, to executive directors, to educators.
The members represent a cross section of the communities in B.C. that we provide housing in.

(Visual: Interview of Kevin)
(Text on screen: Kevin Albers, Chief Executive Officer)
(Visual: B-roll of Kevin, David, M’akola housing and office)

David Seymour:
The culture of the organization is essential that they are feeling part of the team. That’s what motivates the board of directors.

(Visual: Interview of David)
(Text on screen: David Seymour, Vice President)
(Visual: B-roll of David and Kevin walking and discussing)

Kevin Albers:
The satisfaction is knowing that we're doing the things that they had always planned for M’akola to do, and that’s what drives them to continue to be active participants in the governance of M’akola.

(Visual: Interview of Kevin)
(Visual: B-roll of Kevin presenting resident with gift and talking in her home)

David Seymour:
My favourite part of M’akola is to be part of something bigger than me. Not only do I get to work with people of similar mind, I get to be helping those that I’ve always wanted to help and I can see my results.

(Visual: Interview of David)
(Visual: B-roll of M’akola housing, David and Kevin talking, Aboriginal art)

(Text on screen: Want More Information? Visit CMHC.ca/Affordablehousing to learn more about the governance of your organization.)
(CMHC logo on screen)
(Canada wordmark)
(Social Media Icons)
(Music ends)

​

Was this page relevant to your needs?

Thank you for your feedback!

How Can We Help?

Suggest an Improvement

Report a Bug

How Can We Help?

Suggest an Improvement

Please share your suggestion.

Google Captcha Loader

How Can We Help?

Report a Bug

Please describe the problem.

Google Captcha Loader

Thank you. Your feedback has been submitted.

Date Published: September 27, 2021

By Topic

  • Professionals
    • Project funding and mortgage financing
    • Housing markets data and research
    • Industry innovation and leadership
    • Events and speakers
  • Consumers
    • Home buying
    • Owning a home
    • Renting a home

About Us

  • CMHC's Story
  • Management and Governance
  • Our Partners
  • Corporate Reporting
  • Contact Us
  • Careers

More

  • CMHC Newsletters
  • CMHC Library
  • Housing Observer
  • Media Newsroom
  • CMHC and Accessible Housing
  • CMHC on Twitter
  • CMHC on LinkedIn
  • CMHC on Facebook
  • CMHC on Instagram
  • CMHC on YouTube
Privacy Policy    |    Terms and Conditions    |    Transparency    |    Accessibility Plan    |    Accessibility Feedback     Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) ©2025 
Canada
loader icon