As the end of the year approaches, we’ve been looking back on everything we’ve accomplished together over the past year.

One of this year’s most exciting events was our decision to acquire two vacant properties on Elliott Row that were listed for sale. Seeing the potential in these sites, the Board agreed that acquiring them fits perfectly with USJ’s long-term vision for community development.

The purchase of the properties was finalized in May. These sites will be held for future development, reinforcing our commitment to thoughtful growth and broadening our impact in our neighbourhoods.

Big decisions like this are guided by USJ’s new strategic plan. It identifies USJ’s current goals as streamlining operations with updated policies, ensuring stability through proactive maintenance, empowering members with surveys and training, and exploring new development opportunities. We built a strong foundation for this work by creating a new Board Handbook, approving a Harassment & Discrimination Policy, and adopting a new Member Engagement Strategy.

Our work wasn’t only focused inwards, though. We also take part in the broader movement for co-operatives and other forms of non-market housing. Six of USJ’s directors attended the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada’s Annual General Meeting, and three directors took part in the New Brunswick Non-Profit Housing Association conference.  This engagement not only strengthened our connections within the co-operative housing sector but also brought back fresh insights and ideas to support our ongoing work and strategic goals. Closer to home, we also enjoyed taking part in Culturefest and the Saint John Pride 2025 Parade.

We’re finishing 2025 in a strong position, full of appreciation for our community, and looking forward to 2026. We hope that the end of the year offers you an opportunity for rest, reflection, and time with loved ones, and we can’t wait to see what 2026 will hold.