Media Release:
Northern Linkage & TBDSSAB celebrate grand opening of affordable housing units in Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay, ON. September 17, 2025 – Northern Linkage Community Housing and Support Services and The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board held a ribbon cutting ceremony today to celebrate the opening of Ann Potvin Place in Thunder Bay.
Located at 310 Archibald Street South, the two-storey walk-up apartment complex contains 14 one-bedroom units that will support people with disabilities, people living with mental illness or addictions, and those experiencing homelessness in the community. The building also includes 7 units with accessible features on the main floor, with amenities including street parking and space for accessible vehicles to pick up tenants in the front of the building. The property is in a central location with amenities nearby including pharmacy, grocery stores, and health and social services.
A groundbreaking event and funding announcement for this project was held in June 2023. This project received $1.6 million dollars from TBDSSAB through the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) program. COCHI is an initiative of the Canada-Ontario Bilateral Agreement under the National Housing Strategy (NHS).
Representatives from Northern Linkage Community Housing and Support Services and The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board were in attendance. The event included a special ceremony to honour the building’s namesake, Ann Potvin, a founding Northern Linkage board member whose legacy of compassionate care has had a lasting impact on the organization.
The rents charged to tenants of Ann Potvin Place will be affordable (80% of average market rent) as required by COCHI funding and deeper affordability will be made possible through the TBDSSAB Portable Housing Benefit (PHB) program. Northern Linkage will begin showing units at Ann Potvin Place later this week, with occupancy expected to begin by October 1st, 2025.
Quotes:
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“Northern Linkage has proven themselves to be a dedicated and empathetic housing partner in Thunder Bay. We are grateful for the opportunity to support NL on another important housing project. On behalf of TBDSSAB, congratulations to Northern Linkage on the grand opening of Ann Potvin Place. I look forward to seeing the positive impact this space has on its future tenants.”– Brian Hamilton, Chair, TBDSSAB
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“We are thrilled to celebrate the grand opening of Ann Potvin Place, a testament to Northern Linkage’s commitment to providing safe, accessible, and affordable housing for our community’s most vulnerable. This milestone honors Ann Potvin’s legacy and reflects our shared vision of fostering hope and stability for those we serve.”– Luca Loffredo, Executive Director, Northern Linkage
Quick Facts:
- The Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) provides funding to repair, regenerate and expand community housing so tenants can live in a home that is affordable. It can also be used to support community housing providers whose original program arrangements are expiring and help them to become more sustainable.
- Allocation of COCHI funding across Ontario is the responsibility of local service system managers (i.e.: TBDSSAB). Service managers submit COCHI projects for approval based on local priorities.
About:
- Northern Linkage Community Housing and Support Services provides rental accommodations (some subsidized) to persons of low income with psychiatric illnesses or who are developmentally disabled. Visit northernlinkage.tbayit.com for more information.
- The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board supports people to improve their lives and become self-sufficient. It does this as the service system manager for vital, quality social services needed by individuals and families – including child care and early years, community housing, and homelessness prevention – and through the delivery of Ontario Works. Visit the TBDSSAB website for more information at www.tbdssab.ca.
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