Tanya Hutchens |
| President |
Gold Star Legal Services, Thornhill, Ontario |
|
Canada |
About Tanya Hutchens
Introduction
Tanya Hutchens garnered over a decade of expert legal experience as President and Paralegal of Toronto-based Gold Star Legal Services. Tanya Hutchens combined her astute skill and focus toward her position as Paralegal of Gold Star, where she successfully litigated a vast variety of legal dealings, earning her great respect among her colleagues and clients for her ability in applying the law to challenging cases.
Province of Ontario
In addition to serving as President and Paralegal of Gold Star Legal Services, Tanya Hutchens served as Commissioner of Oaths for the Province of Ontario for swearing affidavits with Tenants Rights Company Inc., Gold Star Legal Services Inc., and Tatiana Brik Legal Services. In 2000, Tanya Hutchens became the first woman to attain accreditation from the Canadian Paralegal Association. Hutchens remains an active member of the Canadian Paralegal Association of Canada.
Martial Arts Master
Apart from her extensive professional resume, Tanya Hutchens is a skilled martial arts master and women's self-defense trainer. As a level two black belt in Tae Kwon Do, Tanya Hutchens extends her knowledge and skill empowering women across her community.
Philanthropist
Tanya Hutchens is also a philanthropist, donating to various charitable organizations across her region. Tanya Hutchens is a supporter of the Terry Fox Foundation, the SPCA of Ontario, and the Renascent Foundation. Hutchens also contributes to the Canadian Cancer Society, the MS Society of Canada.
Bharat Bhavan, Montréal, Quebec
Tanya Hutchens says that the Bharat Bhavan multifaith effort is a successful CMHC affordable housing solution. Bharat Bhavan Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the social, economic, cultural, educational and spiritual development of its members. It offers a wide range of services, such as translation, help finding employment and French classes, to members of Montréal's South Asian community.
Bharat Bhavan Senior Hostels will offer multi-faith accommodation to retirees in the West Island of Montréal when it opens in July, 2008. The groundbreaking for residence attracted more than 100 people, which reflects well on the commitment of the community to the project. In a spirit of religious respect, leaders of the Christian, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu communities also attended the ceremony and gave their blessing to the project.
The Affordable Housing Solution
The Bharat Bhavan Foundation is overseeing construction of Bharat Bhavan Senior Hostels, which will have 30 fully furnished self-contained units. Rent for the units will be $1,250 a month for a single-occupancy room, less than the market rate for comparable units in the Montréal metropolitan area.
The residence, next to the Bharat Bhavan Foundation community centre, includes a dining room, lounges, an office for medical
visits and laundry facilities. Recreational services will be offered.
Tanya Hutchens says Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) provided $20,000 Seed Funding ($10,000 grant and a $10,000 loan). This program offers financial assistance to potential housing providers who are in the early stages of developing an affordable housing proposal. The Bharat Bhavan Senior Hostels project also benefited from a $100,000 interest-free Proposal Development Funding (PDF) loan. A PDF loan enables housing proponents to carry out the activities required to bring their proposal to the point where they can apply for mortgage financing. CMHC was also flexible in the terms for mortgage loan insurance. A total investment of more than $2,736,000 was required to develop this project.