Building Tomorrow Brick by Brick
A way for communities to invest in lasting change.
Brick par brique Community Bonds
We’re taking the next step in our journey by launching a new Community Bond Campaign to fund our new projects in community housing and economic development.
Our 2018 campaign helped us secure a contract with the provincial government to build a 31-unit social housing project on a site owned by the city of Montreal. Our bonds also served as a downpayment toward the acquisition of a community centre. Both buildings are located in the multicultural neighborhood of Parc-Extension.
It’s now time to grow our vision.
Take part in a powerful movement to make housing and community spaces accessible for all!
In 2025, the funds we raise will be used to finance two new projects: a new centre dedicated to various groups working against social inequities as well as affordable housing.
Our goal
This year, we will raise $5M in community bonds to finance development and land acquisition costs.
$5M
The Opportunity
Brique par brique community bonds offer investors a unique opportunity to support affordable housing and centres for community engagement in Montreal, while benefiting from financial returns of up to 5%.
Access Bond
3% Annual Interest
3 year term
$1K minimum
Action Bond
4% Annual Interest
5 year term
$5K minimum
Solidarity Bond
5% Annual Interest
7 year term
$15K minimum
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A community bond is an interest-bearing loan that a non-profit, charity, or co-operative can issue to support a project they are undertaking. Individuals and organizations can purchase bonds and earn interest, and their investments support projects that generate social, cultural, and/or environmental returns. Community bonds have been used successfully by many types of organizations, typically in conjunction with other forms of financing like mortgages and lines of credit.
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By purchasing a Brique par brique Community Bond, investors support the development of affordable housing and centres for community engagement while obtaining a financial return.
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Interest is paid on an annual basis by direct deposit.
*Community Bond terms are subject to change between now and launch.
Join our community of investors to build a stronger and connected community in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal.
Fill out the survey to stay informed about the campaign, to get involved or to show your interest in buying a bond.
Sign up
Questions?
Contact us at bond@briqueparbrique.com or (514) 665-7481
Upcoming Community Bond Campaign Events
Drawing From Our Experience
Our 31-unit social housing project on De L’Épée, set to be completed in 2026, will provide stable, affordable homes for over 70 low-income residents, addressing critical housing needs in Parc-Extension. The project uniquely focuses on family-friendly housing, offering larger units (1 to 3 bedrooms) to accommodate families rather than individuals—one of the few social housing developments in Montreal to do so. We also offer programs like peer support for asylum seekers and a time bank for low-income residents at our community-owned centre in Parc-Extension.
New Projects
A New Centre for Creative and Collective Action
Phase: Land Prospection & Partnerships Development
We aim to develop a new pan-community centre in Montreal to foster collaboration and strengthen capacities across different practices and cultures by creating a network of facilities and services under one roof. The centre will specifically support community groups and small businesses serving marginalized communities, focusing on initiatives that combat colonialism and foster political and economic alternatives.
The need for such a space is deeply rooted in the ongoing challenges Montreal’s community organizations face in securing affordable, stable infrastructures.
Acquisition of a residential building for community housing
Phase: Land Prospection
The project aims to acquire a 20-unit residential building in or near Parc-Extension, to protect it from speculation and guarantee affordable housing in perpetuity. By offering rents below the median market rate and gradually integrating participatory governance, the project will meet urgent housing needs while promoting social sustainability.
Parc-Extension is in dire need of social housing, and the erosion of affordability in the rental stock is blatant and rapid. There were 684 social and community housing units in the neighborhood in December 2017, representing just 7.14% of the rental stock in the district (the Montreal average being 11.5%), while there are nearly 1,000 households in the neighborhood on a waiting list for social housing.
Our Timeline
2016
BxB is established as a non-profit organization, with the ambition of building a housing project that puts equity first, empowers tenants, and provides communal creative and residential space
2017-2018
Launched our first Community Bonds campaign. Established as Quebec's largest and Canada's second-largest provider of community bonds in the residential sector, raising $364,000 from 40 investors
2019
Received a $100,000 grant from the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) to document our community bond model.
2020
Assigned as leading group to develop a community housing project at 8600-8618 Av. de L'Épée through AccèsLogis provincial program.
2021
Acquired 633 Av. Beaumont for the creation of our cultural center and raised $35k for renovations
2022
AccèsLogis program is abolished, threatening the continuation of the housing project. BxB co-authored a letter with Comité d’Action de Parc-Extension pushing for affordable housing in Parc-Extension. → Restored funding for the housing project on De l’Épée
2023
Organized + 250 activities at the center in collaboration with partners since opening. BxB now receives support from many foundations and institutions
2024
Obtained funding from the Community Housing Transformation Centre to develop a digital platform supporting local resource-sharing for community housing development
New Projects
2024
Fall 2024-Winter 2025: Preliminary project and feasibility studies, Site prospection, Community and investor consultations
2025
Winter 2025 through Summer 2025: Financing and Community Bond Campaign, Purchase agreement
Summer 2025: Project Definition & Land Acquisition
Fall 2025: Design Development
2026
Winter to Spring 2026: Permitting and Construction
Summer 2026: Building Operation
About Us
Brique par brique is a nonprofit organization founded in 2016 by community organizers in order to respond innovatively and from a social justice perspective to the need for affordable housing in the gentrifying and multicultural Parc-Extension neighborhood.
In addition to the development of affordable housing, our cultural centre is a place where we cultivate solidarity and leverage community assets with the goal of improving the living conditions of our community.
Impact
Innovative Financing
Raised + $350,000 through a groundbreaking Community Bond campaign in 2018. This success enabled the acquisition of a duplex, now home to Brique par brique’s cultural centre, a shared space utilized by 50+ groups and organizations.
Social Housing Development
Our 31-unit social housing project on De l’Épée, set to be completed in 2026, is the first housing project ot be built in Parc-Extension in over 15 years. It will provide stable, affordable homes for over 70 low-income residents, addressing critical housing needs.
Mutual Aid and Solidarity
Launched Parc-Exchange in 2024, enabling 50+ active participants to exchange services and build collective capacity through activities such as English and French language learning, digital literacy workshops, and other “by and for” educational opportunties.
Vibrant Cultural Programming
Since 2022, the cultural centre has hosted over 100 community and cultural activities annually, engaging thousands of attendees. Programs range from wellness sessions and art workshops to cultural festivals like the Monsoon Festival, tailored to the aspirations of local residents and reflecting the multiculturalism of our neighborhood, city and country.
Our Solution
Building Infrastructures for Social Change
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Building Infrastructures for Social Change 〰️
Project Team
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Faiz’ mission is to nurture creative energy in diverse communities. Having studied International Development at McGill, followed by 20 years of experience in the community sector and in both private and public real estate, Faiz appreciates the challenges and opportunities that arise from de-commodifying the city and making it about people and their communities. Faiz leads the sales team, the development team, the governance committee, and coaches Brique par brique’s amazing community organizers.
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Amanda is a cultural organizer and organisational development consultant invested in uplifting community economies and co-creating emancipatory spaces. She has been working as Brique par brique’s General Coordinator since 2021 and is also an affiliate facilitator with COCo (the Centre for Community Organizations). Previously, she worked as a curator for The Nature of Cities and co-founded Navel, a resource centre for cultural workers in Los Angeles. She holds a graduate diploma in community economic development from Concordia, an MFA from CalArts and a BBA in Strategic Design and Management from the Parsons School of Design at the New School. At Brique par brique, Amanda oversees fundraising and partnerships, all the while managing the organization’s workflow and strategic orientation.
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Catherine holds a master’s degree in architecture from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. She is motivated by collaborative processes and civic practices aimed at creating a just and resilient city. As part of the rebuiLT association, she helped federate over 400 local actors around the construction of a community pavilion using reused materials. Previously, she also studied art at Concordia University and worked for several years in cultural programming of public spaces. At Brique par brique, Catherine is involved in the planning and coordination of housing and community space projects, taking the organization’s vision from the conceptual stage through to construction.
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Amber Goveas is an artist and architecture graduate committed to leveraging design to build resilient communities. Her thesis focused on hybrid spaces and alternative governance models, which continues to shape her approach to urban design and community building today. She actively engages in local initiatives that promote care, inclusion, and the voices of those often left out of mainstream planning processes. Amber also serves as a board member at community-run art center Articule. Her work at Brique par brique is rooted in a passion for creating spaces that encourage collective action and solidarity within diasporic groups. As community coordinator, Amber leads grassroots outreach, consultations and event planning, ensuring strong attendance and community involvement.
Advisory Board
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Jessica Chen is a Canadian city planning professional currently based in Montreal, Quebec. Her career focus has been social inclusion and urban strategies that encourage a pluralistic understanding of cities. As an immigrant from Taiwan, Jessica started her professional career in the public sector, first in Philadelphia, then in Vancouver, tackling issues of gentrification, heritage conservation, affordable housing, social inclusivity and equitable development. She relocated to Montreal in 2013 and founded her consulting practice Wabi Sabi Planning Lab that often works with public agencies and non-profit organizations to examine how cultural and community-owned assets, including housing, help shape a more resilient urban landscape and city economy. Jessica has been active in Montreal Chinatown since 2019 to advocate for its cultural heritage protection and co-founded JIA Foundation in 2022.
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Jonathan McPhedran Waitzer (they/them) works toward the emergence of a nonprofit sector that supports social movements, and follows the leadership of communities most impacted by injustice. They are especially passionate about working with people who’ve been socialized into privilege, to unlearn patterns of disconnection and move towards wholeness and accountability.
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Zack (he/him) has worked for KMCLT since 2023 and is a strong advocate for affordable housing. He previously worked as a Development Manager with Streetcar Developments, a Toronto-based real estate development firm, and, prior to that, was a Planning Assistant with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Zack has a Masters of Planning in Urban Development from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Bachelor of Journalism from Carleton University.
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Raised by Haitian philanthropists, Marie-France Barbier continues their legacy through her social innovation work. A strategist and connector, she has spent 16 years shaping Montreal’s creative scene by producing, curating, and fostering global collaborations. As the founder of Immobilier Humain, she reimagines real estate by integrating commercial services with restorative, people-centered models. Guided by Ubuntu—Tout moun se moun—her work cultivates socio-cultural ecologies rooted in equity, belonging, and collective care. A seeker at heart, she bridges new perspectives with ancestral wisdom, challenges systems, and brings people together to envision transformative possibilities through our shared interconnectedness.
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Trained in architecture and woodworking, Philémon Gravel has spent the past 10 years working in alternative real estate, social economy, and heritage preservation. As co-founder and executive director of Entremise for eight years, he played a key role in launching and implementing numerous collective infrastructure projects, honing his expertise in project management, partnership development, financial structuring, and social innovation. Through his involvement in SURCY, Philémon aims to support the growth of circular economy practices in Quebec’s construction and real estate sectors.
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Juhi Sohani is a strategic communications and change management consultant dedicated to helping organizations and individuals communicate messages that align with their values and effectively drive change. Her approach emphasizes the importance of community connection, prioritizing the voices of those at the heart of the work.
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M’Lisa Lee Colbert is a social scientist and urban practitioner with a B.A. in Political Science from Concordia University and an M.A. in Global Development Studies from Queen’s University. She has worked across North America, Latin America, Africa, and Europe on urban development and sustainability projects. As founder of URBNG (Urban Being), she focuses on high-impact social and ecological projects, including Le JRDN, an urban garden and épicerie improving local food access. Her work earned URBNG recognition in the Seeding the Future Global Food System Challenge, one of 10 winners out of 900 applications worldwide.
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Suzanne Faiza is an urban planner, and community finance practitioner and researcher, based out of Montréal (Tiohtià:ke), Canada. She currently works as Knowledge Lead at Tapestry Community Capital where she builds knowledge around community finance and community bonds through research, education and policy advocacy. She works to build the strategic partnerships that enable such knowledge-mobilization to take place. Suzanne’s overall work aims to build a robust alternative to current economic paradigms: a healthy social/solidarity economy.
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Annie-Pier is a social entrepreneur, member of the LGBTQ+ community and an advocate for non-profit and affordable housing. She is the co-founder of Territoires solidaires, a non-profit organization focused on creating and operating community land trusts in Quebec. Annie-Pier has over 15 years of experience in the real estate private sector as a sales director helping brokers and large developers in Montreal/Tio’Tia:ke set and reach their goals. Today, she is helping communities and stakeholders decommodify real estate through innovation and strategic partnerships.
FAQ
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Brique par brique has gone through extensive financial planning to ensure that bond principal can be repaid to investors upon maturity. The Offering Statement and the Business Plan with all of these details will be sent to you when you complete the purchase request form.
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Many other social enterprises and charities across Canada have used community financing and community bonds successfully, including the Centre for Social Innovation, Guelph Trillium Waldorf School, Argonaut Rowing Club, Places for People Haliburton, Indwell Community Homes, Ottawa Community Land Trust, Hugh’s Room Live, SolarShare, Earth Day Canada, Habitat for Humanity Guelph, 10C, and YWCA Toronto.
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Bondholders may request a repayment of bond principal in times of hardship, subject to the availability of replacement capital and/or funds within the organization and at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
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Interest earned from a community bond is taxed as regular Investment Income from Canadian Sources. Consult with a tax accountant for your individual case.
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Tapestry Community Capital will manage the investments on their platform, and assist us in issuing interest payments and preparing, filing and issuing T5/RL-3 documents to investors.
Campaign Partners
Tapestry Community Capital is a national nonprofit organization building Canada’s community bond market. As consultants, they guide nonprofits, charities, and cooperatives through the process of issuing community bonds.
To date, Tapestry has supported issuers across Canada in raising over $120 million in community bonds from more than 3,000 investors.