Kat Riley

Improvement Advisor, Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness

Kat has 12 years’ experience working in social services, including most recently supporting communities across Ontario in their efforts to end chronic and veteran homelessness. Her experience in the sector includes By-Name List and Coordinated Access System oversight at the municipal level, and frontline experience in both housing first and supportive housing programs. Kat holds a degree in Social Sciences with a specialty in Criminal Justice and is a self-proclaimed data enthusiast.

Sarah-Mae Rahal

Improvement Advisor, Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness

Sarah-Mae is a loving auntie, sister, daughter and partner who is dedicated to advancing advocacy, knowledge, and passion in efforts of ending homelessness in Canada. With a B.A in political science from York University, she is currently working on her thesis to complete her M.A in Geography from Memorial University. Through her academic and professional ventures, she has led community-based research in Labrador, as well as Ottawa, St. John’s, Tel Aviv and Toronto. She has worked in the community for over three years in very different capacities: as funder, director of a healing lodge, and currently as an improvement advisor for various communities across rural and remote Ontario.

Diahann Polege-Aulotte

Program Manager, Homelessness Initiatives, Rural Development Network

Diahann holds a Bachelor of Applied Human Services Administration (Grant MacEwan University) and a Master of Leadership (University of Guelph). Working in Human Services for over 30 years has ignited her passion for advocating and supporting those who are disadvantaged. She has volunteer and professional experience working with people experiencing the criminal justice system, school children, and families in need. Her previous experiences have given her the knowledge to create safe spaces, use a trauma-informed lens, and acknowledge that one’s success is an individual’s choice. Diahann has more than a decade of experience in research, consultation, and community and social development through work with a municipality in Alberta. While working for the municipality, she gained insight into the social determinants of health. Her current work is informed by her knowledge of the social determinants of health and her commitment to Collective Impact frameworks, having completed the Tamarack Institute’s Collective Impact training in 2019.

Terry Burden

Intensive Case Manager, Sudbury Action Centre for Youth

Terry Burden has been a front-line worker in Sudbury Ontario for 9 years. She has a master’s degree in human development and an undergraduate degree in Psychology. She is an Intensive Case Manager with The Sudbury Action Centre and The Homelessness Network of Sudbury working with chronic and episodically homeless community members who face multiple barriers to successful recovery from homelessness. She is an expert in Housing First and Harm Reduction based Case Management with ample training and front-line expertise. Her primary focus is working with the highest needs individuals in her community. In addition to working as an Intensive Case Manager, Terry briefly held the position of Interim Executive Director of SACY. She was also the Chairperson of Fierté Sudbury Pride, our local 2SLGBT+ not-for-profit organization.

Jacqueline Evans

Housing Representative Ontario, NBR Modular Solutions

Jackie is NRB’s housing representative in Ontario, specializing in Emergency, Social, and Affordable Housing. She has been working in the design and construction industry most of her career. Having graduated from the Metropolitan University ( formerly Ryerson) with a degree in Interior Design, she then worked in business development in the flooring industry. She has held various volunteer positions in the green building industry, having been involved with the CaGBC, ILFI, and iiSBE. She has a keen interest in the modular industry and specifically servicing the non-profit and municipal governments as we all try to increase the number of housing units across the country.

Adriana Bell

Property Manager, Edgewood Suites by Flato Developments

Adriana Bell is the Property Manager for Edgewood Suites, a 55+ rental apartment building in Dundalk Ontario, built and owned by Flato Developments. Adriana has a diverse background in the housing sector that spans student, family and senior housing. She has experience with various ownership models including private corporation, Real Estate Investment Trust (REITs), non-profit, co-operative and government owned housing. Adriana is passionate about her role in helping to meet housing needs in Ontario.

Patricia Kamphorst

Executive Director, The Help Centre

Patricia was born in El Salvador and there she earned her Law Degree. She also has a Master Degree in Competition Law, International Contracts and Regulatory Law from the Freie University of Berlin, in Germany. After many years of working as a lawyer in El Salvador, she relocated to Northumberland County in 2011, where she got actively involved in activities organized by the Immigration Portal from Northumberland County. She participated in different panels and events related to “The challenges of the Immigration System” as a speaker. In 2014 she joined The Help Centre, where she has been working as the Executive Director. Her work at The Help Centre has allowed her to better understand the needs and social service gaps that are real in our community, especially for those that are most vulnerable.

Kelly Nielsen

Manager, Public Services, Brantford Public Library

Kelly is Manager-Public Services at Brantford Public Library, where she has held numerous roles since 2014. She completed a Master of Information at University of Toronto (2015) and her undergraduate in Criminology at Wilfrid Laurier University (2008). She has lived in Brantford most of her life and feels a deep connection to her community. Public libraries are her passion and she takes pride in BPL’s resiliency to adapt, transform, and support the community they serve. Public libraries provide a unique opportunity to serve all members of our community by offering free services/ programs/ resources. We believe in access for all and breaking down barriers to access. We are proud to have an in-house Social Service Outreach Worker that helps us serve our vulnerable populations by assisting with accessing and navigating community resources.

Meredith Staveley-Watson

Manager of Government Relations and Policy, Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus

Meredith Staveley-Watson has lived and worked across Ontario in the municipal sector for over five years and currently serves as the Manager of Government Relations and Policy for the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) supporting and advocating on behalf of 103 municipalities across rural eastern Ontario. Meredith has held a variety of municipal positions at Hastings County, Frontenac County, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Meredith also holds a Master of Public Administration from Queen’s University and sits on the Board of Directors for the Youth Council Coalition of Canada made up of young leaders with a mission to promote and support the development of municipal youth councils across Canada. Meredith is passionate about local advocacy, youth engagement, and fostering collaborative relationships to support continuous community improvement.

Peter Emon

Chair, Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus

Chair Peter Emon holds an Honours degree in Social Work and has worked as a Child Protection Worker for 25 years. He is presently employed as a Community Mental Health Crisis Worker. He obtained a Municipal Administration Program Certificate to better serve his community as a Municipal Councillor since 1988. He currently serves as the Reeve of the Town of Renfrew and has been a member of the County of Renfrew Council since 2006. He also held the elected position of Warden of the County for four consecutive one year terms and served as Chair for the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus (EOWC) for a year. Peter serves as a member of various committees aimed at addressing community challenges. He was named as the Chair for the 2023 Ontario Winter Games, which he sees as an opportunity to showcase the community and its possibilities.

Candice Sutterfield

Chair, Cold Lake John Howard Society

Candice is the chair of the Cold Lake John Howard Society. Candice is well known in the community for her involvement and dedication to promoting community services and champions for changes and programs to help and assist all individuals at risk. She has worked front line with women at risk for 13 years prior to becoming the Mentor Supervisor with the Lakeland Centre for FASD. She has knowledge and involvement with indigenous woman’s health, prevention of FASD and mental health issues, as well as addictions associated with women at risk. Candice recognized the gap in services, along with other community members to address the lack of services for men in the community. The Cold Lake John Howard Society works with the vulnerable population who suffer with mental health, addictions, and trauma related conditions.

Lyla Allan

Secretary, Cold Lake John Howard Society

Lyla Allan has been working at Portage College for 23 years. She has been in the role of Counselor, Instructor and currently is the Coordinator of the Community Social Work program. She has used her strong background in education and social work to support the individuals with whom she works with. Lyla has her Bachelors Degree in Education (B.Ed.), Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) and is a Registered Social Worker. Prior to instructing at the College, she was a teacher in the school division .She also worked as a crisis intervention worker for 18 years at the local Crisis Centre. When she is not working, she spends her time volunteering in the community. She is currently on the Board of the Cold Lake John Howard. She believes that “we all can choose to have a positive impact. What you give can contribute to what you receive in return.”

Marc Boychuk

Mental Health Advocate, ICare

Marc is passionate about ending homelessness and identifying programs needed to accomplish this. Marc currently sits on several boards and committees including; Alberta Health Advisory, Stepping Up (Preventing Domestic Violence Against Woman), Aboriginal Interagency, Restorative Justice, Poverty Reduction and RCMP Advisory committees. Housing First and Sustainable Housing with supports are what Marc is advocating for as a major solution for people living in unsafe and unsanitary situations. Working with the Federal, Provincial and municipal governments and agencies Marc hopes to identify and bring much needed supports for rural areas. Working closely with the Rural Development Network and being involved in the largest coordinated homeless estimation in 2018, gave Marc a firsthand knowledge at what is most needed in his community for those housed and unsheltered. By being in the shelters, soup kitchens, streets, makeshift shelters, supportive living houses and prisons, Marc is continually learning and adapting to the new solutions and issues our vulnerable populations face.

Mylene Vincent

Chief Development Officer, Housing Hub of New Brunswick

Mylène recently joined the Housing Hub of New Brunswick as its inaugural Chief Development Officer, following a move to New Brunswick in January 2023. The Housing Hub of New Brunswick acts as a non-profit developer of complete communities throughout rural New Brunswick, to support sustainable economic and community growth. Over the last 7 years, Mylène worked in the development and operation of housing throughout the ecosystem. Her housing journey began as Director of Building Services at the YWCA Hamilton a local multi-service organization providing a range of support services and housing for adults with developmental disabilities, transitional housing for women, trans and non-binary individuals, and second stage housing for women and women-led families, among a variety of wrap-around services to the community at large. In 2019, she transitioned to SHS Consulting, as Principal of Real Estate development. In this role, Mylène primarily supported non-profit housing providers in all aspects of affordable housing development projects, in the pursuit of ending homelessness and providing adequate and dignified housing for all. Mylène has an interest in finding innovative ways to develop partnerships and facilitate community and housing development that responds to the needs of each individual household while promoting their wellness. She is curious on different approaches to the built environment and working with professional consultant teams to achieve specific targets in developing spaces for various target populations. Her creativity extends to developing sustainable financial models and translating them into relatable overall outcomes, which results in engaged dialogues with diverse stakeholder bases.

Asad Bhatti

Director of Housing, Rural Development Network

Asad is the Director of Housing at the RDN, and works mainly with the Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI). Asad graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Finance. Most recently, he received his CFA designation in April 2022. Asad initially started with the RDN as a Research Analyst, writing reports and conducting research, before taking on the role of Capital Funding Manager. As RDN’s Director of Housing, Asad leads the SHI team in working to develop housing units and conducting impactful housing research. At the RDN, Asad’s key achievements include: the creation and ongoing management of a financial model used to test project feasibility, and coauthoring the Step-by-Step Guide to Developing Affordable Housing.

Sean Adams

Planning Specialist, Rural Development Network

Sean is a Planning Specialist within the Sustainable Housing Initiative. Sean has a background in environmental studies and urban and regional planning with over 3 years of environmental conservation experience. Having joined our team in 2022, he is currently involved in RDN’s Enabling Housing Choice Project, a three-year research and policy project funded by the Alberta Real Estate Foundation aimed at identifying barriers to housing diversity across Alberta. He is also involved in the “Placemaking for Inclusion Project”, a research project funded by the Community Housing Transformation Centre, which seeks to integrate affordable housing tenants into their broader community. Sean holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies from The King’s University as well as a Masters of Science degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Alberta. His research focused on climate adaptation for built heritage resources in coastal communities. Sean is passionate about how the adaptive reuse of buildings can provide diverse housing opportunities for residents living in rural communities.

Alyce Wickert

Project Manager, Planning & Community Development, Rural Development Network

Alyce started in the planning field with a diploma from NAIT in Urban Planning Technology, followed by an undergraduate degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Saskatchewan, and then a Masters degree from the University of Alberta in Urban and Regional Studies. After a period of being at home to raise 4 children, she became the Development Officer in a rural municipality in Southeast Alberta, and then the Manager of Planning and Development a few years later. Alyce believes strongly that people should have a choice about where they live, by ensuring that rural communities are a sustainable and viable option for people to make their home.

Louise Rellis

Executive Director, Anam Rural Youth Association

Louise is the Founder and Executive Director of Anam Rural Youth Association. She is an Irish Immigrant, living in Alberta since arriving to Canada just over 10 years ago, and has a passion and expertise in supporting high-risk youth and young adults who are hard to reach. Louise is a Community & Workplace Traumatologist, has a diploma in Child Psychology, worked in the field of Early Childhood Development before moving into the field of Trauma and realizing where her true passion lies. She has won a Mentor award, a Volunteer of the Year award and a Senator's Contribution award, along with many nominations for her passions inspired by community and diversity.

Rebecca Donnelly

Executive Director, Southwest Youth Emergency Shelter

Rebecca Donnelly (B.A., M.P.H) grew up in Swift Current and at the family farm South of Herbert, Southwest Saskatchewan. She has had the opportunity to offer support and leadership in a variety of roles, in a variety of places: Saskatchewan, Quebec, Ireland, England, and France. Rebecca has extensive experience supporting individuals through counselling, project management and community education both in rural and urban settings Crisis Services, Mental Health, Suicide/Self-harm, Addiction, Violence). What continues to guide Rebecca in work (and life in general) is committing to the support of individuals and communities with openness, kindness, understanding and respect. Rebecca has been the Executive Director of Southwest Youth Emergency Shelter Inc. (Dorie’s House) since 2021.

Glenn Alexander

Glenn Alexander, Vice President of the Board, Southwest Youth Emergency Shelter

G.C.A. (Glenn) Alexander, (CMTH, CHT) has been a passionate advocate for youth, having served with several Community Based Organisations and Charities over the last 20 years. In his time with SWYES, Glenn continues his commitment to ensure that homeless youth, and those at-risk, have access to a safe and supportive environment.

Emma Wallace

Project Manager, Community Dev & Homelessness Estimations, Rural Development Network

Emma (she/her) is the Project Manager of Community Development and Homelessness Estimations. She graduated from Acadia University with a Bachelor of Community Development and from the University of Alberta with a Master of Arts in Community Engagement. Emma’s research and work experience have focused on poverty reduction and community wellness. She is passionate about supporting rural communities in their efforts to reduce poverty and homelessness and advocating for community health and wellness. Emma is committed to applying an equity lens to her work and is always looking to meet people where they are at. In her spare time, Emma can be seen enjoying the outdoors with her dog Odie. They enjoy biking, kayaking, and backpacking together all year long!

Sajidul Quayum

Policy Analyst, Infrastructure Canada

Sajidul joined the public sector in Montréal in 2016 as a Payment Service Officer for the Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security. He moved to Ottawa to pursue his passion of data analysis and research, and currently works on the Homelessness Analysis Team for Reaching Home, the Government of Canada’s homelessness program. He provides support on initiatives such as the Point-in-Time Counts and works to advance research to better understand the experience of homelessness across Canada. Besides his interest in research, he loves to keep active by playing sports, carpentry, working out and enjoying the great outdoors.

Erika Cizek

Master's Student, Community Housing Canada, University of Alberta

After completing her BA in Geography at Carleton University, Erika began her graduate studies working with Dr. Damian Collins and Community Housing Canada at the University of Alberta. For her Master’s thesis, she is focusing on the housing affordability crisis in small towns in British Columbia – an issue that she herself has observed as she has seen friends and loved ones forced to leave her hometown of Kaslo, BC, due to a critical lack of housing. She is passionate about rural resilience, and through this research hopes to contribute to ensuring that rural places and small towns are given full consideration in the analysis of Canada’s housing challenges.

Kate Mechan

Executive Director, Safe at Home Society

Kate Mechan, current Executive Director of Safe at Home Society in Whitehorse, Yukon, has worked to facilitate a coordinated and cohesive response to addressing homelessness in the territory for the past 14 years. Kate maintains working relationships with key partners, including Kwanlin Dün First Nation, Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, Government of Yukon, the City of Whitehorse, the local NGO community, and individuals with lived expertise. Kate’s community relationships and pursuit of housing and supports for people experiencing or at-risk of homelessness culminated with the adoption of the Safe at Home Community-Based Plan to End and Prevent Homelessness. For a decade, Kate did street outreach on the Outreach Van and for 6 years, Kate worked as an advocate with the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition.

Anthony Boisvert

Manager of Client Supports, Safe at Home Society

Anthony Boisvert is current Manager of Client Supports at Safe at Home's Temporary Housing Project (the hotel site that is the core of this presentation). Anthony is originally from East Canada (Quebec) and moved up to the Yukon in 2016. Anthony worked around mental wellness and withdrawal management before starting to work around housing with Safe at Home. For the past 2 years, Anthony worked for Safe at Home helping people navigating resources in Whitehorse and supporting them finding housing. Outside of work, Anthony is passionate about any outdoor activities the Yukon has to offer.

Maria Angelica Quesada

Director of Research and Evaluation, John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights

Maria Angelica Quesada has a BA in Sociology from Universidad Nacional de Colombia, and a BA double major in Anthropology and Political Science, and a Master in Political Science from the University of Alberta. She has worked with JHC since 2015 designing and implementing research and evaluation. JHC intentionally incorporates research activities in the Centre’s programs and projects to maintain programs responsive to changing community needs and initiatives. Maria Angelica co-leads the development and facilitation of adult education content in anti-oppressive topics and actions, and the implementation of organizational rights-based assessments and recommendations to support organizations in their work toward enacting equity, diversity and inclusion principles and practices. The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights (JHC) works to advance dignity, freedom, justice and security through collaborative relationships and transformative education on peace and human rights.

Holly Parsons

Policy Analyst, Northern Policy Institute

Holly Parsons has a background in policy studies, international relations, human security and peacebuilding. Before joining NPI, Holly gained valuable experience in research, policy analysis, and advocacy while working at grassroots NGOs in Australia and Indonesia. As a Policy Analysis at NPI, Holly has worked on various research projects related to homelessness, addiction and mental health, population growth, northern governance, cost-of-living, and others.

Jessica Klaric

Executive Director, Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley

Jessica Klaric is the Executive Director at the Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley (HSBV). Living in the Bow Valley, Jessica recognized a need for support for community members experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness. Jessica is inspired by HSBV’s values and initiatives, and is proud to be a part of such a dedicated and motivated team. Together, the HSBV team is working toward a shared mission and vision to support and advocate for individuals who are without safe and warm shelter. Outside of HSBV, Jessica sits on the Board of Directors for two other non-profit organizations and in her spare time, Jessica loves to be outdoors in the beautiful Rocky Mountains.

Elle West

Community Evaluator, Town of Canmore

As a community Evaluator with the Town of Canmore, Elle West tracks a collection of municipal key indicators through the Community Monitoring report and organizes assessments when additional information is needed. As a result of this work, the Town of Canmore is able to identify needs early and work with community to address challenges within the community. As a result of this work, Elle has completed a childcare assessment, supported amendments to the Affordable Services Program, supported Canmore's Living Wage calculation, and modified the town’s Safe Park program to support individuals who reside in their car. Elle is also the Vice-Chair of the Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley, which is the only low-barrier, winter emergency shelter in the Bow Valley.

Neil Atkinson

Manager of Advocacy & Community Programs, YWCA Banff

Neil started working with YWCA Banff over four years ago, as Housing & Social Enterprise Manager. YWCA Banff’s social enterprises include a hotel, meeting space rentals, commercial property leases, and fee-for-service initiatives. The housing portfolio consists of 118 affordable housing units, 4 emergency accommodation units, and 2 transitional housing spaces, the costs of which are offset, in part, through revenues generated by the organization’s social enterprises. Recently, Neil has moved into the role of Manager of Advocacy & Community Programs. He is currently focused on programming areas of outreach, prevention & education, advocacy, and continuing to manage the organization’s social enterprises. In addition to his work at YWCA Banff, Neil also works part-time with the Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley as Programs Manager. Outside of work, Neil’s passions include rock climbing and backcountry skiing.

Denise Van Amersfoort

Manager of Planning, County of Huron

Denise Van Amersfoort is the Manager of Planning for the County of Huron's Planning & Development Department. Denise is a passionate advocate for diversified housing options and has recently led several housing initiatives as part of a multi-disciplinary staff team. A lifelong resident of Huron, Denise understands the challenges and unique opportunities in rural contexts and advocates for housing solutions that consider the unique needs of the community. Denise has a Masters in Rural Planning and Development and a member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute.

Robert Cahill

Data and Development Coordinator, St. John's Homestead

Robert Cahill is the founder and former Executive Director of St. John's Homestead Inc. He recently stepped into a new role as Data and Development Coordinator after 5 years at the helm. He has 10 years experience serving complex and vulnerable populations in St. John's, which led to a massive program expansion in 2021 to include all of Newfoundland and Labrador. Robert is passionate about Harm Reduction, Lived\Living Expertise in all organizational levels, and Housing First. Robert is also the co-founder and Vice President of 3 Birds Shelter Inc. which provides dignified, community integrated emergency shelter to those in need in the St. John's area.

Tori Hayley

Tori Hayley, Case Manager, St. John's Homestead

Tori Hayley is case manager for the Homestead NL Rural Program/ She was born in Charlottetown, NL and completed her CYC certification before accepting a student placement at Homestead which led to a full time position.

Taylor Sparklingeyes

Project Manager, Indigenous Data Collection, Rural Development Network

Taylor is an Indigenous-Cree woman from Whitefish Lake First Nation located on Treaty 6. She holds a BA in Psychology from Concordia University of Alberta. She is passionate about decolonizing the current systems to better support Indigenous People. She loves working with youth. When she isn't working she loves spending time with her two boys exploring the world.

Jessica Hutton

CEO, The Open Doors

Jessica Hutton is the Chief Executive Officer for The Open Doors. She has a masters degree in counseling psychology and is a human rights consultant. She has worked in social services senior leadership for almost 15 years, with a focus on rural integrated service delivery models. Jessica lives in Edmonton, Alberta.

Dr John Whitesell

Whitesell & Company, Inc. | Atikokan Native Friendship Centre

John earned a PhD in Organizational Psychology and Economics from Duke University and prior to forming his own consulting company, he held executive positions in marketing, research and senior leadership with Xerox and 3M International. During the past 30 years, John has worked with over 325 organizations around the world in all sectors and he has extensive experience in the areas of violence against women, housing, homelessness, governance, and service delivery reviews. Clients have included: MaRS Discovery District, City of Toronto, Government of Alberta, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Government of Saskatchewan, City of London, City of Toronto, American Express, Yamaha Music, CIBC, Steelcase, Avery Dennison, Acxiom, TELUS, Microsoft, Schindler Elevators, KONE, Sprint PCS and CBC. Whitesell & Company applies its people, leadership, organizational and technological expertise in the service areas of Strategy, Change, and Coaching.

Candy Jones

Associate Professor, Brandon University

Candy Jones, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy at Brandon University. Her research interests include teacher and teacher educator identity formation, feminist/ecofeminist perspectives, rural education, teacher professional growth, rural homelessness/mobility, and mathematics education. Candy was a public school educator for 20 years prior to becoming a faculty member in the Faculty of Education at Brandon University in 2015. A staunch advocate for rural communities and schools, she spends much of her time working toward increased awareness about rural strengths and challenges and ways of improving the lives of those who live and work in rural contexts.

Michelle Lam

Director BU Cares, Brandon University

Michelle Lam, PhD, is the director of Brandon University's Centre for Aboriginal and Rural Education Studies (BU CARES). She is the co-host of the Leaning In and Speaking Out podcast, has developed a board game called Refugee Journeys, and produced a series of educational films on Anti-Racism. An educator and activist for over 20 years, Dr. Lam speaks and writes on innovative ways to create positive change. Dr. Lam is interested in rural immigration and the potential of education and relationship-building for equity.

Brenda Mishak

Associate Professor, University of Victoria

Brenda Mishak PhD is a Métis nurse, researcher, and clinician. She is a registered nurse, nurse practitioner with a PhD in Organization and Management. She has been a nurse educator, health region administrator and nurse leader. Dr. Mishak started her academic career in Saskatchewan and recently accepted an appointment as Associate Professor with the University of Victoria, School of Nursing. She continues to be an active researcher with community partners while cultivating new relationships to further housing security across the spectrum.

Mary Sweatman

Associate Professor, Acadia University

As an Associate Professor for Acadia University’s Community Development Program, Mary Sweatman focuses on community service-learning, leisure, community partnerships and community issues concerning inequity. Mary utilizes her unique positioning at an Academic institution to drive local issues forward and support small-scale rural organizations. In her recent work, she has collaborated on local food systems with experiential education in community, recreation provisions for rural low-income mothers and families and Community Support and Service-Based Counts on rural homelessness. In addition to her research, Mary is the Faculty Coordinator for Axcess Acadia, an Inclusive Post-Secondary Education program option for students with self-identified intellectual or developmental disabilities.​​ In the future, Mary hopes to continue the necessary work on rural homelessness in the Annapolis Valley and across Nova Scotia.

Alisha Christie

Community Co-Researcher, Annapolis Valley Homeless No More

As a graduate of Acadia’s Community Development with Environmental and Sustainability Studies program, Alisha Christie is driven by community issues regarding sustainability, accountability and inequity. Currently, Alisha is the Annapolis Valley Homeless No More Community Co-Research for the Community Support and Service-Based Count on Rural Homelessness with Mary Sweatman. Additionally, Alisha works with rural organizations and municipalities as a graphic facilitator and Environmental Community Programmer. Alisha's passion for community research began as a social entrepreneurship researcher with Acadia’s Rath Labs and while writing her Thesis on community identity, emotion and the transition to green energy from fossil fuels. In the future, Alisha hopes to continue her work with Homeless No More and expose the invisible issue of rural homelessness in Nova Scotia.

Ashley Wilkinson

PhD Student, University of Northern British Columbia

Ashley Wilkinson is a Health Sciences PhD student at the University of Northern British Columbia. She also holds a Master’s degree in Health Sciences with a specialization in Indigenous and Northern Health from Lakehead University. For the past two years Ashley has coordinated research nodes for the At Home in the North and Community Housing Canada CMHC - SSHRC Partnerships. Her research is focused on community health and social issues for marginalized groups across diverse urban, and rural/remote geographies, and she is passionate about health equity, anti-racism, and the health of racialized communities.

Mary McGuire

Project Manager, Rural Development Network

Mary McGuire graduated from MacEwan University’s Social Work program and has spent many years in urban areas doing frontline and community engagement work in the gender-based violence sector. Now a project manager with the Rural Development Network, Mary manages the Shelter Pulse project in partnership with the Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association, an initiative focused on the development of a centralized policy database for Violence Against Women (VAW) shelters in Canada.

Ellen Buck-McFadyen

Assistant Professor, Trent University

Ellen Buck-McFadyen is a Registered Nurse who began her career in community and public health nursing. She now works as an assistant professor and graduate program director in the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing in Peterborough, Ontario. Ellen is engaged in community-based research related to the social determinants of health within a rural context, including issues around homelessness and substance use.

Kabir Shanani

Manager of Capital Funding - Rural Development Network

Kabir works with the RDN as the Manager of Capital Funding primarily for the Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI). Kabir holds a Master of Arts in Global Development Studies from Queen’s University. Kabir has experience conducting research on affordable housing and energy efficient buildings policy frameworks positioned within and outside of Canada. He is passionate about addressing Canada’s rural housing shortage. He supports pre-development work for affordable rural housing projects through financial data analysis to determine the feasibility of meeting the needs and demands of a community. He works to expand access to sustainable housing initiatives for rural populations in Canada. His personal interests include cooking, exercising, and exploring new places.

Justin DeWaard

Regional Manager, Indwell

Justin is the Regional Manager for Indwell's Woodstock and Simcoe programs. He oversees a variety of programs including standard support, enhanced support, and transitional housing models. Justin's role encompasses project development, funding acquisition, community and stakeholder relations, and program leadership. Justin enjoys spending his free time on his family farm and sharing his honey-collecting skills with tenants and the community.

Jessica Mostert-Thiessen

Program Manager, Indwell

Jessica is the Program Manager for Indwell's St.Thomas projects. She works with the Railway City Lofts program, a 15-unit specialized enhanced program that supports individuals coming out of chronic homelessness, and The Station, an upcoming 45-unit enhanced program. Jessica enjoys working with staff and residents on-the-ground to support the program's day-to-day operations and enjoys representing Indwell in various capacities to funders, community partners, and stakeholders. Jessica enjoys living in the small town of Aylmer, Ontario just outside of St.Thomas, and is passionate about Indwell's vision for Hope and Homes for All.

Scott Brush

Launch Manager, Indwell

Scott is the Launch Manager for Indwell’s Chatham-Kent project, with a focus on building the community, corporate and church relationships needed to establish a program. Scott has also served as the Director of Development for a charity in Kitchener, a correctional chaplain in two youth custody programs and a youth pastor in three churches. Over the past 20 years, Scott has seen firsthand the impact that poverty, mental health, and addictions has on individuals, their families, and our communities. This experience has informed his belief that safe & affordable housing, with coordinated supports, is a key building block towards thriving in the community. Personally, Scott grew up in Amherstburg ON when Boblo Island was all the rage before moving to Windsor where he met his amazing wife, Margaret. Together they have four incredible adult children.

Emily Merklinger

Project Co-ordinator, National Coordinated Access - Rural Development Network

Emily is the Coordinator for the National Coordinated Access project within the Health and Wellness Initiative. Born in Alberta and based in Ontario, she holds an MA in Gender Studies (Queen’s University), Bachelor of Arts in English Literature (University of Alberta), and a Certificate in Scottish Criminal Law and Procedure (City of Glasgow College). She’s committed to exploring symptoms of systemic inequities, including homelessness, as public health issues and reducing barriers to accessing social services. In her spare time, Emily enjoys hanging out with her partner and rambunctious cat, reading mystery novels, and visiting family across Canada and Scotland.

Emily Wright

Educator, Advocate, and Speaker

Emily Wright is a powerful educator, advocate and public speaker. She is a regular guest lecturer at Universities, Colleges, elementary and secondary schools across the GTA. With a special ability to speak to people of all ages, Emily tries to make a difference in the world by using her personal voice and story to confront stigma and create awareness on important topics such as homelessness, bullying, mental health, and addiction. Emily Wright has a Master's degree in Teaching from the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education. She currently works as a curriculum consultant, speaker, and teacher for the Toronto Catholic District School Board. To find out more, please read her article in Toronto Life Magazine: https://torontolife.com/city/gone-girl-emily-wright/

Katie Rabbit-Young Pine

Vice Chair and Lead Innovator, Changing Horses NFP Society

Tsikinaakii, Katie Rabbit-Young Pine, a proud member of the Blood Tribe and independent business owner, graduated from the University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Management Degree. Tsikinaakii has held senior positions in Human Resource Management, leading companies to HR achievements on and off the reserve. She remains active in the community, sitting as a Board Member for Tourism Lethbridge, Business Link Alberta and as a Senate Member for the University of Lethbridge. Tsikinaakii is most passionate about her role as the Vice Chair and Lead Innovator for Changing Horses NFP Society, a not for profit society formed by a group of Indigenous professionals to switch up creativity and response time as an alternative to Indian Act governance and bureaucracy. Changing Horses has a singular mission "To assist Indigenous people." As Changing Horses' Lead Innovator, Tsikinaakii is responsible for the construction of a Supportive Housing Complex for people experiencing chronic homelessness in her community. With Housing First principles, ongoing input from those who are homeless, Indigenous architectural design, energy efficiencies, sustainability and several partnerships, Tsikinaaki and Changing Horses are building a Blackfoot village community where everyone and everything is valued and contributing. Tsikinaakii comes from a place of collaboration with persons who are homeless, mindfully integrating respectful and inclusive Blackfoot traditions into process and project. She deeply believes in the practice of listening and gives life to the essential approach of “Nothing about us, without us.” Today, she considers herself an advocate for First Nation members seeking a better way of life with her unwavering focus being closing the gap on challenges faced by First Nations communities.

Margaret Forbes

Regional Advisor & Engagement Lead - Stepped Care Solutions

Margaret is a Regional Advisor and Engagement Lead for Stepped Care Solutions, working to promote and develop Wellness Together Canada across Canada. Margaret is based in Western Canada and has a long-standing passion for community-based mental health support and social justice for those experiencing income insecurity in Canada. She also has leadership and engagement experience in the non-profit sector, particularly within the mental health services, housing, and homelessness sectors. As a Regional Advisor and Engagement Lead for Stepped Care Solutions, Margaret focuses on promoting and developing Wellness Together Canada in Western Canada.

julie mckercher

Regional Advisor & Engagement Lead - Stepped Care Solutions

Jules is a Regional Advisor and Engagement Lead for Stepped Care Solutions, working to promote and develop Wellness Together Canada across Canada. Jules joined Stepped Care Solutions in 2022, and has a background managing engagement in social tech at HelpSeeker, supporting suicide prevention and life promotion programs with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, and leading Community Safety and Well-Being initiatives with the Ottawa Police Service. Jules is a Carleton University graduate with a Master's Degree in Legal Studies, specializing in restorative justice. She works nationally in a remote capacity from Ottawa, and in her free time enjoys spending time at the lake, the cabin, or in a canoe in eastern Ontario or western Quebec.

Lola Strand

Community Services Manager - Town of Drayton Valley

As a Social Worker, Lola Strand knows how difficult it can be to solve social issues in rural communities. She has been employed with the Town of Drayton Valley as a community organizer since 2006 and her role is to identify community issues and to build partnerships between government, businesses, individuals, and the community so they can work together to address them. Despite the limited resources that rural communities have, she has successfully created and managed many projects to address social issues; the most complex one is homelessness. Lola is working with both government and local nonprofits to work in a coordinated and collaborative way which has resulted in new and innovative solutions to respond to the needs of people experiencing homelessness in our community. She managed a Community Mat Program for 4 years and during the last year has facilitated the development and operation of a Shelter Pod program and a Daytime Services Hub.

Joe Roberts

The Skidrow CEO

Joe Roberts, aka The Skidrow CEO, is an expert on resiliency and change. Having experienced both catastrophic failure and extraordinary success Joe teaches how to overcome the roadblocks that get in the way of high performance. He helps companies and individuals redefine what’s truly possible by confronting limiting mindsets. Participants at Joes’ events leave inspired and moved to action. What is most amazing about Joe is that in 1989 he was living on the streets of Vancouver as a homeless skid row addict. Through perseverance, determination and his resilient human spirit, Joe pulled himself out of the darkness and despair, to become a highly respected business and community leader. Joe’s message is relatable, humorous, honest, raw and unforgettable. He tackles the stigma associated with mental health and addiction in a straightforward, authentic way that comes from his personal life experiences. Since 1989, Joe has acquired two college diplomas, became the CEO of one of Vancouver’s leading multimedia companies, walked across Canada and achieved more success than he could ever have imagined. Joe has been recognized by MacLean’s Magazine as one of “10 Canadians who make a difference,” won the BC Courage to Come Back Award, received The Ontario Premier’s Award for Business, was given an Honorary Doctorate from Laurentian University and was recognized by the Senate of Canada with their Canada 150 Medal. Recently Joe was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) from The Governor General of Canada. Joe’s business solutions have made millions of dollars for his clients, across a variety of business sectors. It is from this experience that Joe draws when addressing Fortune 500 companies, professional associations and organizations internationally. Joe is also the Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Push for Change Foundation, a charity advocating for youth homelessness prevention. Joe walked 9041 KM across Canada from May 1, 2016 until September 29, 2017, pushing a shopping cart to raise money and awareness about youth homelessness.

Michele Tung

homeD Modular Buildings Technology Corp

Michele Tung is CEO of homeD, a company producing modular housing with social purpose. Through disruption in building design, materials and construction efficiency, homeD BoxPods can be assembled near to any site, providing training and employment opportunities. Michele holds a B.A. in Economics and an M.B.A from SFU, Vancouver BC. She serves on the Board of Directors for the First Nations Housing and Infrastructure Council (FNHIC).

Leah Cogan

Knowledge Transfer Specialist - Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Leah Cogan is a Knowledge Transfer Specialist with the Innovation & Partnerships division at CMHC. A facilitator and artist by training, Leah brings a passion for creative community engagement. Having worked in non-profit housing and advocacy, she also has an appreciation for the regional barriers to building affordable housing, and what becomes possible when there is strong collaboration and coordination.

Lisa Ogbole

Executive Director - Imani's Place

Lisa is an Executive Director and former IT professional who has become a role model, mentor, coach, and humanitarian with a passion for improving the lives of women and their families. Her unwavering commitment to helping victims of domestic violence is grounded in her own personal experience as a survivor of domestic violence. Despite losing much of herself after eight years in an abusive relationship, Lisa never lost her determination to help others. In 2019, her dream to support women experiencing gender-based violence became a reality when she founded Imani Foundation and established Imani's Place as a safe haven for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Through in-house and outreach programming, Imani's Place now serves over 200 women annually. Lisa's efforts have garnered media attention from City TV, CBC, Alliston Herald newspaper, Global News, and other platforms. Recently, she was recognized as one of the 100 Black Women to Watch in 2022.

Leigh Bursey

Independent Researcher - Mount Pearl Streetfriends

Leigh Zachary Bursey is an activist, journalist and researcher residing in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland. A former three-term municipal politician, International Bestselling Author, and reporter on homelessness, Leigh is a second-year university student at Memorial University, a clothing designer, a former homeless youth, a shelter worker and provincial Housing Officer, and a member of the Scholars With Lived Experience Advisory Committee at Making The Shift. Leigh is also an original singer/songwriter and recording artist, front-man, and founder of the Mount Pearl Streetfriends and co-founder of the Brockville Streetfriends in his former city of Brockville, Ontario. He has been recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 in his former city and internationally. Leigh is a current member of the board of directors for the Canadian Housing Renewal Association.

Graeme Hussey

Cahdco

Graeme Hussey is the President of Cahdco and Director of Housing Development for CCOC. Cahdco is an Ottawa-based non-profit real estate developer that is focused on increasing Canada’s affordable housing through consulting, knowledge sharing, and network-building. CCOC is a non-profit landlord that owns and operates 1,700 affordable homes in downtown Ottawa. In these roles Graeme is responsible for the management of Cahdco and leadership of CCOC affordable housing projects and during the past 10 years has assisted in the development of more than 1,000 affordable homes.

Kezia Cowtan

Housing Project Manager - Rural Ontario Institute

The Rural Housing Information System Project Manager with the Rural Ontario Institute. In 2022, we worked with 103 Eastern municipals to create a rural housing data site with funding from the CMHC Housing Challenge. In 2023, we are in the process of onboarding the 120 rural Western Ontario municipalities to the system. Join me for my session to learn more.

Mitchell Rhodes

United Way Perth-Huron

Mitchell joined the Community Renewal Company (CRC) - an initiative of the United Way Perth-Huron in January 2022. He leads its mission to develop, create, construct and manage affordable housing in Perth and Huron Counties. From 2015 to 2022, Mitchell worked for the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia (AHANS) as the Director of Coordinated Access for Halifax and as a program officer for federally funded homelessness programs.

Ed Peterson

Founder/CEO - Tiny Town Association

A serial entrepreneur that became interested in building affordable tiny home communities in 2017, after considering what options were available for 1 & 2 person households. I decided to create a new housing option that focused on community and affordability.

Jason St Pierre

CEO - Eastern Ontario Regional Network

Jason St.Pierre is a leader with 25 years of experience in the telecommunications field delivering complex and high-value projects, while working to improve connectivity throughout Ontario. Throughout his career, Jason has been involved in project management and procurement of a variety of large-scale, high-profile ventures, and in his current role as CEO of the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) he oversees the delivery of a $300 million project to close the gaps in cell service in eastern Ontario. Jason is presently assisting the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus (EOWC) in the development of a business case for a project aiming to greatly reduce municipal waiting lists for affordable housing.

Sean Lee-Popham

RN and Harm Reduction Lead - Bancroft Community Family Health Team

Sean Lee-Popham is a Registered Nurse and the Harm Reduction Lead at the Bancroft Community Family Health Team. Sean (he/him) has been working in harm reduction for 20 years, having started as a peer then staff with TRIP (Toronto Raver Info Project) out of Queen West CHC. He has been working in the Bancroft area since 2007. He’s deeply tired of losing people needlessly to neglect and longs for the day that opiate use is treated like any other substance.

Catherine Leviten-Reid

Associate Professor - Cape Breton University

Catherine Leviten-Reid is an associate professor at Cape Breton University and teaches in the MBA in Community Economic Development program. She is also a research associate with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives – Nova Scotia office. Catherine does research on affordable housing, homelessness, the social economy and community development, primarily in partnership with community-based organizations. She is currently leading a six-year, pan-Canadian, SSHRC-CMHC partnership grant on affordable housing for those in greatest need. She is also lead of a new, CFI-funded Community University Housing Research Lab, located in a community development corporation in downtown Sydney, NS.

Cheryl Krostewitz

Director of Programs - Manitoba Non-Profit Housing Association

Cheryl has an extensive background working in the non-profit community, with a focus on non-profit housing. Her experience as a facilitator is rooted in working as a cooperative development advisor as well as working with boards to help build capacity and understand their roles and obligations as a Director. Her current position as Director of Programs at Manitoba Non-Profit Housing Association has been responsible for implementing Manitoba's first Rent Relief Fund and Housing Supports Initiative as well as overseeing the Transformation Strategy focused on ensuring public housing stays within the non-profit housing community. Cheryl is a passionate advocate for housing as a right for everybody.

Sandie Price

Knowledge Transfer Specialist - CMHC

Sandie Price feels lucky to be able to combine her values, knowledge and enthusiasm with creativity and purposeful action in her role as Knowledge Transfer Specialist with the Innovation & Partnerships team at Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Through meaningful engagement and collaboration, she seeks to inspire and foster opportunities for affordable housing so that all people living in Canada can have a home that meets their needs.

Cindy Woodhouse

Regional Chief and Housing Portfolio- Assembly of First Nations

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Tiffany McDougall

Cape Breton University

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Paulina Ascencio

Capacity Development Officer - Green Municipal Fund, Federation of Canadian Municipalities

Paulina is the Project Officer for Capacity Development at GMF’s Sustainable Affordable Housing. In her role, she designs and delivers learning activities and resources to support the affordable housing sector improve the energy efficiency of new and existing projects. She has over 7 years of experience in a variety roles in the non-profit and academic sector.

Jessica Golden

Outreach Officer - Green Municipal Fund, Federation of Canadian Municipalities

Jessica has over a decade of experience in social services in Ottawa, ON, working in multiple shelters and a maximum security detention centre, providing therapeutic support to adult community members experiencing addiction, mental illness and homelessness. Jessica brings her passion for inclusion and social betterment along with a valuable perspective on social needs and impacts to her role as an Outreach Officer with the Green Municipal Fund's Sustainable Affordable Housing program. In this role, she assists communities and housing providers from across the country to develop energy efficient affordable housing.

Jeremy Tessier

Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Jeremy Tessier is a representative of CMHC’s Outreach team. He is focused on engagement with the housing industry to deliver knowledge of the latest and most relevant housing information from CMHC. He also works with developers and community groups to advance affordable housing projects in the Ontario and Atlantic regions. Jeremy holds an MSc in geography with a specialization in urban studies and is a MSc candidate in Planning at the University of Toronto.

Linda Bernicki

Director of Community Development and Indigenous Engagement - Rural Development Network

Linda has been leading community change and developing coordinated community responses in the areas of homelessness, the housing spectrum, poverty reduction, domestic violence, and Indigenous engagement and reconciliation for over 23 years. Her education in Child, Youth and Family Counselling, Community Development, Economics of Social Change, Anti-Racism, Conflict Resolution and Incident Command System (ICS 300) has allowed her to work front line with the highest risk population to supervising and training staff in case management, trauma-informed care and harm reduction. This has supported her ability to identify approaches and design community engagement for difficult conversations. Linda has found these conversations essential to building a solid foundation for improving quality of life and overall wellness for the most vulnerable. Linda is the lead author and researcher for the RDN Emergency Mat Program Guide. Linda has been honoured to learn from many Elders and Knowledge Keepers along with the opportunity to participate in the Indigenous Canada Certificate. These leanings have inspired her commitment and ability to lead stakeholder engagement through the understanding and importance of Reconciliation. Linda utilizes system integration that is based on the TRC recommendations, the rights-based approach, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In her free time, Linda enjoys kayaking, cooking, and spending time with family.

Sydney Stenekes

Director of Homelessness Initiatives - Rural Development Network

Sydney joined RDN's Homelessness Initiatives in 2020. Her job involves managing and administering funding for the Reaching Home program’s rural & remote stream in Alberta. Sydney enjoys engaging with various projects and communities to learn about and respond to homelessness and has a passion for improving community well-being. Sydney grew up in Hamilton, Ontario and earned her Bachelor of Social Science with a specialization in International Economics and Development from the University of Ottawa. Sydney then completed her MSc. at the University of Alberta, where she engaged in a collaborative research project with Kátł’odeeche First Nation. The project highlights the importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in understanding environmental change. Sydney draws on her previous experience with the federal government and community-based research to help advocate and build strong relationships with rural, remote and Indigenous communities in Alberta. In Sydney’s free time, she enjoys studying Spanish and tutoring high school students. You can also find her in the mountains hiking, cheering on the Blue Jays or Oilers and playing sports such as volleyball and softball.

Trisha Hampton

Rural Revitalization Coordinator - Rural Development Network

As Rural Revitalization Coordinator, Trisha supports RDN’s cross-initiative work in communities across Canada ensuring a holistic approach to rural revitalization that addresses all aspects of rural living. Her strengths are in creating collaborative partnerships and strategic connections. Trisha is passionate about rural sustainability as she knows first-hand the challenges of rural life being raised on a farm in Alberta’s Special Areas. Trisha earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Marketing and held various marketing positions in the fast food, advertising, and construction industries. She returned to her rural roots in the Special Areas and held positions in tourism promotion, marketing, economic development, and health care philanthropy before working with RDN. Trisha volunteers her time with Junior Achievement to teach financial literacy, workplace readiness, and entrepreneurship to rural students as early as elementary. In her spare time, Trisha loves to paint, bake, and share a good conversation with a friend or stranger.