Opening Doors Conference

By National Housing Day

Time is running out to claim your spot at Calgary's premier affordable housing conference in recognition of National Housing Day.

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019 - 8 am-4 pm

BEST WESTERN PREMIER CALGARY PLAZA HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTRE

The Opening Doors Conference is the one event in Calgary that brings together all professions in the affordable housing sector as well as related stakeholders from across Alberta and beyond to discuss new and emerging trends and topics to further not only the success of individual organizations but the sector as a whole.

Value-packed line-up of speakers:

• Morning Keynote, Zain Velji, The Future of Advocacy and Influence

  Stay current with advocacy and influence trends from one of the best in the field of motivating action and building support. Zain shares insights from his breadth of experience on high-profile political campaigns including President Obama's, US Senator Warren's and our own Mayor Naheed Nenshi's. Zain is a frequent political commentator on CBC radio and television.

• Luncheon Keynote Shayne Ramsay, Delivering social, financial, and environmental sustainability through affordable housing

  Respected changemaker, housing influencer, and CEO of BC Housing, Shayne Ramsey, will be sharing with us innovative advances being made in BC on the affordable housing front and how his organization is looking towards the future and sustainability of our sector.

• Government Plenary

  Your chance to listen to and ask questions of representatives of government from all levels. Join us as we discuss how respective affordable housing strategies are working together to advance affordable housing for all.

Our program this year features eight Breakout Sessions appropriate for everyone from leaders to front-line staff. Topics include:

Program

Breakout Sessions 1

Future of Social Housing:

Innovation in a time of change 

• Tim Welch (Evergreen Consulting)

• Barron Meyerhoffer (Ottawa Community Housing)

• Greg Dewling (Capital Region Housing)

Social Innovation:

What about it and what does it offer the Affordable Housing sector?  

• James Stauch (Mount Royal University Institute for Community Prosperity)

Resident Outcomes Research:

What does the research tell us?

• Dr. Katrina Milaney (University of Calgary)

• Dr. Nick Falvo (Falvo Consulting)

Breakout Sessions 2

Indigenous housing:

Respecting tradition, rebuilding community & reframing research approaches

• Charla Huber (M’Akola Housing)

• Dr. Gabrielle Lindstrom (Mount Royal University & Indigenous Researcher)

Eviction Prevention:

Case Studies from housing providers

• Esther de Vos (Capital Region Housing)

• Joshua Evans (Community Housing Canada Research Partnership)

Government Relations:

How relationships with government make a difference 

• Marika Albert (BCNPHA)

• Tim Richter (Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness)

• Elsbeth Mehrer (Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary)

Government Plenary Session

Sarah Woodgate (City of Calgary)

Shawn Ewasiuk (Executive Director | Housing Policy, Planning and Analytics at Government of Alberta)

Brett Dietrich (CMHC)