Sunday, November 19 to Tuesday, November 21, 2017 - Richmond BC
Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel, Richmond, BC
Welcome to Housing Central, western Canada’s largest affordable housing conference. Housing Central is the new permanent home for BC Non-Profit Housing Association’s annual gathering, as well as the annual meeting of the Co-op Housing Federation of BC.
It’s this unique hub of cross-sector partnerships that has made Housing Central the affordable housing world’s must-attend annual forum. This year we expect more than 1,200 delegates from the non-profit and co-op housing sectors, other non-profits, government and private sector for education sessions and activities designed to support a vision of a safe, affordable home for everyone. It’s also your opportunity to connect with key decision-makers in housing.
About the Conference
- 1,200+ delegates from across BC and Canada
- 100 education sessions over three streams (leadership, operations, asset management) with engaging dialogue and hands on-learning
- Thought-provoking keynotes
- Dozens of dedicated and casual networking opportunities
- Art Expo highlighting lived experiences relating to affordable housing NEW!
Registration for Housing Central opens late August 2017.
2017 Conference Keynote Speakers
Shane Koyczan (November 19)
Internationally renowned spoken-word artist Shane Koyczan will deliver a unique presentation touching on many of the issues facing our sector. Koyczan’s daring poetry has been delivered across a range of mediums — his 2013 anti-bullying video To This Day has had more than 20 million views — so expect this creative dynamo to draw on voice and, of course, spoken-word poetry to deliver his personal insights and experience in this emotional and thought-provoking address.
Johann Hari (November 20)
New York Times bestselling author Johann Hari will bring observations from his book on the war on drugs, called Chasing the Scream, to examine the relationships between housing and addiction. Chasing the Scream is the result of a four-year investigation into the global drug war that reveals some startling truths: Our ideas about drugs, addiction and the war on drugs are all wrong. Hari will also give us a sneak peek into his next book on the roots of anxiety and depression.
Emmy Tiderington (November 20)
An assistant professor in the School of Social Work at the State University of New Jersey, Dr. Emmy Tiderington, whose research includes housing and supportive services for homeless populations with complex needs, will share unique observations based on her extensive research into supportive housing and homeless services in New York City. Tiderington will also discuss compelling stories from New York City’s Moving On initiative, and how it has affected the lives of formerly homeless individuals. Hear about New York’s efforts to address housing affordability have resulted in some unanticipated consequences, as well as some familiar challenges.
Al Etmanski (November 21)
Author, community organizer and social entrepreneur Al Etmanski has been thinking about what social change wants, why what we are doing is not working as well as we would like, and what we can do about it. He believes housing providers can be a catalyst for lasting change. Etmanski is the co-founder of Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network, which developed the world’s first savings plan for people with disabilities (the Registered Disability Savings Plan), and is co-founder of Social innovation Generation (SiG) and BC Partners for Social Impact. His latest book, Impact: Six Patterns to Spread your Social Innovation, is a Canadian bestseller.
Waneek Horn-Miller(November 20)
WANEEK HORN-MILLER has overcome discrimination, self-doubt, and an infamous incident of violence to become a world-class athlete and advocate. With purpose and poise, she traverses the intersection of two generations of Native people, working to mend the relationship between Native and non-Native communities through social and political change. Horn-Miller’s accomplishments include serving as co-captain of Canada’s Olympic women’s water polo team in 2000 and Team Canada’s Assistant Chef de Mission at the 2015 Pan Am Games, as well as former Director of Community Relations with the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Hear Horn-Miller’s incredible story, and how home as a safe space can help make dreams come true.