Keynote Speaker

Action for Housing in Nova Scotia: Lessons for Manitoba to Grow and Sustain Community Housing

Dr. Ren Thomas, Associate Professor, School of Planning, Dalhousie University
Principal, Ren Thomas Research & Planning

Nova Scotia is experiencing unprecedented housing challenges, with strong population growth, demand for employment, and the price of housing escalating rapidly. More and more Nova Scotians are struggling to afford a home. In this context, the Province launched an Affordable Housing Commission, co-chaired by Dr. Ren Thomas. The Commission engaged over 2,000 Nova Scotians, and developed recommendations to the government and partners that will change the affordable housing sector with a major focus on non-profit housing empowerment and growth.

Dr. Thomas will speak about the research, engagement and recommendations that have led to Nova Scotia’s housing action strategy. She and Stephan Richard, who was Director of housing solutions and development or the Government of Nova Scotia at the time, now Director of Development with the Community Housing Transformation Centre, will speak about the solutions currently being implemented. The session will include discussion with attendees about how some of the solutions can be applied to a Manitoba context, and how we can work to achieve them here.