Housing Town Hall: Reaching Waterloo Region's Housing Targets

Housing is a top-of-mind issue for many people in Waterloo Region and across Ontario. A shortage of housing supply, particularly affordable housing, is keeping prices high and housing inaccessible for many. Join our panelists, who bring a range of perspectives, as they unpack the policy imperatives at play as our region stands at a critical juncture in transforming its housing supply. They will be discussing the challenges and shining a spotlight on local solutions.

Our panelists include:

• Dr. Adil Shamji, MPP for Don Valley East – MPP Shamji is the Ontario Liberal Housing Critic and in that capacity has proposed ambitious legislation (Bill 175, Building Universal and Inclusive Land Development in Ontario Act, 2024) to build toward housing affordability.
• Sean Campbell, Executive Director of Union Co-operative - Sean works as the Executive Director of Union Co-operative, which purchases properties in Waterloo Region to keep rents permanently affordable through community ownership.
• Jeff Henry, Urban Planner at Arcadis - Jeff has built and shaped communities for over 18 years, including as a City of Waterloo Councillor for 12 years and more recently as a practicing urban planner at Arcadis. While on Council, Jeff championed policies to grow up rather than out, particularly near LRT stations and post-secondary institutions. Currently, he helps public and private landowners navigate approval processes to build housing intensification projects.
• Cherise Burda, Member of National Task Force for Housing & Climate and National Affordability Action Panel - Cherise's work in policy research, strategic communications, and creative engagement has influenced policy change in Ontario and British Columbia on housing, transportation, forestry, and energy. An author and contributor to more than 40 publications and dozens of articles, her several leadership roles have included most recently Executive Director of the City Building Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University. Currently, she is an active member of the national Affordability Action Council and the national Task Force for Housing and Climate.
• Kevin Eby, Registered Professional Planner, Former Director of Community Planning at Region of Waterloo - A Registered Professional Planner, Kevin served as the Director of Community Planning at the Region of Waterloo from 1999 to 2015, during which time he was involved in overseeing the implementation of the Region's Growth Management Strategy and the province’s Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe within the Region. He was also a member of Ontario's Greenbelt Council from 2018 to 2020. He currently provides growth management consulting services through Eby Growth Management Planning Services.
  

The town hall will be moderated by Craig Ruttan. Originally from Waterloo Region, Craig previously served as the Policy Director for Housing and Energy at the Toronto Region Board of Trade, where he wrote influential reports on legalizing multiplexes and building housing for middle-income workers. He currently works as Chief of Staff to a Toronto city councillor.

The panel discussion will be followed by a Q&A.

The town hall will be held on Thursday, June 20 at First United Church (Hilliard Hall), 16 William St W in Waterloo, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM (doors open for registration at 6:45 PM).

If you plan to attend, please click the Register button to RSVP.

If you have any questions, please contact us at WaterlooOLP@gmail.com.