Hosted by Inclusion Canada & People First of Canada in collaboration with the Office for Disability Issues.

Virtual Event via Zoom Webinar

Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 12pm-3:30pm Eastern
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 12pm-3:45pm Eastern

This year’s policy forum will focus on accessible and affordable housing. On Day 1, we will look at the current state of housing in Canada for people with an intellectual disability. We’ll discuss the barriers that prevent the creation of true inclusive housing. On Day 2, we’ll look at innovative housing solutions that promote real inclusion and talk about the steps we need to take individually and collectively to make this a reality.

Format: The forum will include a series of panels and interactive Question & Answer periods. Panels include perspectives of lived experience from people with an intellectual disability and families, as well as research and policy expertise from both government and community. A recording of the event will be provided to everyone who registers.

Register Today!
Accessibility Summary
Event Materials
  • We all have a part to play in creating inclusive, accessible, and affordable housing in Canada. This information sheet has ideas of things you can do after attending this year’s policy forum.
  • Meet our speakers

Agenda

Day 1: November 13, 2024
  • 11:50am Zoom Webinar Line Opens
  • 12:00pm Housekeeping – Technology & Virtual Accommodations
  • 12:10pm Land Acknowledgement & Opening Remarks
    • Donna Brown (she/her), President, People First of Canada
    • Moira Wilson (she/her), President, Inclusion Canada
  • 12:20pm Minister’s Remarks
  • 12:35pm Session 1:  Laying the Foundation: A look at current strategies, laws and policies
    // Moderator: Tara Levandier (she/her), Executive Director, Operations & Social Impact, Inclusion Canada
    • Gordon Fletcher (he/him), Co-Chair, National Deinstitutionalization Task Force
    • Robert Lattanzio (he/him), Executive Director, ARCH Disability Law Centre
    • Melanie Benard (she/her), Senior Policy Advisor, Canadian Human Rights Commission
    • Rupa Bhawal-Montmorency, Director General, Accessible Canada Directorate
    • Dean Findley (he/him), Chief Building Official and Director Building Services, City of Peterborough and Alliance of Canadian Building Officials Associations Technical Project Lead
    • Matt Farrell (he/him), Executive Director, Alliance of Canadian Building Officials Associations
  • 1:40pm Break
  • 2:00pm Session 2: Cracks in the Foundation: Gaps, Barriers, and Red Tape
    // Moderator: Tara Levandier (she/her), Executive Director, Operations & Social Impact, Inclusion Canada
    • Jonathan Bouchard (he/him), Francophone Member outside of Quebec, People First of Canada Board of Directors
    • Ashton Kennedy (he/him), Student, Ambrose University, Inclusion Alberta Director at Large
    • Karla Verschoor (she/her), Executive Director, Inclusion BC
    • Noah Zon (he/him), Co-founder and Principal, Springboard
    • Doug Tennant (he/him), Chief Executive Office, UNITI Chorus
  • 3:25pm Day 1 Wrap-Up 
    • Shelley Fletcher (she/her), Executive Director, People First of Canada
    • Krista Carr (she/her), Executive Vice-President, Inclusion Canada
Day 2: November 14, 2024
  • 11:50am Zoom Webinar Line Opens
  • 12:00pm Housekeeping – Technology & Virtual Accommodations
  • 12:10pm Land Acknowledgement & Opening Remarks
    • Takara Lockyer (she/her), 1st Vice-President, People First of Canada
    • Jill Teeple (she/her), Vice-President, Inclusion Canada
  • 12:20pm Minister’s Remarks
  • 12:35pm Day 1 Recap
    • Donna Brown (she/her), President, People First of Canada
  • 12:40pm Session 3:  Sealing the cracks: Policy solutions for inclusive housing
    // Moderator: Emily Branje (she/her), Managing Director, Facile Perth
    • Patty O’Donnell (she/her), President, People First of New Brunswick
    • Danny Soucy (he/him), Program Advisor, Inclusion NB
    • Patti Chiappetta (she/her), Executive Director, Innovative LIFE Options Inc.
  • 1:55pm Break
  • 2:15pm Session 4:  The House that Inclusion Built: The Path Forward
    // Moderator: Emily Branje (she/her), Managing Director, Facile Perth
    • John Cox (he/him), People First of Canada member
    • Madison Arsenault (she/her), Project Coordinator, Inclusive Communities Institute
    • Jody Wheaton (he/him), Director of Development and Donor Relations, Inclusion NB
    • Katie Bayley (she/her), Building Official & Training Project Lead, Alliance of Canadian Building Officials Associations
    • Matt Farrell (he/him), Executive Director, Alliance of Canadian Building Officials Associations
    • Donna Brown (she/her), President, People First of Canada
    • Moira Wilson (she/her), President, Inclusion Canada
    • Rebeccah Bornemann (she/her), Horizontal Housing Policy Manager, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
  • 3:30pm Summary and Closing
    • Lorraine Pelot (she/her), Director General, Office for Disability Issues, Employment and Social Development Canada
    • Shelley Fletcher (she/her), Executive Director, People First of Canada
    • Krista Carr (she/her), Executive Vice-President, Inclusion Canada

Additional Information: All times are in Eastern Time. Participants are welcome to join for all panels or some panels and can use the registration link they receive to come and go from the forum at their convenience.

The forum will be held in English with French simultaneous interpretation provided. English and French virtual CART services, ASL and LSQ will be available. To help us provide an accessible event, please indicate your accommodation needs when you register.

For questions about this event, please contact: forum@inclusioncanada.ca