2026 Housing Symposium (In Person or Virtual)

Help shape the future of housing in the Maritimes! Discover solutions, spark collaboration, & drive meaningful change across communities. THEME - Housing and the Future We Build: Ending Homelessness, Expanding Housing, and Investing in Opportunity OPENING KEYNOTE - Housing First in Action: Finland's Journey to Reducing Homelessness Speaker - Juha Kahila, Head of International Affairs; Y-Foundation, Finland Joining us LIVE from Finland-- Juha explains how Finland’s internationally recognized Housing First model and sustained public investment in community housing have successfully reduced homelessness and improved overall housing affordability. BREAKOUT SESSION SPEAKERS Improving Outcomes and Reducing Costs By Integrating Health Services & Supportive Housing: Lessons from Toronto's Dunn (Presentation - facilitated by Dr. Robert Strang, Chief Medical Officer of Health in Nova Scotia) Speaker - Luke Smith-Adams, Manager, Regional Homelessness & Housing Initiatives at United Way Greater Toronto. Hear real-world evidence of how integrating health services within a supportive housing model can reduce ER visits, shorten hospital stays, and improve housing stability, while lowering overall costs to the public. Luke Smith-Adams will describe the process of bringing hospitals, community service providers, funders, and government partners together around a common goal; establishing roles, governance, funding, and accountability; and translating evidence into coordinated clinical and community-based outreach, supportive housing, and ongoing supports for residents. Understanding the Realities of Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence; Improving the Response (Presentation - facilitated by Miia Suokaunautio; CEO YWCA Halifax) Speaker - Danya O’Malley, Executive Director, P.E.I. Family Violence Prevention Services. Danya will talk about the current realities and data surrounding domestic and intimate partner violence and learn best-practice approaches for housing providers working to support survivors. A conversation on Support, Dignity, and Belonging (Panel Discussion - moderated by Ashton Stephenson; Acting Director of Housing and Homelessness with Halifax Regional Municipality) Hear directly from individuals with lived experience as they share what supported housing truly needs to serve those who need it most and deliver on the model's promise as an effective response to homelessness. From Burnout to Balance: Practical Strategies for Sustainable Workplaces (Workshop); Facilitators - Holly Murphy, RN and Coleen Flynn, MSW, RSW, RMFT with IWK Health Trauma Informed Care Team. Join the IWK’s Trauma-Informed Care Team to explore the impacts of systemic workplace stress and learn practical tools for recognizing its effects, supporting yourself and others, and cultivating resilience, connection, and sustainability in your work and workplace. Getting to Yes: Inside the New Brunswick–Build Canada Homes Partnership, and What Comes Next (Hosted by Peter Corbyn, Executive Director, New Brunswick Non-Profit Housing Association, Panel: Nadine Fullarton, CEO Housing Hub of New Brunswick and Kit Hickey, Executive Director of Housing Alternatives Inc. & Rehabitat Inc. ) Panel with Peter Corbyn (NBNPHA), Nadine Fullarton (Housing Hub of New Brunswick), and Kit Hickey (Housing Alternatives Inc.) On March 20, 2026, Canada and New Brunswick announced a partnership to deliver up to 1,200 shovel-ready affordable homes over two years, backed by up to $150 million from Build Canada Homes and up to $150 million in provincial capital and operating funding. At least half the homes will serve lower-income households, a minimum of 160 will be supportive or transitional, and roughly 35 per cent are slated for smaller and rural communities. An agreement of this size takes tenacious advocacy to assemble, and it takes a capable sector to deliver. The first half of this panel follows the partnership through each stage of its life. Peter Corbyn goes behind the announcement: how the sector prepared for the agreement, and what had to be true on both sides of the table. Nadine Fullarton speaks to execution, and what it takes to move from signed agreement to new homes: shovel-ready pipelines, development capacity, financing, and the construction realities that decide whether targets get met. Kit Hickey brings four decades of perspective on what happens after the ribbon cutting. Non-market homes are permanent community assets, and their long-term stewardship, governance, and affordability are where the real return on this investment shows up. The second half looks forward. Together, the panelists will set out what they want from Phase 2 of the Build Canada Homes - Government of New Brunswick: greater scale, building more market and non-market homes, and coordinated funding for homes and infrastructure, paired with modern methods of construction to speed up delivery and lower costs. New Brunswickers have always worked together to build healthy and happy communities, and these Maritime leaders embody this commitment. Demystifying Philanthropy in the Housing Sector Speakers: Kathryn Babcock, Founder and CEO, capitalW, and Kathryn Levandier, Director of Philanthropy, United Way Maritimes Modern Methods of Construction Speaker: Mike Kennedy - Director, OPen Housing Canada The excitement is just beginning! Stay tuned as we unveil more dynamic sessions, thought-provoking discussions, and an incredible lineup of featured speakers! 2026 Housing Symposium Theme: Housing and the Future We Build: Ending Homelessness, Expanding Housing, and Creating Opportunity Housing is more than a roof over our heads. It's the foundation for health, well-being, economic participation, and thriving communities. Join housing professionals, community leaders, policymakers, service providers, researchers, advocates, and changemakers from across the Maritimes for a day of learning, collaboration, and action. Together, we'll explore innovative approaches to ending homelessness, expanding access to housing, and creating opportunities for individuals, families, and communities to thrive. Through engaging speakers, thought-provoking discussions, and practical insights, the 2026 Housing Symposium will bring together diverse perspectives and bold ideas to help shape a more equitable and sustainable housing future. Whether you work in housing, community development, government, the nonprofit sector, or simply care about the future of our communities, this symposium offers an opportunity to connect, learn, and be part of the solutions that will define the future we build. Join the conversation. Be part of the change. Help shape the future of housing. QUICK REMINDER 🌟 Join us for an inspiring, can’t-miss full-day experience! Start your day with REGISTRATION at 7:30 AM, then jump into a dynamic LINE UP SESSIONS from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Get ready for thought-provoking conversations, bold ideas, and expert perspectives addressing today’s most pressing housing challenges. 🎤 Plus, don’t miss our keynote speakers! We’re bringing in influential voices and industry leaders who will share powerful insights, spark new thinking, and set the tone for meaningful change throughout the day. ✨ And the energy doesn’t stop there! Keep the momentum going at our NETWORKING AND SOCIAL from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM—the perfect opportunity to connect, collaborate, and unwind with fellow attendees in a relaxed, engaging setting. We can’t wait to see you there—it’s a full day of inspiration, connection, and impact you won’t want to miss! 🙌 Mark your calendar—this is where ideas meet action! ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION Accessibility | Halifax Convention Centre United Way Maritimes is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible experience for all participants.