Mayor Dan Ruimy and his first-year Maple Ridge council are wading into the issue of the housing crisis, starting with a Housing Affordability Summit on Tuesday, May 30.
The City of Maple Ridge has now released a full speakers list and program for the recently-announced event. The city will hear from government and community leaders, the development industry and non-for-profit organizations at the summit at the Albion Community Centre.
“Our city council believes the lack of affordable housing in Maple Ridge and elsewhere can best be addressed by bringing together key people who are closest to the issue and seek their help to inform the city’s future plans,” said Ruimy. “We’ll be gathering important intel from our panellists on how best to tackle housing affordability and the supply shortage for our residents.”
Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s Minister of Housing, will open the summit as the keynote speaker. He will also participate in the first panel session on “Government Supports, Programs, Financing and Jurisdictional Best Practices.”
The event will feature two panel presentations in the morning, and in smaller afternoon breakout sessions, designed to build connections and identify solutions.
Kahlon will be joined in the first panel discussion by Ruimy and:
• Mike Hurley, Mayor of Burnaby
• Jill Atkey, CEO of the BC Non-Profit Housing Association (BCNPHA)
• Ron Rapp, CEO of the Homebuilders Association Vancouver (HAVAN)
• Rick Ilich, Board Vice Chair of the Urban Development Institute (UDI) and CEO of Townline Homes.
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The second panel will discuss effective partnership models for not-for-profit and private sector developments.
This session will feature:
• Jonathan Cote, deputy GM of regional planning and housing development for Metro Vancouver,
• Thom Armstrong of the Cooperative Housing Federation of BC,
• Margaret Pfoh, CEO of the Aboriginal Housing Management Association
• Chad Margolus, of Morningstar/Polygon Homes
• Shawn Bouchard, COP of Lorval Developments.
Following the morning panels, summit participants and attendees will be invited to join afternoon breakout sessions. The ideas discussed will be gathered and collated to help inform the city’s new directions and policy development regarding housing affordability.
The Housing Affordability Summit is the second of three leadership summits planned by the council in 2023. The Maple Ridge Climate Action Summit was held in April, and an economic development summit will be held in the fall.
For more information or registration details visit the city website at www.mapleridge.ca/summit.
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