Research and Innovation Symposium 2024 Agenda

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AGENDA  |   Conference speakers  |   Innovations in Housing and Public Infrastructure  |   Announcements

Thursday, June 20, 2024

9:00 to 9:15 am - Welcoming remarks

• Emcees open Housing and Public Infrastructure Innovation Symposium 2024

Emcees/Event hosts

• Opening remarks

9:15 to 9:55 am – Keynote Address

Title TBD

• Craig Mitchell, President, Hathaway Global Strategies LLC

10:15 to 11:15 am - Build Better Panel 1

Next generation materials: what’s next for construction?

This session features leading experts on innovation in building methods or materials to develop more affordable, sustainable, and durable housing and infrastructure. From mass timber and sustainable concrete to 3D printing, offsite and modular construction: what’s next for these options in Canada?

• Moderator
• [TBD]
• Panelists
• Joe Hicken, Vice President, Business Development and Policy, Sublime Systems
• Natalie Telewiak, Principal, Michael Green Architecture
• Wilma Ionescu, Senior Manager, Technical Research and Education, BC Housing

11:15 am to 12:00 pm - Lunch Break

On-site hospitality offers a cold lunch and beverages.

12:00 to 12:45 pm – Research Showcase

Visit the (RKI Projects) kiosks in the exposition/science fair

12:45 to 1:45 pm - Build Better Panel 2

Engaging community and building better

This session brings together experts to discuss how best to implement innovative new construction technologies and community feedback into housing and community planning. How can we improve the productivity of the construction sector, and meet community housing and infrastructure needs in the next decade?

• Moderator
• [TBD]
• Panelists
• Pitquhirnikkut Ilihautiniq/Kitikmeot Heritage Society, an Inuit-led charitable organization that focuses on the priorities of Inuinnait, language preservation and knowledge renewal/transfer and a phase-one RKI recipient located in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut
• Dale Booth, Owner and President, Innovation7
• [TBD]

1:45 to 2:35 pm - Concurrent workshops

Build Better 1

The opportunities of single egress reform in Canada

Discussing single egress building code reform with an applied focus.

• Conrad Speckert, Architect, LGA Architectural Partners

Build Better 2

A toolkit for indigenous inclusion in integrated planning and community design

How education and consultation work informs infrastructure planning, with an emphasis on indigenous reconciliation and inclusion.

• Jamey Burr, Consultant, Innovation7
• Jonathan Kipling, Senior Consultant, Innovation7

Build Better 3

2:50 to 3:50 pm - Design Better Panel 1

Data driven approaches to designing better communities

How do we best connect data on what communities need with policy? This session will discuss innovations in multi-stakeholder dialogue and data mapping for innovative community design, with a focus on accessibility, community wellbeing, outreach and resilient infrastructure.

• Moderator
• [TBD]
• Panelists
• Craig Jones, Associate Director, Housing Research Collaborative, The University of British Columbia
• [TBD]

3:50 to 4:05 pm - Closing remarks

Moderators to provide summary of commonalities and collaboration between projects and their relevance to INFC and other federal government department work, followed by housekeeping reminders regarding the afternoon networking and day 2.

4:30 to 5:30 pm - Post Day 1 networking

Mingling between program and project team members as well as staff from INFC and other federal departments

Friday, June 21, 2024

8:30 to 9:00 am - Pre-event networking & check-in

Find people to connect with:

• Meet others in-person
• Chat with others attending the conference through the virtual platform
• Post a message on the mural board

9:00 to 9:10 am - Day 2 opening remarks

Offer introductory remarks summarizing takeaways from Day 1, bridging comments to Day 2’s focus on design and finance. Moderators follow up with housekeeping details.

9:10 to 10:10 am – Design Better Panel 2

Innovative partnerships for future communities

How can evidence-based advice and innovative partnerships help develop sustainable and resilient communities? This session gathers leaders from key organizations providing community-led training, and facilitating innovative partnerships, to connect data-driven evidence on housing and infrastructure needs with decision-makers on the ground.

• Moderator
• Mary Rowe, President and CEO, Canadian Urban Institute
• Panelists
• Amelié Castaing, Head of Training, Vivre en Ville
• Stefania di Mauro-Nava, Director of Development, Metrolab Network

10:10 to 11:00 am - Concurrent workshops

Design Better 1

Title TBD

Dr. Ursula Eicker, Professor, Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering and Director of the Next Generation Cities Institute at Concordia University to speak on interdisciplinary research with the CUNY Building Performance Laboratory

• Dr. Ursula Eicker, Professor Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University

Design Better 2

TBD

Design Better 3

11:05 to 11:55 am – Keynote Address

Title TBD

• Colin Ellard, Professor, University of Waterloo

12:55 to 1:55 pm – Finance Better Panel 1

Unpacking how to foster “affordable” housing

This session will revisit old policies to support affordable housing initiatives while also bringing to the table innovative public and private capital means of financing affordable and non-profit housing in the short and long run to maintaining assets, access, and supply for Canadians.

• Moderator
• [TBD]
• Panelists
• Katie Maslechko, Chief Executive Officer, Rental Protection Fund
• [TBD]

1:55 to 2:45 pm - Concurrent sessions: Finance Better

Finance Better 1

A rental bank approach to housing support

Dr. Alison M. Smith (University of Toronto Mississauga) and Old Brewery Mission Montreal to discuss their project on creating a rental bank at OBM, best practices internationally, and the role of rent banks preventing people from sliding down the housing continuum.

• Alison Smith, Associate Professor, Political Science, University of Toronto Mississauga
• Old Brewery Mission Montreal

Finance Better 2

Supporting renters effectively: unpacking the Canada Housing Benefit.

Discussion of various alternative housing models, and their benefit to Canadian renters.

• Catherine-Leviten-Reid, Associate Professor, Community Economic Development, Cape Breton University

Finance Better 3

The nuts and bolts of BC Builds

Discussion of the BC Builds Housing Program.

• Lisa Helps, Executive Lead, BC Builds Project Origination and Process Innovation, BC Housing

3:00 to 4:00 pm – Finance Better Panel 2

Title TBD

This session will unpack the issue of how to finance housing development and public infrastructure sustainably in the long run. Key topics include public private partnerships, development charges, and finance modelling of the future.

• Moderator
• [TBD]
• Panelists
• Marco Chitti, Research Fellow, NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management; Postdoctoral Researcher, McGill University
• Adam Found, Metropolitan City Fellow, C.D. Howe Institute and sessional lecturer in Economics at Trent University
• [TBD]

4:00 to 4:15 pm – Closing Remarks

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