GVBOT - Housing Forum: The Missing Middle
Greater Vancouver is in the midst of a housing affordability crisis. In the Greater Vancouver Economic Scorecard 2016, the region earned a "D" grade for housing affordability, ranking 15th out of 17 similar jurisdictions around the world.
Our region's poor housing affordability inhibits our ability to attract and retain talented workers, which directly affects the ability to grow businesses.
Housing Forum 2017 will focus on how we can start addressing affordability, in order to keep our region livable and economically competitive. This forum will also feature the release of a new GVBOT housing report, which will outline the need to increase supply through density and diverse housing options, also known as "The Missing Middle."
Hear from developers, academics, business owners, municipal officials, and community leaders on one of the most pressing issues facing our region.
KEYNOTE - 9:00-9:30 AM
Eric Carlson, President, Anthem Properties
SESSION 1 - 9:30-10:30 AM
Human Capital and "The Missing Middle"
Greater Vancouver's poor housing affordability has real impacts on business, particularly when it comes to human capital. This panel will engage business leaders and economists to explore the economic implications of our region's housing affordability problem.
Michelle Davey, Superintendent, Vancouver Police Department
Tsur Sommerville, Senior Fellow, UBC Centre for Urban Economics and Real Estate
Jon Stovell, President, Reliance Properties
Additional speakers to be announced.
SESSION 2 - 10:45-11:45 AM
Creating More Supply: Density and Affordability
There is no silver bullet solution to Greater Vancouver's housing affordability crisis. But there are some decisions that can be made to improve affordability. This panel will look at those solutions through the lens of creating more supply.
Iain Black, President and CEO, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade
David Hutniak, CEO, Landlord BC
Anne McMullin, President and CEO, Urban Development Institute
Andrew Ramlo, Executive Director, Urban Futures
Kishone Roy, CEO, BC Non-Profit Housing Association
SESSION 3 - 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM
YIMBY: The Way Forward
In order to build more supply, it will be up to communities to guide this change. In major cities around the world, the YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard) movement has risen up in a grassroots way to help address affordability for everyone. This panel will discuss the rise of the YIMBY movement and ways in which the audience can get involved.
Simka Marshall, Chairperson, Canadian Federation of Students – British Columbia
Daniel Oleksiuk, Member, Abundant Housing Vancouver
Additional speakers to be announced.
