Alexis Holmgren is a volunteer, rare disease patient advocate, and published writer from Central Alberta. She has also been a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion, and accessibility from the age of 12, drawing from her personal experience as a young person living with multiple rare genetic disorders to create change for a more inclusive and accessible world. Alexis is highly active in her community, volunteering in a variety of roles including as a: Facilitator and Research Assistant with the Students Commission of Canada (SCC), Girl Guides of Canada Trainer and Area Council Adviser, Rick Hansen Foundation School Program Youth Leadership Sub-Committee member, and PREVNet National Youth Advisory Committee member.

Throughout 2020-2021, Alexis was an active member of the National Youth Advisory group consulting on all aspects of a Canada-wide UNICEF study examining the perspectives of youth during the pandemic: [“It’s difficult to grow up in an apocalypse”: Canadian Children’s Experiences and Views on the COVID-19 Pandemic.]. In 2021, she had the honour of co-presenting the research findings to the UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti International Advisory Board based in Florence, Italy, in addition to being a Speaker on the SCC virtual #CanadaWeWant Knowledge Exchange “Youth Panel re: COVID Adaptations” to a group of 70 youth and adults in leadership positions, who work with youth, from coast to coast to coast. Currently, Alexis serves as the Youth Facilitator for the “Sharing Youth’s COVID Stories” study with Bishop’s University, SCC, and Brock University, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), focusing on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical and mental health of marginalized micro-populations of youth, as well as the ways in which youth-serving programs adapted to the pandemic. She recently travelled to Prince Edward Island to conduct her first in-person research data collection session with youth living in a rural community.

Prof. Adams is an applied social scientist with expertise in global health spanning issues of heath and healthcare inequities, their social and systems-related determinants, and community-engaged approaches to increasing access to responsive, and integrated health and social services. She is an interdisciplinary thinker and linker who appreciates complexity and proximity to the ground realities of people and community. She has decades of experience leading large interdisciplinary research projects and multi-institutional collaborations spanning Africa, South Asia, Europe and North America, and involving researchers, policy makers, practitioners, and community members. Her current research focuses on underserved populations, including youth, immigrants, and the urban poor, and innovations in service design and delivery that enable agency and accessibility. Fundamental to her research approach is stakeholder engagement and ownership, and a commitment to translating research to action. Her methodological expertise includes qualitative and mixed-methods study design and analysis, and participatory research approaches.

Kowmitha is one of six youth chosen as BGC Canada’s Youth of the Year. Kowmitha is an active community member and advocate working with many young people on a local and national level to advance many issues that are top priority for young people in Canada. Currently, Kowmitha is a student at the University of Toronto pursing a degree in International Development and Political Science.

Maël habite à Montréal, dans la province de Québec. Dès son plus jeune âge, il s’est distingué en tant que personne polyvalente et dotée de solides compétences en leadership. Il a aidé des gens de différents horizons à acquérir des compétences, y compris des adolescents qui apprennent à sauver des vies, à faire du sauvetage et à faire preuve de leadership; des immigrants récents à la recherche d’un perfectionnement professionnel pour trouver un emploi au Canada; et des détenus qui se préparent à réintégrer la société. Bénévole depuis de nombreuses années au YMCA, Maël a fait partie du premier comité de stratégie jeunesse; un groupe d’employés et de bénévoles qui aident les jeunes à se faire entendre et à influencer le changement au sein de l’organisation. Il a également collaboré avec la Société de sauvetage du Québec et la Fondation des maladies du cœur pour améliorer la sécurité publique et la santé; et ce, en participant au développement et à la mise en œuvre de programmes et de communications publiques de qualité.

Colm is 18 years old and is attending The Ontario Virtual School grade 12 program. In the Fall, he/they will start at Concordia University studying Geospatial Technologies. He/they live in Montreal West, Quebec with his mom, brother and his Mira dog, Teddy. Colm has been an Autism self advocate since age 11 and has been participating in research since age 3.6. His/their passions include filmmaking, production and history, especially military aviation.

Tansi, My name is Danika Greyeyes. I am plains Cree and Saulteux, I reside on treaty 6 territory. Furthermore, I am a grade 12 student at Centennial Collegiate, and I will be going to the University of Saskatchewan in the fall.

Marshall Morrisseau is a First Nations, Metis advocate. Currently residing in Brandon Manitoba and attending University. Marshall is studying a Bachelor of Arts Degree for the purpose of pursuing law. Marshall is involved with community organizations such as Brandon Bear Clan Patrol where he coordinated a youth mock patrol. This opportunity lets him build positive relationships in the community, educate future generations about harm reduction philosophies and traditional teachings. Marshall also takes part in the We Matter Campaign as a National Ambassador of Hope, delivering messages of hope, culture, and strength for Indigenous youth. In the beginning of 2020, Marshall attended the United Nations Drug and Crime Commission as a Youth Delegate. He now is involved with the International Youth Initiative to help develop and deliver drug prevention strategies. In 2021 Marshall was a lead a on the development of a life promotion toolkit for Thunderbird Partnership Foundation “My biggest goal in life is to help all my relations in a meaningful way and ensure that the next seven generations are agents of culture and customary worldviews.”

My name is Lachlan Brown. I hail from Halifax Nova Scotia. I’m passionate about youth and community work. My current work focusses on talking about masculinity with young men and how it relates to their sense of self, and community projects like Community gardens and fridges!

Boozhoo! Hello! My name is Jacinda I am 18 years old from Sandy Bay First Nation and I reside in Portage la Prairie Manitoba. I am a proud Anishinaabe Jingle dress dancer and I have been dancing and teaching the jingle dress dance for 10 years! Being involved with powwow clubs and helping teach them since I was nine grew my passion for educating and sharing my knowledge and teachings with the community. With my position it gives me all the opportunities to be involved in the community and to engage with youth, two things I love doing.

Gabrielle Jubinville is plains Cree, Scottish, and English. Gabrielle went on to become a successful basketball athlete playing at the Junior college level in New Rochelle, New York at Monroe College and went on to playing at the highest level of sport at Alcore State University NCAA Division 1 basketball. Earning her numerous scholarships to play basketball and get educated across the United States. She has received a Criminal Justice Associates Degree in Science. While getting educated, is where Gabrielle found her passion for advocacy for others who could not help themselves and help with breaking the cycles of Indigenous people’s stigma’s and labels through herself and others. While playing basketball competitively Gabrielle has had strong cultural background in traditional teachings, that grounded her in her success and continues to do so to guide her in a good way today. Currently residing in Brandon, MB where she is working at two non-profit organizations. As mentoring coordinator at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Westman and at The Women’s Resource Centre as the Junior Advocate under amazing mentor. Gabrielle hopes to finish her Bachelor of Arts 3 Year Degree in the upcoming year as she only needs 4 courses to graduate. Gabrielle is involved with We Matter, as an Ambassador of Hope, main goal is to uplift Indigenous youth all over Canada with We Matter Campaign and other ambassadors. Gabrielle recently got to coach senior women’s high school basketball this year in Brandon as volunteer. Gabrielle also sits on the boards of Suicide Prevention Implementation Network, National Indigenous Day Committee, also apart of grassroots powwow club to help make powwow accessible to Indigenous youth and parents.

“I hope to continue to pass along the tools and the knowledge to young Indigenous kin, as it is their right to be successful in whatever they chose to be, Ekosi.”

Jeune malentendant de 24 ans qui a vécu l’itinérance sans domicile fixe (SDF), Membre de Comité Jeunes Plus

Topaza Yu (She/Her/Elle) is a incoming PhD counselling psychology student at the University of North Dakota. Originally from Saskatoon, SK which is located on the Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. She is actively involved in the areas of youth empowerment, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Her dedication to SRHR is demonstrated by being on both Action Canada's Sexual Health and Right's governance and National Youth Advisory Board (NYAB). Topaza is also a cohort 5 member of the Prime Minister’s Youth Council. Topaza is a strong believer for the principle of “Nothing for Us, Without Us”, which ensures that the people around her informs her advocacy work so that it reflects their experiences and needs. In addition to “Nothing for Us Without Us,” she aims to apply an Anti-racism and Anti-Oppression (ARAO) lens to her work. ARAO means unlearning colonial structures deeply ingrained into our society and being mindful of the conscious and unconscious ways we enable them. Following her graduate degree in counselling psychology, Topaza hopes to continue her work SRHR work through advocacy, counselling, and entrepreneurship.

Chanice McAnuff is a passionate first-voice advocate with lived experience in the Child Welfare system. As a former crown ward, she uses her lived experiences and leadership skills to advocate for better conditions for youth living in the Child Welfare System.

She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in psychology at McMaster University and sit on several committees including the Youth for Change Steering Committee at the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Society, she is a youth rep for Child Welfare Political Action Committee, and a Board Member for York Region Children's Aid Society.

Chanice’s determination to fulfill a vision that consisted of stability and prosperity went beyond herself and expanded into a goal she wanted to achieve for other youth in care. This led her to found a non-profit organization called Project Outsiders, a youth-led “Hub” that will act as a center for advocacy and innovative excellence for youth in and from care. Their organization aims to bridge the gap between youth in and from care with the decision-makers that have the power to influence their lives. They have done numerous podcasts, training workshops, events, presentations, and creative projects to amplify the voices of youth in the sector and support causes that will push for better outcomes after leaving care.

Among many other things, she has experience in consulting, event coordinating, project management, public speaking, and team building. Chanice plans to use her truth and knowledge to evoke changes to the child welfare system nationally.

Meghan Eaker (she/her) is an amiskwaciywâskahikan-based poet, registered nurse, and beading artist of mixed european and nehiyaw ancestry and is a member of the Woodland Cree First Nation in treaty 8 territory. She is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Alberta studying storysharing as a practice towards miyo pimatisiwin (a good life).

Nicholas King is an associate professor at McGill University. His primary research areas are public health policy, ethics, and epistemology. He studies the ways that 'black boxes' of all sorts - from seemingly objective measures of health and health inequalities, to complex algorithms - are shaped by human interests and hidden value judgments, which in turn shape individual decisions, collective behaviors, and public policies

Gillian Backlin recently completed the technical writing certificate at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. She runs her own blog/online store called Spastic AND Fantastic with a goal to bring attention to the stigmas we as society put on labels, such as disabled. She has a passion for youth involvement and advocacy and is a volunteer for Sunny Hill.

Trisha leads a team of Managers of Cities who work with twenty communities across Canada to take a youth-led, place-based, collective impact approach to supporting young people in reaching their dreams through improved education and employment outcomes. She brings experience from international and community development, social policy, food security and financial empowerment. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in International Development with a Minor in Islamic Studies from McGill University as well as a Master of Science in Comparative Social Policy from the University of Oxford. Trisha is also an award-winning slam poet and is endlessly curious about cultures, spirituality, personal growth models, experimenting in the kitchen, and seeking non-life threatening adventures - mostly related to food.

Jessica Lue is the Vice President of Government Relations at YMCA Canada, leading the YMCA’s national advocacy and government relations efforts to build healthy communities. Jessica is driven to create impact and keen to support initiatives that aim to make a difference in society. At YMCA Canada, Jessica brings forward the charity’s expertise and experiences to advance federal policy in key areas, including early learning and child care, issues impacting young people and supports for the charitable sector. Prior to joining YMCA Canada in 2018, Jessica was a Consultant at Santis Health, providing communications and advocacy support for clients exclusively in Canada’s health-care sector. Jessica holds an honours degree in biology and economics from Queen’s University and an Ontario graduate certificate in public relations from Humber College.

Preventing a Lockdown Generation report website Preventing a Lockdown Generation (in Canada)

Veerle Miranda is Senior Economist in the Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs of the OECD. She leads the Youth and Diversity Policies Unit, and is the driving force behind the OECD Youth Action Plan. She and her team work closely with governments of OECD member countries to improve their youth policies and create better opportunities for young people. Veerle joined the OECD in 2008 and has worked on a wide range of policy issues including employment, social, mental health and education. Veerle Miranda is Belgian and holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the Catholic University of Leuven.

Claire Patterson is the Communication Specialist for Youthful Cities. She began working with Youthful Cities on their federal election platform analysis where it was determined that youth were mentioned 0 times in the English language leaders debate. She also co-founded Class of Covid Canada a project that focused on raising youth voices regarding mental health at the start of the pandemic. The project received national media attention and was featured on CBC on The Coast and Breakfast Television. She has a specific focus on raising youth voices and is interested in the concept of a green and just transition from Covid. She attended COP26 on behalf of the Simon Fraser University Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue and published a series of articles that focus on the youth and the climate crisis: Youth Power and ‘Youth Washing’ at COP26, If the eyes of the world are on COP26, then who are we looking away from?, Young people are helping set the agenda for Glasgow’s COP26 meeting, Exploring Spaces of Joy at COP26. She has also produced a podcast series that highlights youth voices in Vancouver speaking about how they envision creating a less polarized city post-pandemic. Currently, she is pursuing an MSc in Political Communication Science at the University of Amsterdam.

Lucksini is a first-generation Tamil-Canadian and a health policy professional. Her early years growing up in the civil war period led her to understand many systems-level health disparities due to unjust policies. Witnessing these experiences at a young age drove her to pursue masters training focused on advancing equitable and sustainable access to health service delivery for diverse priority populations. This also includes addressing knowledge gaps to better bridge scientific evidence and public policy through timely engagement with various levels of government. Additionally, she’s supported global innovators in program evaluation for a portfolio of maternal and child health projects implemented in low-and- middle-income countries. She continues to serve on advisory committees that support the emerging mental health needs of youth, those facing homelessness and racialized communities as part of COVID-19 recovery efforts. She is passionate about the need to incorporate a health equity, trauma-informed and anti-oppressive lens in the development and implementation of future policies across Canada’s healthcare system.

Dr. Hasina Samji an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University and a Senior Scientist in Population Mental Wellbeing in the Population and Public Health Division at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control. She completed her PhD in infectious disease epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and has expertise in the design and implementation of observational cohort studies and analysis of large administrative health databases. Dr. Samji’s main research interest is how synergistic epidemics, or “syndemics,” of illnesses like HIV, HCV, and mental illness and substance use disorder interact with contextual factors like poverty and early life trauma to create mutually reinforcing clusters of epidemics among populations, resulting in poorer access to healthcare and outcomes across the lifecourse.

Dr. Samji leads the Youth Development Instrument (YDI), an interdisciplinary study measuring predictors of positive youth well-being, mental health, and development in high school students in collaboration with the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP-UBC), community, clinical and policy partners, and youth themselves. The YDI elucidates upstream skill-development and structural supports for mental illness prevention and promotion of positive trajectories for young people. She is also the co-Principal Investigator of the BC Children’s Hospital Personal Impacts of COVID-19 Survey (PICS) study to measure the population-level mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mélissa Généreux est médecin spécialiste en santé publique et professeure agrégée à l’Université de Sherbrooke. Après avoir œuvré comme directrice de santé publique e Estrie pendant six ans, puis ensuite comme coordonnatrice du programme Santé à Ouranos, elle agit maintenant comme médecin-conseil à la Direction de santé publique de l’Estrie. Son expertise en lien avec le rétablissement de catastrophes s’est développée de par sa forte implication pendant et après la tragédie ferroviaire de Lac-Mégantic de 2013 ainsi que de par son soutien lors des feux de Fort McMurray de 2016 et des inondations printanières de 2017 et 2019 au Québec. En plus de lutter contre la pandémie de COVID-19 en tant que médecin en santé publique, elle a collaboré avec le ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux au développement et à l’implantation d’un réseau d’éclaireurs en santé psychologique dans l’ensemble du Québec. Elle dirige actuellement une large étude sur les conséquences sociosanitaires des inondations, et une autre sur la réponse psychologique et comportementale à la pandémie de COVID-19. Sa passion pour les communications, combinée à son expertise en santé publique et en santé mentale, l’ont amenée à prendre régulièrement la parole sur la scène publique.

Corey’s first career was in the developmental services sector where for over a decade he worked to build community capacity serving medically complex and neurodiverse children and youth. Most recently he oversaw the home and communHity care program for the Developmental Services Ontario Eastern Region where he saw firsthand the impact that provincial pandemic policy decisions had on families, children, and youth. He leveraged this experience when joining Children’s Healthcare Canada to oversee their Immunizing Children with Confidence project. In this role Corey works with the federal government and partners across Canada to inform and influence pandemic recovery strategies – focusing on the impacts of the pandemic on children’s health and healthcare. As a member of the inaugural Masters of Public Health cohort at the University of Ottawa, Corey believes strongly in the ability of well-designed public health policy to positively impact the health and wellbeing of children and youth from all backgrounds. Corey lives in Ottawa with his partner where he enjoys competitive kayaking and novice woodworking.

Keiko Shikako, PhD, OT is the Canada Research Chair in Childhood Disability: Participation and Knowledge Translation and Associate Professor at the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy at McGill University. Her research program focus on promoting human rights, participation and inclusion in the community for children with disabilities. She collaborates with Civil Society organizations in the reporting processes to the UN Committees on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and on the Rights of the Child and has collaborated with government at federal, provincial, and municipal levels to create inclusive policies and programs that can support the rights of children with disabilities and their families. She leads several Knowledge Translation initiatives such as the Jooay App, the CHILD-BRIGHT SPOR KT program and the Childhood Disability LINK website all aiming at disseminating evidence-based information to the childhood disability community at large.

Erika Shaker is the Director of the National Office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and editor of "Our Schools / Our Selves," the CCPA's popular education magazine. Since 1997 she has directed the Centre's Education Project, which monitors corporate intrusion into public education. She has researched, written and spoken on a wide variety of issues including commercialism, standardized testing, post-secondary education, and social justice in schools.

Our Schools/Our Selves - Winter/Spring 2022

(with a series of podcasts interviewing some of the authors: The Crisis Continuum and The Role of Public Education in A Just Recovery )

Applied Learning

Our Schools/Our Selves - Winter/Spring 2021

Our Schools/Our Selves - Summer/Fall 2020

Carl E. James holds the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora in the Faculty of Education, York University, Toronto, where he is also the Senior Advisor in Equity and Representation in the Office of the VP Equity, People and Culture. His research interests include examining the educational, employment and career experiences, opportunities and achievements of racialized Canadians – noting the ways in which societal and institutional structures mediate their lived realities. And by probing how race intersects with gender, class, citizenship and other identify constructs, he seeks to assert the relationship between accessible and equitable opportunities and the experiences and attainments of racialized Canadians, particularly Black Canadians. James was recently awarded the Canada Council for the Arts 2022 Killam Prize for Social Sciences. His most recent book is: Colour Matters: Essays on the Experiences, Education, and Pursuits of Black Youth (2021).

C.E. James (November 12, 2020) Racial inequity, COVID-19 and the education of Black and other marginalized students, for the RSC published by The Global & Mail.

Racial inequity, COVID-19 and the education of Black and other marginalized students

Racial Inequity, COVID-19 And The Education Of Black And Other Marginalized Students | The Royal Society of Canada

Professor Tracy Vaillancourt holds the Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in School-Based Mental Health and Violence Prevention. She is a full professor in Counselling Psychology, Faculty of Education and cross-appointed as a full professor in the School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences. She is also an elected fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Professor Vaillancourt's research examines the links between bullying and mental health, with a particular focus on social neuroscience. She is currently funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada.

Pedro Barata is Executive Director of the Future Skills Centre, a forward-thinking hub dedicated to researching, testing, evaluating and building innovative skills-building solutions to help job seekers and employers in Canada navigate labour market changes. Grounded in a commitment to inclusion, Pedro has advised all levels of government on social & economic policy and implementation related to skills and workforce development, poverty reduction, income security reform, seeking breakthroughs on housing and homelessness, and immigration reform. Pedro’s work and extensive volunteer activities in the non-profit sector span two decades, focused on impact strategies, public policy, community building and communications. His career path has traveled through United Way Greater Toronto, the Atkinson Foundation, Family Service Toronto, Social Planning Toronto and the City of Toronto. Pedro holds a Bachelor of Arts from York University and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Toronto.

As the economy restarts, Canada needs to focus on those hardest hit by the pandemic Toronto Star Op-ed

COVID was harmful for youth employment Investments in job training would help support Black, Indigenous, people of colour and disabled youth in particular.
Policy Options COVID was harmful for youth employment

Quality of work goes beyond income An expanded view of benefits and more attention to employment security and the work environment will deepen our understanding of the future of work.
Policy Options Quality of work goes beyond income

Young adults have been hit hard by the pandemic. The recovery must not leave them behind

First Policy Response

Anna's research centres upon the intersection of the economy, society, policy and the environment. There are currently two major themes within her work. One focus is the contemporary disruptions to youth livelihoods in lower income countries and how young people are responding to these. Within this theme, one project investigates climate change in Uganda, another looks at the COVID19 impacts in Nepal and Indonesia. Anna's other work looks at business pathways to improving work, focusing on work in the circular economy and the business case living wages. Anna supervises ESRC-funded PhD students Kate Brockie and Grace Mueller on questions surrounding young women’s work in Bangladesh and Nepal, respectively. Anna is a Prince of Wales Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership and a Bye Fellow of Murray Edwards College at the University of Cambridge, and she leads the Decent work and youth livelihoods group at the University of Cambridge.

Barford, A., Coutts, A. and Sahai, G., 2021. Youth employment in times of COVID: A global review of COVID-19 policy responses to tackle (un)employment and disadvantage among young people. ILO: Geneva. art. ISBN 978-92-2-035542-8.

Barford, A., Olwell, R.H., Mugeere, A., Nyiraneza, M., Magimbi, P., Mankhwazi, C. and Isiko, B., 2021. Living in the climate crisis: young people in Uganda. ,doi:10.17863/CAM.75235.

Barford, A., Proefke, R., Mugeere, A. and Stocking, B., 2021. Young people and climate change. COP 26 Briefing Series of The British Academy, p.1-17. doi:10.5871/bacop26/9780856726606.001

Barford, A., Coombe, R. and Proefke, R., 2021. Against the odds: Young people’s high aspirations and societal contributions amid a decent work shortage. Geoforum, v. 121, p.162-172. doi:10.1016/j.geoforum.2021.02.011.

Cieslik, K., Barford, A. and Vira, B., 2021. Young people not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) in Sub-Saharan Africa: Sustainable Development Target 8.6 missed and reset. Journal of Youth Studies, p.1-22. doi:10.1080/13676261.2021.1939287

Barford, A. and Coombe, R., 2019. Getting by: young people’s working lives. Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge. doi:10.17863/CAM.39460.

Mohamed is the Acting Executive Director at the Diversity Institute. The Diversity Institute conducts and coordinates multi-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder research to address the needs of diverse Canadians, the changing nature of skills and competencies, and the policies, processes and tools that advance economic inclusion and success. Mohamed holds a PhD in Information Systems at University of Cape Town. Prior to this, Mohamed completed his thesis Master of Arts in International Development Studies at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and an Honour Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of New Brunswick.

Tier II Canada Research Chair in Food, Health, and Social Justice. Dr. Lesley Frank is a trans-disciplinary social science scholar, skilled and committed to innovative, multi-sector, policy-relevant research related to food and health inequity experienced by marginalized populations and their children.

Why are babies going hungry in a food-rich nation like Canada?

OUT OF MILK by Lesley Frank | Book Trailer

Anjum Sultana (She/Her) is an award-winning public affairs strategist, sought-after media commentator, accomplished public speaker, and published health equity researcher with expertise in gender equity, public health, youth engagement and civic engagement. Anjum is the Director of Youth Leadership & Policy Advocacy at Plan International Canada, a Fellow with the Public Policy Forum and a Canadian Delegate to the W20. Previously, Anjum served as the National Director of Public Policy, Advocacy, & Strategic Communications at YWCA Canada. In her role, Anjum has authored several policy reports including 'A Feminist Economic Recovery Plan for Canada' and 'Preventing a Lockdown Generation in Canada'. Anjum represented Canada at the 2021 United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and at the 2019 G7 Youth Summit. Anjum has served as a mentor with the Fora: Network for Change Girls on Boards initiative, Tamil Youth Fellowship, Muslim Youth Fellowship, and the Ontario Council for International Cooperation Youth Policy-Makers Hub. Anjum sits on the Boards of the Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA), Regent Park Community Health Centre and Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA). Anjum holds a Masters of Public Health from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto and a Certificate in Sustainable Business Strategy from Harvard Business School.
Reports:
Preventing a Lockdown Generation - Co-Authored alongside Jessica Stepic Lue: Preventing a Lockdown Generation (in Canada) https://www.preventingalockdowngeneration.ca/

Op-Ed on Supporting Youth Prosperity and Wellbeing: Opinion | Unlocking youth prosperity needs to be a ballot box issue in the Ontario election https://www.thestar.com/local-brampton/opinion/2022/05/13/unlocking-youth-prosperity-needs-to-be-a-ballot-box-issue-in-the-ontario-election.html

Op-Ed on Youth Employment and the Federal Election: Young people should be a focus of this federal election https://www.toronto.com/opinion/young-people-should-be-a-focus-of-this-federal-election/article_fa4c5e79-ef06-531d-9a30-9d80d22f5077.html

Op-Ed on Youth Employment and Federal Budget: Budget 2021: We need to invest in youth to prevent a lockdown generation | Corporate Knights https://www.corporateknights.com/responsible-investing/budget-2021-canada-needs-to-invest-in-millennials-and-gen-z-to-prevent-a-lockdown-generation/

Ms. Ironstone Locke has a demonstrated background in working with marginalized people and non-profit organizations, and continues the CWLC’s important work of defending the rights of vulnerable children, promoting their well-being in the areas of child welfare and protection, youth justice and mental health. She will strengthen CWLC’s efforts to ensure that the needs of families are taken into account, and consolidate the capacity of communities to respond to the needs of children and their parents, especially with respect to Indigenous, immigrant, and refugee children and families. With a Masters level graduate diploma in Indigenous Policy & Administration from Carleton University, Ms. Ironstone Locke has a background in sexual assault support, and has most recently held the role of Acting Executive Director at the Children First Society, which provides organizational and legal advocacy for current and former children and youth criminally targeted with acts of violence and abuse. She is also Canada's Ambassador to JDoe, a platform supporting anonymous, end-to-end encrypted reporting for survivors and witnesses of sexual assault, rape and harassment.

Jennifer Robson is an associate professor of Political Management at Kroeger College and cross-appointed to the School of Public Policy and Administration. Her research has included studies of social policies such as family benefits, education savings, poverty in Canada, wealth inequality, tax policy and the financial lives of low and modest income persons.

Leila Sarangi is Director of Social Action at Family Service Toronto and National Director of Campaign 2000: End Child and Family Poverty. With over 20 years of front line, research and policy experience, Leila has a demonstrated commitment to connecting lived reality with public policy, advocating with and engaging people in a meaningful way to inform policy and legislative changes. Her social action leadership and research experience spans a variety of issue areas including police accountability, poverty reduction, housing and homelessness, gender-based violence and immigration.

No One Left Behind: Strategies for an Inclusive Recovery - Campaign 2000

All across Canada, children are growing up in poverty

Katherine serves as the director for the CCPA's gender equality and public policy work. She has worked in the community sector as a researcher, writer and advocate over the past 25 years, writing on a range of issues from social policy to inequality to funding for nonprofits. She is passionate about research that speaks to the aspirations of communities and supports collective action for change. She has served as Vice President of Research at the Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD) for several years and, more recently, produced research and analysis for organizations such as Prosper Canada, Volunteer Canada, Capacity Canada, Pathways to Education Canada, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Katherine lives in Ottawa with her family. She holds degrees in political science from Queen’s University and York University.

Katherine Scott (2021), Women, work and COVID-19: Priorities for supporting women and the economy, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives https://policyalternatives.pdf

Katherine Scott (2022), Economic recovery for whom? For all the talk of recovery, many women and gender-diverse people are still struggling, The Monitor, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Economic recovery for whom? For all the talk of recovery, many women…

Lisa Wolff is Director, Policy and Research at UNICEF Canada. She has worked in the organization for more than a decade leading education and policy focused work to advance the rights of Canada’s children to develop to their fullest potential, consistent with international human rights standards. Collaborating with government, institutions, civil society, researchers and private sector partners, Lisa has developed initiatives to advance children’s rights in policy, governance, monitoring and accountability. UNICEF Canada works across issues and sectors, making children and youth visible and leveraging UNICEF’s global research, data and innovation in domestic policy and practice. Lisa is an advisor to many initiatives including the Making the Shift Networks of Centres of Excellence Implementation Management Committee (addressing youth homelessness). She received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Governor-General of Canada in 2012.

Christian Whalen, LLB, DEA, is Senior Legal Counsel in the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate of the Government of New Brunswick. After working in private practice and with the Attorney General's Office in NB he served as Legal Counsel to the Human Rights Commission and then as Legal Counsel with the Office of the Ombudsman and Child and Youth Advocate. He was appointed Acting Child and Youth Advocate for the Province of New Brunswick on April 1, 2011. He has served as Vice Chairperson of the New Brunswick Arts Board and Chairperson of the New Brunswick Foundation for the Arts. He was the Founding Chairperson of the Canadian Bar Association NB Branch's Children's Law Section and of the CBA's National Children's Law Committee and was awarded in 2015 the CBA’s national John Tait Award for excellence as public sector counsel in Canada.

Professor Linda Bauld OBE is the Bruce and John Usher Chair in Public Health in the Usher Institute, College of Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and Chief Social Policy Adviser to the Scottish Government. In her Scottish government role, she is responsible for advising on Covid recovery and chairs the early learning and schools, and university and colleges advisory groups on Covid-19. Her research background is in behavioural science with a particular focus on non-communicable disease prevention and inequalities in health. She is Director of the SPECTRUM Consortium, involving 10 UK Universities and partner organisations and a former scientific adviser to the UK government and World Health Organisation Framework Convention Secretariat on tobacco control. Between 2014 and 2021 she combined her academic roles with serving as Cancer Research UK’s cancer prevention adviser. She is a member of the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) Institute for Population and Public Health International Advisory Board, as well as a Trustee of Diabetes UK and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, the Faculty of Public Health, the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Academy of Social Sciences.

Sharif Mahdy (He/Him/Il) is Executive Director of the Students Commission of Canada (SCC) and Centre of Excellence for Youth Engagement (CEYE). The SCC is a national charitable non-governmental organization that purposely works with others to ensure that young people’s voices are heard and valued so that they can put their ideas for improving themselves, their peers and their communities into action. The CEYE is a national network of youth, policy-makers, academics and youth-serving organizations focused on identifying and sharing best practices on meaningful youth engagement. Sharif leads the SCC/CEYE’s national intergenerational team to achieve the organization’s 10-year Youth Thriving strategy. Sharif has an Honors Bachelor of Health Sciences from the University of Western Ontario. He also has a Masters of Arts in Leadership degree from Royal Roads University and published a thesis on youth engagement in governance. Sharif volunteers with two charitable organizations. He serves as Vice-Chair of the National Alliance of Children and Youth (NACY): a national charitable organization that brings diverse non-profit organizations together in a collaborative network dedicated to enhancing the well-being of children and youth in Canada and the Child Development Institute (CDI): an accredited children’s mental health agency in Toronto.

Coming soon / Bientôt disponible

Professeure titulaire au Département des études sur l'enseignement et l'apprentissage de l'Université Laval, Sylvie Barma fut directrice du Centre de recherche et d'intervention sur la réussite scolaire. Son intérêt pour les adolescents est ancré dans une longue expérience comme enseignante de sciences au secondaire. Elle a participé à la rédaction du curriculum québécois. Ses recherches portent sur la dimension contextuelle et systémique de l'innovation en éducation et sur le développement des compétences numériques du XXIe siècle. Elle a été professeure invitée à l'Université d'Helsinki, l'Université de Sao Paulo et l'Université de Stockholm. En ce moment, elle est professeure invitée à l'Université de Ioannina et à l'Université Côte-d'Azur. Une de ses contributions importantes est la fondation d’un groupe de recherche international ISCAR STEAM qui vise à soutenir le développement professionnel des éducateurs et des chercheurs et à enrichir les politiques éducatives avec une forte perspective socioculturelle.

Ses recherches le plus souvent participatives, portent à la fois sur les enjeux de la judiciarisation des problèmes sociaux (itinérance, pauvreté, consommation de drogues) que sur les trajectoires des populations en situation de vulnérabilité ( jeunes en situation de rue, personnes consommatrices de drogues, personnes autochtones, femmes en situation d’itinérance, personnes travailleuses du sexe). Elle dirige l’Observatoire des profilages qui rassemblent plus de 30 chercheur.es et plus de 20 organismes en défense des droits. Cet observatoire vise à documenter des pratiques et des expériences de profilages dans différents secteurs ( police, justice, prison, aide sociale, immigration, santé et services sociaux) ainsi que les moyens d’y faire face.

As the Project Manager for the Communities Building Youth Futures (CBYF) project, Maxime represents a collective of young people, community groups, and youth-serving organizations working to support Yukon youth. His academic background is in Music Education, Experiential Learning, and Community Engaged Learning. Maxime is originally from Toronto but feels more at home in the Yukon. He is passionate about building positive and meaningful relationships with youth. He also loves being outdoors and enjoys activities in every season.

Xavier St-Denis est professeur adjoint en inégalités sociales au Centre Urbanisation Culture Société de l'Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS). Il est également membre associé du Center on Population Dynamics (McGill) et membre de la Chaire-réseau de recherche sur la jeunesse (CRJ) du Québec (INRS). Il a obtenu son doctorat de l’université McGill avant de travailler à la Division de la statistique du revenu de Statistique Canada et comme chercheur postdoctoral à l'Université de Toronto. Ses recherches portent sur le marché du travail, l'éducation, la stratification sociale et les trajectoires professionnelles. Il s'intéresse aux transformations de l'emploi et du marché du travail au Canada, aux États-Unis et en Europe depuis les 40 dernières années. De plus, ses recherches explorent les facteurs expliquant la mobilité sociale au Canada sur la base de nouvelles sources de données administratives et couplées.

Nicolas est titulaire d’une maîtrise en science politique de l’Université de Montréal ainsi que d’une maîtrise en administration publique de l’École nationale d’administration publique. Impliqué depuis 2016 dans le milieu communautaire LGBTQ+, il a également travaillé de 2018 à 2021 comme coordonnateur du Comité consultatif Jeunes de la Commission des partenaires du marché du travail, où il a développé ses connaissances au sujet des politiques publiques visant l’employabilité des jeunes ainsi qu’une expertise dans la pratique de la concertation. Depuis 2021, il occupe le poste de directeur du Collectif autonome des Carrefours Jeunesse-Emploi du Québec, un regroupement de 23 CJE à travers le Québec.

Sarah Flicker is a full professor in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change at York University (Toronto, Canada) where she holds a Research Chair in Community Based Participatory Research. Her research focuses on adolescent health promotion, and engages youth and allied actors in environmental, sexual and reproductive justice scholarship and activism.

Goldstein, A. and Flicker, S. (2022), "“It's been a good time to reflect on…who isn't worth keeping around”: COVID-19, adolescent relationship maintenance and implications for health education", Health Education, Vol. 122 No. 1, pp. 62-72. “It's been a good time to reflect on…who isn't worth keeping around”: COVID-19, adolescent relationship maintenance and implications for health education

Goldstein, A., & Flicker, S. (2020). “Some Things Just Won't Go Back”: Teen Girls’ Online Dating Relationships during COVID-19. Girlhood Studies, 13(3), 64-78. DOI: “Some Things Just Won't Go Back”

Dominic Richardson leads Social Policy and Economic Analysis at UNICEF, Office of Research – Innocenti, where he oversees work on cash transfers and cash plus programmes in sub-Saharan Africa, multiple overlapping deprivation analysis, the Innocenti Report Card Series, and research on family policies and child well-being. Dominic previously worked with OECD Social Policy Division on a broad range of studies covering child well-being, evaluating family policies, integrating human services, and social impact investment. Dominic has led or co-authored multiple reports on comparative child well-being in high-income countries, and in 2014, was the lead researcher on a joint EC OECD project evaluating the content and quality of international surveys of school children in high and middle- income countries. In 2018, Dominic was awarded the Jan Trost Award for Outstanding Contributions in International Family Studies by the National Council for Family Relations in the United States.

Supporting Families and Children Beyond COVID-19: Social protection in high-income countries (unicef-irc.org)

https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/Supporting Families and Children beyond COVID-19 Southern and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.pdf

Economic Crisis and Child Well-being in the West and Central Africa Region (unicef-irc.org)

A Rapid Review of Economic Policy and Social Protection Responses to Health and Economic Crises and Their Effects on Children: Lessons for the COVID-19 pandemic response (unicef-irc.org)

Habon Ali is a systems thinker who has been recognized as Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women (2021). She holds an MSc in Global Health from McMaster University and graduated as valedictorian from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelors of Science. Currently, she is an intern with the Ontario Legislature Internship Programme where she is learning more about health policy while expanding her understanding of provincial politics. She was recently named a Schwarzman Scholar and will be attending Tsinghua University in Bejing to study Global Affairs. Habon advised PM Justin Trudeau for over two years while creating Canada's first National Youth Policy. She furthered social innovation projects at MaRS Discovery District and Grand Challenges Canada. Currently, Habon is the chair of the Board of Directors at Apathy is Boring. She also works with the Future of Canada project, which provides seed funding to catalyze research that explores the possibilities for Canada in the next decade. She is passionate about removing systemic barriers for youth, especially youth from communities who were made to be marginalized and vulnerable.

Owen Charters is CEO of BGC Canada (formerly Boys & Girls Clubs), the country’s largest child- and youth-focused charity. He serves on the advisory board of Common Good, a retirement plan for the nonprofit sector employees, the Advisory Committee for the School for Advanced Studies in the Arts and Humanities at Western University, and the boards of the National Alliance for Children and Youth, the PayPal Giving Fund, the Institute on Governance and the Canada Revenue Agency Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector. Former Chair of Imagine Canada and the Human Resources Council on the Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector, Owen is also faculty for the Social Sector Leadership MBA at York University’s Schulich School of Business. He pushes for a stronger nonprofit sector voice in Canadian policy, as well as better working conditions for sector employees, often speaking and writing on issues facing the sector.

Annie Kidder is the Executive Director and a founder of People for Education. Formerly a theatre director, Kidder became involved in public education in Ontario in the late 1990’s and since then has become an expert on education policy and funding. She regularly provides advice to policy-makers and government, and her writing on education has been published in a range of media. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Ontario Principals’ Council 2004 Outstanding Contribution to Education Award, the Canadian Teachers’ Federation 2005 Public Education Advocacy Award, and in 2018, an honourary doctorate from York University. She has spoken at conferences in Canada, the United States, Europe, Africa and South America. She is regularly quoted in the media as an expert on education issues. She lives in Toronto.

The Honourable Rosemary Moodie was appointed to the Senate of Canada by the Governor-General of Canada, on December 12, 2018. Dr. Moodie is an independent Senator representing Ontario and sits on the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology and the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration. She is chair of the sub-committee on Diversity and Inclusion, Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Black Caucus and Chair of the African Canadian Senators Group. She is a Jamaican-born pediatrician and neonatologist who served in various leadership roles in the medical community in Toronto and internationally. Senator Moodie is a strong advocate for social justice and equity, especially for women and children, including as President and Chair of the YWCA. Senator Moodie is a champion for children and youth in the Senate of Canada. She has been active in pushing parliament towards a better recognition and appreciation of Children’s rights, and centering children in all of our policies. Her issues of interest include the creation of a federal advocacy centre for children and youth, ending child poverty and children’s health and healthcare. Senator Moodie has received many awards and distinctions as recognition of her service including; the Order of Ontario; the Order of Distinction – Commander Rank from the Government of Jamaica.

Terence Hamilton (he/him) is a policy and advocacy specialist at UNICEF Canada and a director at the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children. He also serves on the steering committee of Campaign 2000: End Child and Family Poverty. He is based on Treaty 13 territory in Toronto.

Jacob Colatosti is a grade 12 student from Hamilton, Ontario who will be attending University of Toronto later this year. He currently serves as a UNICEF Youth Advocate and is a litigant in the current constitutional challenge on the Canadian voting age. He actively engages in politics, law, and advocacy in a variety of different ways, including as a member of his riding’s Youth Constituency Council, as a participant in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario’s Parliament Program and more. Jacob’s advocacy efforts highlight the importance of youth having a voice politically and he looks forward to continuing his work on ensuring youth voices are represented on a national and international stage.

Brittany Mathews (she/her) is Michif and a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta. Her family more recently comes from St. Paul, Alberta with kinship relations from St. Francois Xavier in Manitoba. Brittany is passionate about the role that human rights, most especially the rights of First Nations, Métis and Inuit children and youth, play in achieving justice. She believes that this can happen through ensuring an ethical standard of relations between generations of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit and non-Indigenous peoples. Brittany has an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies and a minor in Conflict Studies and Human Rights from the University of Ottawa. She is honoured to have worked alongside First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth to research and write reports on ethical accountability mechanisms and ethical research requirements when organizations and individuals conduct research with Indigenous youth. In addition, Brittany is dedicated to elevating the collective vitality of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit through community organizing and creative outlets.

Bonjour, je me présente un peu je suis Yami un jeune homme militant pour plusieurs enjeux jeunesses, dont le Mouvement jeunes et santé mentale, coalition jeunes+, Panel Tapaj, Collectif ex placer. Je suis aussi un jeunes qui viens de sortir de l'itinérance depuis peu. Pour avancer dans la vie j'utilise beaucoup mon savoir experientiel.

Dr. Timothy Grant Evans joined McGill University in September 2019, as the Inaugural Director and Associate Dean of the School of Population and Global Health (SPGH) in the Faculty of Medicine and Associate Vice-Principal (Global Policy and Innovation). Since joining McGill, and in the context of the COVID-19 Pandemic, he was named as the Executive Director of Canada’s COVID-19 Immunity Task Force in April 2020. Prior to McGill, he spent 6 years as the Senior Director of the Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice at the World Bank Group. From 2010 to 2013, Tim was Dean of the James P. Grant School of Public Health at BRAC University in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Senior Advisor to the BRAC Health Program. From 2003 to 2010, he was Assistant Director General at the World Health Organization (WHO). Prior to this, he served as Director of the Health Equity Theme at the Rockefeller Foundation. Earlier in his career, he was an attending physician of internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and was Assistant Professor in International Health Economics at the Harvard School of Public Health. Tim has been at the forefront of advancing global health equity and strengthening health systems delivery for more than 20 years. At WHO, he led the Commission on Social Determinants of Health and oversaw the production of the annual World Health Report. He has been a co-founder of many partnerships including the Global Alliance on Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) as well as efforts to increase access to HIV treatment for mothers and innovative approaches to training community-based midwives in Bangladesh. Tim received his Medical Degree from McMaster University in Canada and was a Research and Internal Medicine Resident at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He earned a D.Phil. in Agricultural Economics from University of Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.

Hannah Brais is the research coordinator at the Old Brewery Mission and a doctoral candidate at McGill University’s Geography Department. She brings with her nearly a decade of frontline and research experience working with people across the housing spectrum. Her research questions focus on particular homeless population’s service needs and broader questions of housing precarity, with an emphasis on policy implications.

Abe Oudshoorn, RN, PhD is an Associate Professor and Associate Director in the School of Nursing at Western University and the Arthur Labatt Family Chair in Nursing Leadership in Health Equity. Having worked as a nurse with people experiencing homelessness in London, Ontario, Dr. Oudshoorn’s research focuses on homelessness, health equity, housing, and mental health. Dr. Oudshoorn is Managing Editor of the International Journal on Homelessness and recent recipient of the Gold Roof Award for Housing Research Excellence from CMHC.

Art Campbell is the Regional Director, Reintegration and Social Inclusion at the YMCAs of Québec. He leads a team of 60 front-line workers, mediators and managers which supports the reintegration of people who have been involved with the criminal justice system, who are experiencing homelessness, or who are at risk for homelessness, with 3 service centres on the island of Montreal, as well as in the two correctional facilities in Montreal and Rivière-des-Prairies.

Cécile Arbaud has been Executive Director of Dans la rue since mid-2013. Cécile is a member of the Board of two Canadian organizations: A Way Home Canada, a coalition to prevent and end youth homelessness in Canada and Making the Shift Social Innovation Lab, a Network of Centres of Excellence that funds, conducts, prototypes, and mobilizes cutting-edge research to prevent and end youth homelessness in Canada. She contributes to the expansion of the Coalition Jeunes+, spearheaded and supported by Dans la rue, in order to promote prevention of youth homelessness in Quebec. She co-leads the Youth working group of the Quebec Homelessness Prevention Policy Collaborative (Q-HPPC).

Dr. Christine Stich is Associate Professor at McGill University and Program Director of McGill’s Master of Science of Public Health (MScPH) Program. Dr. Stich is a psychologist and public health researcher by training. With more than a decade of experience in public health settings, Dr. Stich has conducted applied population health intervention research. Her area of expertise lies in developing and evaluating interventions that aim to prevent homelessness among youth and young adults. She is collaborating with community organizations that are supporting youth and young adults who experience homelessness and housing instability. Dr. Stich’s research involves taking a participatory approach in which researchers, youth, and community partners collaborate to co-create and share knowledge.

Born and raised in Kuujjuaq, Kitty Gordon now lives in Montreal. Before her current position as coordinator for the President’s Department at Makivik Kitty had posts in the health sector. Once a complaints commissioner for the Ungava Tulattavik Health Centre (UTHC) she really truly saw how important user rights are as they are often overlooked or ignored in the health and social services network. Once in the health sector she then obtained an Assistant Director position in the Public Health Department of the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services (NRBHS). She held on to the post until 2022.

Michael Rice was born and raised in Kahnawake and is a Kanien’keha:ka (Mohawk) of the Bear Clan. He is founder and past manager of the Caisse Populaire Kahnawake, the largest Indigenous credit union in North America. He has worked over 35 years as an access to capital and institutional development specialist in the areas of housing, commercial, developmental business, venture capital and infrastructure financing and is currently self-employed operating under the name of ATC Innovators. His housing work over the years has been with the credit union, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Community Infrastructure Branch, Housing as a Business (HaaB) and the Kahnawake Housing Department in initiatives to move First Nations communities to private home ownership. Mr. Rice holds an MBA from the Ivey School of Business, the University of Western Ontario. He is married with two sons and resides in Kahnawake.

Before obtaining a PhD in Public Policy, Nick Falvo spent 10 years working on the front line with persons experiencing homelessness. While at Carleton University, he developed and taught one of Canada’s only university-level courses on affordable housing and homelessness. From 2015 until 2019, Nick worked as Director of Research and Data at the Calgary Homeless Foundation. Fluently bilingual, he is Editor-in-Chief, North America, of the International Journal on Homelessness, and is the 2021 winner of the President’s Medal for Outstanding Housing Research — the highest honour given by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Coalition Jeunes+ is a Quebec-based alliance created in 2018 with the ultimate goal of preventing homelessness and respecting the rights of youth. The Coalition is inspired by the collective impact approach and aims to mobilize key stakeholders for concerted and constructive action based on the rights of youth.

Pearl Eliadis is an award-winning lawyer, educator and author. A senior human rights practitioner with more than three decades of experience, Pearl also serves as Associate Professor (professional) at McGill University. She has worked with the UN and other multilateral agencies in a dozen countries and with several human rights commissions and tribunals in Canada. Her recent areas of research and practice include the implementation of the right to adequate housing in Canada, and an initiative to develop a monitoring framework for the Officer of the Federal Housing Advocate. Pearl is Co-Chair of the Gender Research Stream of the Quebec Homelessness Prevention Policy Collaborative (Q-HPPC).

Melpa Kamateros is a graduate of Concordia University in Montreal, holds a bachelor's degree in political science, and a graduate degree in community politics and law. She is one of the founding members of the "Shield of Athena Family Services” (1991) and its shelter Athena’s House (2003) and is currently involved in the creation of a second stage resource for women and children in Laval (2022). Melpa has developed numerous public awareness campaigns with media on family violence and participated in international and national conferences, workshops and presentations related to community outreach, access to services, police procedures and resources for victims of violence. She served as a municipal councillor in the Town of Mount Royal between 2005 and 2013. Melpa is Co-Chair of the Gender Research Stream of the Quebec Homelessness Prevention Policy Collaborative (Q-HPPC).

Peter is a Professor in the School of Geography and Planning at Cardiff University in the UK, where the primary focus of his research and advisory work is homelessness prevention. His work has had considerable impact, including on the development of legislation and practice in multiple countries. Currently he is an Editor for the International Journal on Homelessness.

Eric Latimer, Ph.D., is a researcher at the Douglas Research Centre and a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University. A health economist by training, his research has spanned evidence-based practices for people with severe mental illness as well as people experiencing homelessness.

James Hughes has dedicated his career to the non-profit and social services sectors playing a pivotal role in championing social inclusion and helping to reduce poverty and end chronic homelessness in Canada. As the Old Brewery Mission’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Hughes is stewarding the Mission’s vision to see the end of chronic homelessness in our lifetime. Under his watch as Director General from 2004 until 2008, the Mission shifted from managing homelessness to focusing on reducing homelessness permanently through long-term solutions. He is co-chair of the Canadian Shelter Transformation Network, an author, and is the editor of Beyond Shelters: Solutions to Homelessness in Canada from the Front Lines.

Jill Hanley is Full Professor at the McGill School of Social Work where she teaches courses on Public Social Services, Migration and Community Development. She has studied access to housing for precarious status migrants, including refugee claimants, migrant workers and the undocumented. She is currently the Scientific Director of the SHERPA University Institute, which has a mandate from the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services to conduct applied research on access to health for immigrants and ethno-racial minority groups.
French: Jill Hanley est professeure titulaire à l’École de travail social de McGill où elle donne des cours sur les services sociaux publics, la migration et le développement communautaire. Elle a étudié l’accès au logement pour les migrants à statut précaire, y compris les demandeurs d’asile, les travailleurs migrants et les sans-papiers. Elle est actuellement directrice scientifique de l’Institut universitaire SHERPA, mandaté par le ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec pour mener des recherches appliquées sur l’accès à la santé des immigrants et des minorités ethnoraciales.

Marie-Andrée Gourde has been working at the Ministry of Health and Social Services since 2008 and is currently the homelessness coordinator. She actively participated in the implementation of the Quebec government's Politique nationale de lutte à l’itinérance (Provincial Homelessness Policy) in 2014, the various interdepartmental homelessness action plans that implemented the Policy (2009, 2014, 2021) as well as the adoption of numerous government policies aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness in Quebec. She previously worked in community youth organizations in Quebec City. She holds a master's degree in social work, specializing in interprofessional collaboration. She is currently working on a number of files in the fight against homelessness and takes a collaborative approach with partners.

Alison Smith is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto. She completed her PhD in Canadian politics and urban governance at l'Université de Montréal in 2016. Her teaching and research interests relate to Canadian politics and public policy, including complex policy making, homelessness governance, and the history of housing policy. Her forthcoming book, Multiple Barriers: The Multilevel Governance of Homelessness in Canada was published in July. It asks why homelessness governance is so different across the country, and argues that the fact that homelessness can be defined so differently explains many of these differences. She has two current research projects: one relates to homelessness governance in small, mid-sized, and Northern communities, and the other considers rent banks as a measure to prevent homelessness. When not teaching or researching, she is usually playing lego, chess, or baseball with her two young boys.

Heather has over 20 years of experience in delivering effective programs in the areas of health, education, and food security internationally, and with Indigenous organizations and communities in Canada. Heather is currently the Executive Director of Projets Autochtones du Québec (PAQ), an Indigenous organization accompanying First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples facing housing insecurity in Tio’tià: ke / Montréal. Using a culturally adapted approach based on empowerment and harm reduction, PAQ offers shelter, housing options and services that promote healing, well-being and community.
Prior to PAQ Heather served as President and CEO at Dignitas International, a Toronto-based global health and research organization. From 1999 to 2012 she worked in Mali, West Africa, managing a diverse portfolio of projects for international development organizations, including Oxfam.
Heather holds a BA in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Toronto, and an MA in Management and Development of Cooperatives from the Université de Sherbrooke.

Jennifer Proudfoot is the Senior Academic Associate - Partnerships and Knowledge Exchange at the IHSP, responsible for leading the Institute's knowledge translation and exchange work. She oversees the development of KT training initiatives, advises on KT strategy, implementation and evaluation, and facilitates dialogue and collaborations with policy, community and academic partners. Jennifer has extensive experience working across disciplines and sectors for policy and practice change in Canada and internationally.

Bio Coming Soon.

Philippe Tsaronsere Meilleur is Kanien'kehá:ka from Kanesatake. Dedicated to social justice, he began his professional career fundraising for organizations including Médecins Sans Frontières, Oxfam-Quebec and Amnistie internationale Canada francophone. In 2010, he joined Équiterre to work toward improving Montreal’s air quality. In 2014, he was named Executive Director of Native Montreal. Having earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a specialization in management, he immediately took the opportunity to found and develop Native Montreal to support the holistic health, cultural strength and success of Indigenous individuals, families and the community as a whole. Philippe has served as the President of the Regroupement des centres d'amitié autochtones du Québec since 2019 and helped found the Société immobilière du regroupement des centres d'amitié autochtones du Québec.

Philippe Tsaronsere Meilleur, Est Kanien'kehá:ka de Kanesatake. Ayant une sensibilité pour la justice sociale Philippe a commencé son parcours professionnel dans le domaine de la collecte de fonds pour des organismes tels que: Médecins sans frontières, Oxfam Québec et Amnistie internationale Canada francophone. En 2010, il s'est joint à l'équipe d'Équiterre pour travailler pour l'amélioration de la qualité de l'air de Montréal. En 2014, il a obtenu le poste de directeur général de Montréal Autochtone. Étant titulaire d’un baccalauréat en administration des affaires spécialisé en gestion, il a immédiatement saisi l'opportunité de fonder et développer Montréal Autochtone pour réaliser sa mission, qui vise à contribuer à la santé holistique, la force culturelle et le succès de familles autochtones, d’individus et de la communauté à Montréal. Depuis 2019, Philippe est aussi Président du Regroupement des centres d'amitié autochtones du Québec et membre fondateur de la Société immobilière du regroupement des centres d'amitié autochtones du Québec.

Bio Coming Soon.

Bio Coming Soon.

David Wachsmuth is the Canada Research Chair in Urban Governance at McGill University, where he is also an Associate Professor in the School of Urban Planning. He directs UPGo, the Urban Politics and Governance research group at McGill, where he leads a team of researchers investigating pressing urban governance problems related to economic development, environmental sustainability, and housing markets. A major focus of his work has been explaining a transition in policy and planning from identifying the city as a global sustainability problem to identifying the city as a solution to global sustainability problems. He is one of the world’s leading experts on the impacts of short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb on cities around the world, and consults widely with municipalities and community organizations on designing appropriate regulations. Dr. Wachsmuth has published widely in top journals in urban studies, planning and geography, and his work has been covered extensively in the national and international media, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Associated Press, and the Washington Post.

Bio Coming Soon.

Bio Coming Soon.

Adrienne Campbell has spent the last 15 years working with Indigenous communities (urban and in-community), specifically in the areas of housing, health, and homelessness. She has worked at the non-profit level as Executive Director of Projets Autochtones du Québec (PAQ) – an organization for Indigenous men and women who are in situations of homelessness or vulnerability, and at the public service level, most recently as the City of Montreal’s interim Commissioner of Indigenous Relations.

She currently works for the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) as Community Development Advisor.

Hannah Brais est coordonnatrice de la recherche à la Mission Old Brewery et candidate au doctorat au Département de géographie de l’Université McGill. Depuis près d’une décennie, elle mène des recherches et travaille en première ligne avec des personnes qui vivent des situations résidentielles diverses. Dans ses recherches, elle s’intéresse aux besoins en matière de services de certaines populations en situation d’itinérance et, plus largement, aux questions de précarité du logement et à leurs implications sur le plan des politiques publiques.

Abe Oudshoorn, inf., Ph.D., est professeur agrégé et directeur associé à l’École des sciences infirmières de l’Université Western et titulaire de la Arthur Labatt Family Chair in Nursing Leadership in Health Equity. Le Pr Oudshoorn, qui a travaillé comme infirmier auprès de personnes en situation d’itinérance à London (Ontario), mène des recherches sur l’itinérance, l’équité en santé, le logement et la santé mentale. Il est directeur de la rédaction de l’International Journal on Homelessness et a récemment reçu le prix Toit d’or pour l’excellence en recherche sur le logement de la SCHL.

Art Campbell est le directeur régional, secteur Réintégration et inclusion sociale aux YMCA du Québec. Il dirige une équipe de 60 intervenants de première ligne, de médiateurs et de gestionnaires offrant du soutien dans la reprise en main des personnes judiciarisées, en situation d’itinérance ou à risque de l’être, avec 3 points de service sur l’île de Montréal, ainsi qu’aux établissements de détention de Montréal et de Rivière-des-Prairies.

Cécile Arbaud est directrice générale de Dans la rue depuis mi 2013. Afin d’assoir le rôle de Dans la rue dans la lutte contre l’itinérance, notamment celle des jeunes, Cécile Arbaud est membre du conseil d’administration de deux organisations canadiennes : la coalition Vers un Chez Soi (A Way Home Canada), ainsi que le Réseau des Centres d’Excellence Changer de Direction (Making the Shift Social Innovation Lab). Enfin, elle appuie le développement de la Coalition Jeunes+, créée en 2019 à l’initiative et avec le soutien de Dans la rue, pour prévenir l’itinérance des jeunes au Québec. Et elle codirige le groupe de travail jeunesse du Collectif québécoise pour prévenir l’itinérance (CQPI).

Christine Stich, Ph. D., est professeure agrégée et directrice du programme de maîtrise ès sciences en santé publique à l’Université McGill. Elle est psychologue et chercheuse en santé publique de formation. Forte de plus d’une décennie d’expérience dans le domaine de la santé publique, la Pre Stich a mené des recherches interventionnelles appliquées en santé des populations. Elle est experte en matière d’élaboration et d’évaluation d’interventions visant à prévenir l’itinérance chez les jeunes et les jeunes adultes. Elle collabore avec des organisations communautaires qui aident les jeunes et les jeunes adultes en situation d’itinérance ou d’instabilité résidentielle. Dans ses recherches, elle adopte une démarche participative qui amène l’équipe de recherche, les jeunes et les partenaires communautaires à collaborer dans une visée de cocréation et de partage de connaissances.

Originaire de Kuujjuaq, Kitty Gordon vit aujourd’hui à Montréal. Actuellement coordonnatrice pour la présidence de la Société Makivik, Kitty a occupé divers postes dans le secteur de la santé au fil de sa carrière. Elle a notamment été commissaire aux plaintes pour le Centre de santé Tulattavik de l’Ungava (CSTU), où elle a compris toute l’importance des droits des utilisateurs, qui sont souvent négligés ou ignorés dans le réseau de la santé et des services sociaux. Elle a également occupé le poste de directrice adjointe à la Direction de la santé publique de la Régie régionale de la santé et des services sociaux du Nunavik (RRSSSN) jusqu’en 2022.

Michael Rice, Kanien’keha:ka (Mohawk) du clan de l’Ours, est né et a grandi à Kahnawake. Il est fondateur et ex-gestionnaire de la Caisse populaire Kahnawake, la plus grande coopérative de crédit autochtone d’Amérique du Nord. Pendant plus de 35 ans, il a travaillé comme spécialiste de l’accès au capital et du développement institutionnel dans les domaines du logement, du commerce, des entreprises en développement, du capital-risque et du financement des infrastructures. Il travaille actuellement à son compte sous le nom d’ATC Innovators. Au fil des ans, il a travaillé dans le domaine du logement auprès de la coopérative de crédit, de la Direction de l’infrastructure des communautés d’Affaires indiennes et du Nord Canada, de Housing as a Business (HaaB) et du Service du logement de Kahnawake dans le cadre d’initiatives visant à amener les communautés des Premières Nations à devenir propriétaires privés. M. Rice est titulaire d’une maîtrise en administration des affaires de l’Ivey School of Business de l’Université Western Ontario. Il est marié, a deux fils et habite à Kahnawake.

Avant d’obtenir un doctorat en politiques publiques, Nick Falvo a travaillé pendant 10 ans en première ligne avec des personnes en situation d’itinérance. À l’Université Carleton, il a créé et donné l’un des seuls cours de niveau universitaire au Canada sur le logement abordable et l’itinérance. De 2015 à 2019, Nick a été directeur de la recherche et des données à la Calgary Homeless Foundation. Parfaitement bilingue, il est rédacteur en chef pour l’Amérique du Nord de l’International Journal on Homelessness et a reçu en 2021 la Médaille de la présidence pour la recherche exceptionnelle sur le logement, la plus haute distinction décernée par la Société canadienne d’hypothèques et de logement.

La Coalition Jeunes+ est un ralliement québécois qui existe depuis 2018 dont l'objectif ultime est la prévention de l’itinérance et le respect des droits des jeunes. Cette Coalition est inspirée par l’approche d’impact collectif et vise une mobilisation des principaux acteur.trice.s pour une lutte concertée et constructive, fondée sur les droits des jeunes

Pearl Eliadis est une avocate, une pédagogue et une autrice primée. Praticienne chevronnée comptant plus de trois décennies d’expérience dans le domaine des droits de la personne, Pearl est également professeure agrégée (professionnelle) à l’Université McGill. Elle a travaillé avec les Nations Unies et d’autres organisations multilatérales dans une douzaine de pays de même qu’avec plusieurs commissions et tribunaux des droits de la personne au Canada. Ses récentes activités comme chercheuse et praticienne concernent notamment la mise en œuvre du droit à un logement adéquat au Canada et une initiative visant à développer un cadre de surveillance pour le Bureau du défenseur fédéral du logement. Pearl est coprésidente du volet de recherche sur le genre du Collectif québécois pour la prévention de l’itinérance (CQPI).

Melpa Kamateros est titulaire d’un baccalauréat en sciences politiques et d’un diplôme d’études supérieures en politique communautaire et en droit de l’Université Concordia. L’une des membres fondatrices de l’organisme Bouclier d’Athéna Services familiaux (1991) et de sa maison d’hébergement, la Maison d’Athéna (2003), elle participe actuellement à la création d’une ressource de deuxième étape pour les femmes et les enfants à Laval (2022). Melpa a conçu de nombreuses campagnes médiatiques de sensibilisation à la violence conjugale et a participé à des conférences, des ateliers et des présentations à l’échelle nationale et internationale sur l’approche communautaire, l’accès aux services, les procédures policières et les ressources pour les victimes de violence. Elle a été conseillère municipale à la Ville de Mont-Royal de 2005 à 2013. Melpa est coprésidente du volet de recherche sur le genre du Collectif québécois pour la prévention de l’itinérance (CQPI).

Peter Mackie est professeur à l’École de géographie et d’urbanisme de la Cardiff University, au Royaume-Uni, où ses activités de recherche et de conseil portent principalement sur la prévention de l’itinérance. Son travail influent a notamment orienté le développement des lois et des pratiques en la matière dans plusieurs pays. Il est actuellement membre du comité de rédaction de l’International Journal on Homelessness.

Eric Latimer, Ph. D., est chercheur au Centre de recherche Douglas et professeur titulaire au Département de psychiatrie de l’Université McGill. Économiste de la santé, ses travaux ont porté sur les pratiques fondées sur les données probantes pour les personnes ayant des troubles de santé mentale ainsi que sur les personnes en situation d’itinérance.

James Hughes a consacré sa carrière à œuvrer au sein des secteurs des services sociaux et des organismes à but non lucratif, en jouant un rôle essentiel dans la promotion de l’inclusion sociale, et en contribuant à réduire la pauvreté et mettre fin à l’itinérance chronique au Canada. En tant que président et chef de la direction de la Mission Old Brewery, M. Hughes porte la vision de la Mission, qui consiste à mettre fin à l’itinérance chronique une fois pour toutes. Sous sa direction de 2004 à 2008, la Mission est passée d’une approche de gestion de l’itinérance à une démarche de réduction permanente de l’itinérance par des solutions à long terme. Il est coprésident du Canadian Shelter Transformation Network, auteur, et a dirigé l’ouvrage Beyond Shelters: Solutions to Homelessness in Canada from the Front Lines (Au-delà des refuges : solutions à l’itinérance au Canada vues de la ligne de front).

Jill Hanley est professeure titulaire à l’École de travail social de McGill où elle donne des cours sur les services sociaux publics, la migration et le développement communautaire. Elle a étudié l’accès au logement pour les migrants à statut précaire, y compris les demandeurs d’asile, les travailleurs migrants et les sans-papiers. Elle est actuellement directrice scientifique de l’Institut universitaire SHERPA, mandaté par le ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec pour mener des recherches appliquées sur l’accès à la santé des immigrants et des minorités ethnoraciales.

Marie-Andrée Gourde travaille au ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux depuis 2008 et elle occupe présentement la fonction de coordonnatrice en itinérance. Elle a participé activement à la mise en place de la Politique nationale de lutte à l’itinérance au gouvernement du Québec (2014), des différents plans d’action interministériels qui la mettent en œuvre (2009, 2014, 2021) et à l’adoption de nombreuses orientations gouvernementales visant à prévenir et réduire l’itinérance au Québec. Elle a œuvré auparavant au sein d’organismes communautaires jeunesse à Québec. Elle détient une maîtrise en travail social, spécialisée sur la question de la collaboration interprofessionnelle. Elle travaille actuellement sur de nombreux dossiers structurants dans la lutte à l’itinérance avec une approche de collaboration avec les partenaires.

Alison Smith est professeure adjointe de sciences politiques à l’Université de Toronto. Elle a obtenu un doctorat en politique canadienne et gouvernance urbaine de l’Université de Montréal en 2016. Dans son enseignement et ses recherches en politique canadienne et politiques publiques, elle s’intéresse notamment à l’élaboration de politiques complexes, à la gouvernance de l’itinérance et à l’histoire des politiques de logement. Son ouvrage Multiple Barriers: The Multilevel Governance of Homelessness in Canada a été publié en juillet dernier. Elle y explore les raisons derrière la grande diversité des approches de gouvernance de l’itinérance adoptées au Canada, en avançant que ces divergences pourraient s’expliquer en grande partie par les différentes définitions possibles de l’itinérance. Elle mène deux projets de recherche à l’heure actuelle : l’un porte sur la gouvernance de l’itinérance dans les collectivités de petite et de moyenne taille et les collectivités nordiques, et l’autre vise à étudier les banques d’aide au loyer comme mesure de prévention de l’itinérance. Dans ses temps libres, elle adore jouer aux lego, aux échecs ou au baseball avec ses deux jeunes garçons.

Heather a plus de 20 ans d’expérience dans la gestion de programmes de santé, d’éducation et de sécurité alimentaire à l’échelle internationale, ainsi qu’au sein d’organisations et de communautés autochtones au Canada. Elle occupe depuis décembre 2019 le poste de directrice générale de Projets Autochtones du Québec (PAQ), un refuge et logements de transition pour personnes autochtones en situation d’itinérance ou à risque à Montréal. Avant PAQ, Heather était PDG de Dignitas International, une organisation mondiale de recherche et de santé basée à Toronto. De 1999 à 2012, elle a travaillé au Mali et en Afrique de l’Ouest, gérant un portefeuille diversifié de projets pour des organisations internationales de développement, dont Oxfam.

Heather détient un baccalauréat en Études sur la paix et les conflits de l’Université de Toronto et une maîtrise en Gestion et développement des coopératives de l’Université de Sherbrooke.

Jennifer Proudfoot est associée principale aux activités professorales – partenariats et échange des connaissances à l’Institut des politiques sociales et de la santé. Elle dirige les travaux d’application et d’échange de connaissances de l’Institut. Elle supervise l’élaboration d’initiatives de formation en application des connaissances, donne des conseils stratégiques en la matière, offre un accompagnement pour la mise en œuvre et l’évaluation et facilite le dialogue et la collaboration avec les partenaires décisionnaires, communautaires et universitaires. Jennifer a une vaste expérience de collaboration interdisciplinaire et intersectorielle visant le changement des politiques et des pratiques au Canada et à l’étranger.

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David Wachsmuth est titulaire de la Chaire de recherche du Canada en gouvernance urbaine et professeur agrégé à l’École d’urbanisme de l’Université McGill. Il dirige le Groupe de recherche sur les politiques et la gouvernance urbaines (UPGo) à McGill, qui se penche sur les problèmes urgents de gouvernance urbaine liés au développement économique, au développement durable et aux marchés de l’habitation. Ses travaux visent notamment à expliquer le virage qui s’effectue en matière de politiques publiques et d’urbanisme vers une vision de la ville comme solution aux problèmes mondiaux de développement durable, plutôt qu’un problème en elle-même. Grand expert des répercussions des plateformes de location à court terme (Airbnb et autres) dans les villes à l’échelle mondiale, il conseille de nombreuses municipalités et organisations communautaires qui souhaitent élaborer une réglementation en la matière. Il a publié de nombreux articles dans des revues de premier plan en études urbaines, urbanisme et géographie, et ses travaux ont été cités abondamment dans des médias nationaux et internationaux, dont le New York Times, le Wall Street Journal, Associated Press et le Washington Post.

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Adrienne Campbell a passé les 15 dernières années à travailler avec les communautés autochtones (en milieu urbain et au sein des communautés), en particulier dans les domaines du logement, de la santé et de l'itinérance. Elle a travaillé dans le secteur communautaire en tant que directrice générale de Projets Autochtones du Québec (PAQ), une organisation pour les hommes et les femmes autochtones en situation d'itinérance ou de vulnérabilité, et dans les services publics, plus récemment en tant que commissaire intérimaire aux relations avec les peuples autochtones de la Ville de Montréal.

Elle travaille actuellement pour le Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) en tant que conseillère en développement communautaire aux relations avec les peuples autochtones.

Serge Lareault has served as Montreal’s Commissioner for people experiencing homelessness since 2016. In his role in the city’s department promoting diversity and social inclusion, he advises the administration on strategies to combat homelessness. He also works with the city’s managers and elected officials to promote inclusive policies aimed at developing services for people experiencing homelessness in Montreal. He contributes to the city’s strategic vision to ensure it is fully engaged in his areas of expertise and negotiates with the Quebec government and various partners on homelessness issues.

Mr. Lareault has been specialized in social development for over 30 years. From 1994 to 2014, he was the editor and general manager of Groupe L’Itinéraire, an organization promoting the social and professional reintegration of people who have experienced homelessness.

With a group of 30 US and Canadian street newspapers, he helped found the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) in Chicago in 1995. From 2006 to 2015, he also served as president of the International Network of Street Papers (INSP), an organization of over 100 street newspapers from 40 countries based in Glasgow, Scotland.

Mr. Lareault has degrees in journalism from UQAM and French studies from the Université de Montréal and has held various positions managing social economy, copywriting, public relations and business financing projects.

In 2012, he was awarded the Persillier-Lachapelle distinguished career prize by the Minister of Health and Social Services in recognition of nearly 20 years of contributions to improving the living conditions of vulnerable people.

Serge Lareault est, depuis avril 2016, Commissaire aux personnes en situation d’itinérance de la Ville de Montréal. Au sein du Service de la diversité et de l’inclusion sociale, son mandat est de conseiller l’administration municipale sur les stratégies de lutte contre l’itinérance.

Il s’agit d’un rôle-conseil auprès de la direction de la Ville et des élus pour l’adoption de politiques inclusives favorisant le développement des services d’aide aux personnes itinérantes sur le territoire de la Métropole. Il contribue notamment à la vision stratégique des actions municipales pour un plein engagement de la Ville dans ses champs de compétences. Il œuvre également aux négociations avec le gouvernement du Québec et les différents partenaires en itinérance.

Spécialisé depuis 30 ans dans le développement social, il a été éditeur et directeur général du Groupe L’Itinéraire de 1994 à 2014, une organisation qui favorise la réinsertion socioprofessionnelle des personnes ayant connu l’itinérance.

Avec un groupe de 30 journaux de rue américains et canadiens, il a contribué à la fondation de la North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) à Chicago en 1995. M. Lareault a également été président de l’International Network of Street Papers (INSP) de 2006 à 2015, un regroupement d’une centaine de journaux de rue dans 40 pays dont le siège social est situé à Glasgow, en Écosse.

Diplômé de l’UQAM en journalisme et de l’Université de Montréal en Études françaises, Serge Lareault a occupé diverses responsabilités en gestion de projets d’économie sociale, rédaction, relations publiques et financement d’entreprises. Serge Lareault a reçu en octobre 2012 le prestigieux prix de Carrière Persillier-Lachapelle, remis par le Ministre de la Santé et des Services sociaux, pour sa contribution de près de 20 ans à l’amélioration des conditions de vie des personnes vulnérables.

Isabel Gervais détient un baccalauréat en criminologie et une maîtrise avec mémoire dans la même discipline à l’Université de Montréal. Elle travaille et s’implique dans le milieu communautaire, particulièrement auprès des groupes marginalisés, vulnérables et/ou judiciarisés, depuis de nombreuses années. Elle intègre l’approche globale centrée sur les besoins, le cadre d’analyse de l’intersectionnalité et l’alternative en santé mentale dans son travail.

Elle se joint à l’équipe du YMCA en mars 2020 où elle reprend le flambeau de Sortie Carcérale Planifiée, un service visant à préparer la libération d’hommes incarcérés en établissement carcéral provincial à risque d’itinérance à leur sortie afin de briser les cycles d’itinérance et favoriser la réintégration sociocommunautaire. Elle en est la superviseure depuis 2022. Elle offre des ateliers de sensibilisation aux enjeux de l’itinérance à divers publics et présente l’impact du service dans des conférences provinciales et nationales, dont la rencontre annuelle de l’Alliance Canadienne pour mettre fin à l’itinérance tenue à Toronto en 2022.

Isabel Gervais holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree (with thesis) in criminology from the Université de Montréal. She has worked and been involved in community-based organizations for many years, helping groups that are marginalized, vulnerable and navigating the justice system. In her work, Isabel’s approach is holistic and needs-centred and integrates intersectional analysis and alternative practices in mental health.

She joined the YMCA team in March 2020, taking over the helm of its planning for prison release program, which prepares and supports inmates who would otherwise have nowhere to go upon their release to break the cycle of homelessness and ease their reintegration back into the community. She has served as the program’s supervisor since 2022. She gives workshops on homelessness awareness to various groups and presentations on the program’s impact at provincial and national conferences, including the 2022 edition of the National Conference on Ending Homelessness in Toronto

I am a Mohawk from Kahnawake Quebec, Canada. I am a spiritual healer and teacher and have been since 1990. During this time, I have met and shared with thousands of people from the native and non-native communities, locally and from around the world. I am truly blessed to be part of the miracle of a persons transformation, as well as being influential and witness to these many wonders and awakenings. Great Peace be with you.

Je suis Mohawk de Kahnawake, Québec, Canada. Je suis guérisseur spirituelle et enseignant depuis 1990. Pendant cette période, j'ai rencontré et partagé avec des milliers de personnes des communautés autochtones et non autochtones, localement et dans le monde entier. J'ai la chance de participer au miracle qu'est la transformation d'une personne et d'être un témoin influent de nombreux merveilles.