Campbell River Housing Symposium
March 6, 2026
Thank you to everyone who attended and supported this event!
The goal of the inaugural Campbell River Housing Symposium was to foster partnerships for housing and encourage innovative community-based solutions focussed on non-market, low-income/subsidized, and affordable housing. Using breakout rooms, we also invited front-line housing and homelessness staff to participate.
Our team is now looking at next steps: Making connections, forming working groups/relationships, and so on to ensure that the event remains actionable!
Our day included:
Plenary Session - The Current State: Housing Need & Development Challenges
Development Panel Discussion #1 - Innovation in Housing: Unique and Emerging Models
Development Panel Discussion #2 - Making Projects Possible: Partnerships, Funding, and Land
Front-line Breakout Session #1: Service Availability for Seniors in Need
Front-line Breakout Session #2: Solution-Focused Networking for Service Providers (World Café–style)
Thank you to our panelists!
Brenda Knights - CEO, BC Indigenous Housing Society
Thom Armstrong - CEO, Cooperative Housing Federation
Kaeley Wiseman - Principal, Wiser Projects
Andrea Blakeman - CEO, Ballenas Housing Society
Taryn O’Flanagan - Executive Director, Vancouver Island Mental Health Society
Sandy Mackay & Jamie Bégin - M'akola Development
Alicia Medina - Director of Real Estate Investment, Sacha Investments
Andy Gaylor - Director of Community Livability, City of Campbell River
John Bourcet - Planning Manager, Woodsmere Holdings
Stefanie Hendrickson - Executive Director, Strathcona Housing Alliance
Mary Catherine Williams - Campbell River Seniors Network