Media Advisory - Thriving People, Thriving Places: Why Affordable Housing Matters (and what you can do about it)

TORONTO, Oct. 17, 2012 /CNW/ - On October 24, civic leaders, residents, and housing experts will gather to discuss affordable housing challenges in the Toronto region.

The event creates a space for a diverse set of individuals and organizations to meet, make new connections, and develop a shared understanding of affordability in the Toronto region. Thriving People, Thriving Places is a partnership between Toronto Community Housing and CivicAction's Emerging Leaders Network (ELN).

The agenda will focus on:

• The importance of housing in creating strong, healthy communities
• Different options for delivering affordable housing
• Creative solutions for maintaining buildings

What: Thriving People, Thriving Places: Why Affordable Housing Matters (and what you can do about it)
Date: Wednesday October 24, 2012
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas Street East
Who:

• Hon. Kathleen Wynne, Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
• Gene Jones, President and CEO, Toronto Community Housing
• Mitzie Hunter, CEO, CivicAction
• Salima Rawji, Co-chair, CivicAction's Emerging Leaders Network (ELN)
• Tim Jones, CEO, Artscape
• Other speakers and guests

The event will help build the partnerships needed to tackle the affordable housing challenges in the Toronto region. Recommendations from participants will also inform Toronto Community Housing's 2013-2015 strategic plan.

Learn more on the event registration page.

Parking Directions:
Paid public parking is available in the underground lot beneath the Daniels Spectrum. The vehicle entrance is off the laneway to the south of the centre, accessible via Sackville Avenue just south of Dundas Street East.

CivicAction's Emerging Leaders Network (ELN): The Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance is a coalition of senior and rising business, non-profit, government, academic, and community leaders that drives action around the tough issues and big opportunities facing the Toronto region. CivicAction instigates projects that will increase the region's economic prosperity and make its people and places thrive. For 2012-2013, CivicAction has three areas of focus: accelerating regional transportation; enhancing the region's economic performance; and fostering inclusion and resilience. Through the Emerging Leaders Network (ELN), CivicAction engages the region's top rising leaders, including more than 100 DiverseCity Fellows selected through a highly competitive process for a one-year leadership program. Visit www.civicaction.ca to learn more.

Toronto Community Housing:
Toronto Community Housing (www.torontohousing.ca) is Canada's largest social housing provider and home to more than 164,000 tenants with low and moderate incomes—about six per cent of Toronto's population. Toronto Community Housing and its subsidiaries employ 1,400 staff in a broad range of jobs, who deliver its mission to provide affordable housing, connect tenants to services and opportunities, and work together to build healthy communities.

SOURCE: CivicAction's Emerging Leaders Network (ELN)

Media contact: Sara Goldvine, 416-981-4252 or [email protected]