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Join us for Ending Homelessness is Possible: Lessons from Finland!
Learn about Finland's success in effectively ending homelessness and how Canada can do so as well. Senior reporter Catherine Cullen, host of CBC's The House will moderate a conversation with Finland's Y-Foundation CEO Teija Ojankoski and Head of International Affairs, Juha Kahila, who have led the way in Finland's progress towards ending homelessness.
They'll be joined by Federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities, Sean Fraser, and Jocelyn Formsma, Executive Director of the National Association of Native Friendship Centres, and Board Chair of the National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc. (NICHI).
- Communities across the country are also hosting local viewing parties of this event. These events will stream the full discussion, and provide an opportunity to engage local decision-makers in solutions to end homelessness. If you would like to host a viewing party in your community, email [email protected]
This event is in partnership with the Canadian Housing & Renewal Association, Carleton University, the Safe & Affordable grant, and the Housing Assessment Resource Tool (HART).
Biographies:
Catherine Cullen
Host, CBC's The House
Catherine Cullen is host of CBC’s award-winning political program The House on CBC Radio and CBC Listen, and a senior reporter in the Parliament Hill bureau.
She’s broadcasted from across the globe, including Beijing, Addis Ababa, London, Brussels and Washington D.C. Catherine is a familiar face to viewers of The National and CBC News Network’s Power & Politics. Catherine has also worked in Vancouver and Toronto and guest hosted a wide variety of CBC programs, from The Current and As It Happens to World Report.
Jocelyn Formsma
CEO, National Association of Friendship Centre
Jocelyn is a member of Moose Cree First Nation and resides in Ottawa, Ontario. She was born and raised in Mushkegowuk territory (James Bay) in the Eastern side of Treaty #9 in Northern Ontario. Jocelyn completed both her Honours Bachelors of Social Sciences and Juris Doctor (JD) at the University of Ottawa. She has over 18 years of experience working with First Nations and Aboriginal organizations in the areas of social development, Indigenous children’s rights, law, media, youth engagement, and international advocacy. Ms. Formsma is currently the Executive Director of the National Association of Friendship Centres, and sits on the Board of the National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc. (NICHI).
Sean Fraser
Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
The Honourable Sean Fraser was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Central Nova in 2015. He has previously served as Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and to the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance, and as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. In 2021, he also served concurrently as Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister.
Before entering politics, Minister Fraser had a successful legal career with one of Canada’s top-ranked law firms, where he practised commercial litigation and international dispute resolution. He is a long-time volunteer, having served as the Vice-President of a local branch of the United Nations Association in Canada, acted as a Research Fellow with the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law, and provided pro- bono legal services to the local BGC Club and vulnerable community members.
Juha Kahila
Head of International Affairs, Y-Foundation
Juha Kahila leads International Affairs at the Y-Foundation, the biggest Finnish NGO. They provide housing for homeless people and social housing with a housing stock of 18,500 units. Kahila also coordinates the Nordic Homelessness Alliance and facilitates a workgroup in the Housing First Europe Hub. He holds an extensive work history in housing.
Previously, Juha led the National Housing First Development Network in Finland. The Network includes all key stakeholders regarding homelessness work. Juha has also worked as a front-line support worker as well as a service manager and a CEO of a Housing First service provider.
Teija Ojankoski
CEO, Y-Foundation
With over 20 years of versatile experience in management and leadership Teija Ojankoski is a professional in strategy processes and implementation, both in municipal and company environments. Ojankoski’s work history contains in-depth knowledge of social housing and homelessness, its financial systems and development and its clients. She brings her expansive expertise working in the sector and with municipal administration to the table.
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