From April 29-May 1, we hosted over 600 attendees, speakers, tradeshow exhibitors, and sponsors in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for the 2025 CHRA Congress – our biggest since we returned to in-person events in 2023.

This year, more than half of attendees who responded to our post-Congress survey identified themselves as first-time attendees, and as having worked in the community housing and homelessness sector for fewer than five years. The enthusiasm and fresh perspectives brought by these attendees added an extra energy that was evident throughout the week.

Read on to see some of the highlights from the 2025 Congress.

 

Indigenous Innovation Forum

More than 150 attendees joined us on April 29 for the ever popular, third annual Indigenous Innovation Forum (IIF), hosted by the Indigenous Caucus.

This year’s IIF began with Elder Lyndon Linklater performing a smudging ceremony and offering attendees an opening blessing. The program’s panels highlighted solutions to meet the needs of Indigenous Peoples living in urban, rural, and northern areas. Speakers included Keynote Kim Kakakaway from A Way Home Canada, Saskatoon Tribal Chief Mark Arcand, and Saskatchewan MLA April ChiefCalf.

Métis Elder Louise Pederson closed the days events with her blessing.

 

Pre-Congress courses

This year, we offered three pre-Congress courses. Nearly 100 delegates attended:

• Professional Development as Wrap Around Support for Staff: Navigating organizational change, staff burnout, and sector challenges with instructor Katie McDonald, Associate Professor at Athabasca University.
• Leading with Equity: Integrating DEI into your housing organization with instructor Natalie Duchesne, Owner of Connect2Knowledge Inc.
• The Intersection of Housing and Homelessness with instructor Nick Falvo, Research Consultant at Nick Falvo Consulting.

 

Sessions

This year’s sessions were thoughtfully created from the many submissions we received in fall 2024. With a focus on housing justice, equity, innovation, creative problem-solving, and case studies that illustrated some of the exciting developments taking place in community housing across the country, many attendees remarked that they had a difficult time choosing between the many sessions that piqued their interest – a great problem to have!

Title sponsor Métis Nation-Saskatchewan hosted a stream of sessions that highlighted some of the challenges, opportunities, and realities of housing for Métis and First Nations communities in Saskatchewan. They also offered Métis 101 – a guide to the Métis people and Michif language, which proved to be very popular!

 

Plenaries

Keynote Speaker Dr. Prentiss Dantzler, Associate Professor and Founding Director of the Housing Justice Lab at the University of Toronto gave us an engaging look into housing justice and the housing challenges facing racialized communities, challenging us to address implicit biases and work towards a more equitable future. His presentation and interaction with attendees started Congress off on the right note, urging us to view our roles in the sector through an equity lens.

Day two of Congress began with a special live recording of the On the Way Home podcast, hosted by then-CHRA Board member Michael Braithwaite. Guests discussed their experience in the Housing Professionals Mentorship Program, how it helped them in their housing careers – mentors and mentees alike, and how the Program is working to build sector sustainability.

Immediately following the podcast recording, we presented the 2025 CHRA Awards. Board President Margaret Pfoh and Peter Altobelli of Yardi (Awards sponsor) presented the following awards:

• Indigenous Cultural Sustainability Award: Organization - Skigin-Elnoog Housing Corporation,
• Outstanding Programs and Initiatives Award: Organization - Invisible People,
• Leadership Award: Individual - Pamela Hine, and
• Outstanding Development Award: Organization - Greater Victoria Housing Society.

Our Congress send-off took the form of a gameshow – specifically, an “End the Housing Game” gameshow. Team captains Steve Pomeroy (housing scholar and consultant) and Lisa Ker (Executive Director of the Community Housing Transformation Centre) led their teams through a round of trivia designed to get contestants and the audience thinking about the current realities of, and the future we hope for the sector. The winning team received their very own “Houser/Horser” (if you know, you know) awards.

 

Caucuses and working group meetings

The Black Caucus held its second annual meeting over lunch on April 30. The meeting welcomed participants who self-identify as Black, including professionals in housing policy, non-profit housing providers, developers, lived experts, and service providers offering opportunities to share insights, align, and shape the future of Black housing advocacy.

We also held our first Supportive Housing Working Group meeting over lunch on May 1. Led by Victor Willis of Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre (PARC), attendees connected, learned from each other, and discussed ways to provide better supportive housing.

 

Social events

Networking has always been one of the main draws of Congress. We make a point of offering plenty of opportunities for delegates to meet and build relationships in person in casual settings, and this year was no different.

From the Indigenous Caucus social, which opened our social events the evening of April 28, to the Closing Party on May 1, delegates relaxed while enjoying good food and company. Those who attended the President’s Pyjamas and Pearls Party got the chance to see their colleagues in their jammies and celebrate Margaret Pfoh’s amazing term as CHRA Board President.

 

Batoche Day

Following Congress on May 2, title sponsor Métis Nation-Saskatchewan offered a free event for Congress attendees – the Special Métis Experience at Batoche. 100 lucky attendees enjoyed an unforgettable day of Métis history, culture, and community, which included a guided Tour of Batoche Historic Site, lunch at Dumont Lodge, a bison viewing, and more. Thanks once again to Métis Nation-Saskatchewan for offering this unique experience.

 

Save the date

The 2026 CHRA Congress is taking place St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, April 21-23. We hope to see you there!

Stay tuned to our Flash newsletter and communications channels for more information and to be notified when we launch the call for session proposals this fall.

See photo highlights of the 2025 Congress.