After having taken a brief hiatus in 2024 to retool our awards so they better reflect the current realities of the housing sector, we were proud to honour the recipients of the 2025 CHRA Awards on May 1 at the CHRA Congress in Saskatoon.

Read on to learn more about and to hear from this year’s award winners.

 

Indigenous Cultural Sustainability: Skigin-Elnoog Non-Profit Housing

The Indigenous Cultural Sustainability Award recognizes an Indigenous-led and -serving organization that offers culturally appropriate housing and services by successfully integrating Indigenous culture, language, and traditions into its design, programming, and other offerings.

Skigin Elnoog provides more than 400 units of affordable Indigenous housing throughout New Brunswick. Indigenous-governed and operated, Skigin Elnoog has a proud 50-year tradition of housing urban and rural Indigenous people in New Brunswick.

Completed in 2024, the Mahsus Lane project is a 17-unit building for Indigenous seniors and people who have physical disabilities. As the first project in Fredericton dedicated to Indigenous seniors, it fills an important gap within the spectrum of urban Indigenous housing.

“The CHRA award for Indigenous Cultural Sustainability helps solidifies our commitment to our founding principles: better housing for our people and self sufficiency. Our organization worked hard creating a space for our elders to feel safe and at home in a place that embraces and encourages them to pass along their knowledge and wisdom to the next generation. NIHKANAPOLTIPON - we are looking forward”, says Christin Swim, Skigin-Elnoog’s General Manager.

Learn more about the Mahsus lane project and its impact on the community.

 

Outstanding Development: Greater Victoria Housing Society

The Outstanding Development Award honours an organization that has completed an innovative and ambitious community housing/shelter development/redevelopment that meets housing need in its community.

The Lions at Fleming is a 137-unit affordable rental community owned and operated by the Greater Victoria Housing Society, in Esquimalt, British Columbia. part of the Greater Victoria region.

The Lions at Fleming opened its doors in November 2024. The Lions offers larger units for families – five three-bedroom units, and six two-storey four-bedroom units – as well as a number of fully accessible units.

“We are very proud to receive this award,” said Virginia Holden, CEO, Greater Victoria Housing Society. “It reflects the hard work of our staff and partners who helped make The Lions at Fleming a reality. Designed to enhance community living, featuring innovative aspects that improve residents’ quality of life while promoting eco-friendly practices, this project addresses the urgent housing needs in our community and sets a great example for future developments”.

Learn more about The Lions at Fleming and the community it serves.

 

Outstanding Programs and Initiatives: Invisible People

The Outstanding Programs and Initiatives Award honours an organization that has implemented an innovative program or initiative that supports the needs of its community.

Invisible People is a non-profit dedicated to educating the public about homelessness through innovative storytelling, news, and advocacy. Since its launch in 2008, Invisible People has become a pioneer and a trusted resource for inspiring action and raising awareness in support of advocacy, policy change, and thoughtful dialogue around poverty in North America and the United Kingdom.

Invisible People imagines a world where everyone has a place to call home. They work to fight homelessness by giving it a face while educating individuals about the systemic issues that contribute to its existence. Through storytelling, education, news, and activism, they are changing the narrative on homelessness.

“Recognition like this helps fuel our mission, and we’re extremely grateful”, says Mark Horvath, Founder of Invisible People.

Learn more about Invisible People and its mission.

 

Leadership: Pamela Hine

The Leadership Award honours leadership in the housing and homelessness sector. Nominees are individuals who exemplify excellence in leadership within their organizations, communities, the housing and homelessness sector, and/or on the national stage.

Pamela Hine exemplifies excellence in leadership within the affordable sustainable community housing sector in the North and across the nation from coast to coast to coast.

Pam’s experience in leadership and as a volunteer speaks volumes of her impact on the community housing sector in the north, across the country, and internationally. In her Vice-President roles at CMHC, as President of Yukon Housing Corporation, as Deputy Minister for the Government of Nunavut, and as a board member for Rooftops International, Habitat for Humanity, and CHRA, Pam has always been guided by her deep commitment to housing and social justice.

Pam tells us, “Receiving the CHRA Leadership Award is deeply meaningful. It's more than just an accolade; it's a powerful affirmation of the amazing opportunities I have had throughout my career in the housing sector. This recognition from an organization as respected as CHRA, validates my commitment to creating safe, affordable, and thriving communities across Canada. It truly inspires me, and future leaders, to continue innovating and advocating for housing solutions that make a tangible difference in people's lives, ensuring that everyone has a place to call home”.

Learn more about Pam and her impact on the sector.

 

Submit your nomination for the 2026 Awards by November 28!