Finding professional development that’s right for you
CIH Canada has heard from members that finding the right professional development opportunity can be time-consuming and overwhelming. To support the growth of the housing sector, we have compiled this online Professional Development Navigation Tool. Designed with practitioners in mind, the tool brings together courses, certifications, conferences, and other training opportunities in one accessible place, organized by topic, role type, format, and cost.
Whether you are building new skills, exploring a career transition, or planning long-term development for you or your team, this resource will help you discover relevant learning opportunities and see how they connect across different stages of your career.
This is a living and growing tool, so if there are opportunities that you would like us to add, please reach out and let us know!
Categories
We have organized the professional development opportunities to reflect the different kinds of work that people are engaged in and the different ways of engaging with professional development.
Asset
Asset-focused professional development builds skills in maintaining, upgrading, and strategically managing housing stock to ensure it remains safe, sustainable, and fit for purpose. It is important because strong asset management protects long-term investment, supports compliance, and improves living conditions for tenants.
Development
Development professional learning covers planning, financing, and delivering new or redeveloped housing to meet current and future demand. This area is vital as it enables housing providers to expand supply, respond to community needs, and deliver projects that are financially and socially sustainable.
Professional Practice
Professional practice focuses on ethics, governance, leadership, and continuous improvement in social housing roles. It is important because it strengthens accountability, decision-making, and sector credibility while supporting high-quality, consistent service delivery.
Conferences
Conferences provide opportunities to share knowledge, learn from sector experts, and stay informed about emerging trends and innovations. They are important because they encourage collaboration, broaden perspectives, and help professionals adapt to changes across the housing sector.
Tenants and Applicants
Tenant and Applicant professional development builds skills in engagement, understanding tenant rights, communication, and service delivery for tenants and housing applicants. It is essential because effective tenant-focused practice supports positive housing outcomes, fairness, and trust between providers and communities
Policy and Legislation
Policy and legislation professional development ensures practitioners understand and comply with regulatory, legal, and funding requirements. It is important because informed practice reduces risk, supports good governance, and enables organisations to respond confidently to policy change.
Equity, Diversity and Reconciliation
Professional development in equity, diversity and reconciliation builds awareness, cultural capability, and inclusive practice across social housing services. It is important because it helps reduce barriers, supports fair access to housing, strengthens relationships with diverse communities, and advances reconciliation through respectful and informed practice.
Sarah Button’s Journey into Housing
Sarah Button is the Executive Director of Centretown Citizens Ottawa Operation and is a Member of the Canadian Institute for Planners, and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Sarah Button’s path into housing wasn’t linear—but it was always intentional. With a background in communications and architecture, she found herself drawn not to buildings themselves, but to the systems and communities they serve. A pivotal internship with Rooftops Canada in the Philippines sparked her interest in affordable housing. From there, she worked with CCOC on landmark projects like Beaver Barracks, pursued a planning degree in the UK, and stayed connected through volunteerism, board service, and sector events—even when formal jobs in housing were scarce.
Professional development has been central to Sarah’s trajectory. She’s participated in everything from the CHRA Emerging Professionals Program to planning accreditation in two countries, anti-racism training, and the Women’s Impact Alliance leadership program—with its executive coaching and global peer learning. These experiences, along with her systems mindset and persistence, prepared her to lead. As she puts it: “to work in housing, you’ve got to love complicated problems, and you’ve got to believe solutions are possible.” That belief continues to guide her work at the intersection of policy, planning, and community housing.
Hannah Ehler’s Journey into Housing
Originally from Nova Scotia, Hannah holds a self-designed degree in community planning from Mount Allison University, and has a diverse background in food security, co-operative/social enterprise development, and communications. She has board and committee experience on provincial and national levels. Hannah held the housing file during her time in student politics, and later secured funding from Evergreen Canada to educate youth about tenants' rights. Prior to Cahdco, she worked in federal politics on infrastructure and finance files. Hannah considers herself an affordable housing developer and educator, supporting numerous retrofit and new-build housing projects in Ottawa, and manages a national initiative investigating how to scale non-profit and private partnerships. Outside of work, Hannah is a volunteer Red Cross emergency responder in Ottawa. She is almost always spending time with other people, and loves public speaking, reading and staying active.
Hannah Ehler’s career in housing is still emerging, but her commitment to the sector is already clear. Originally from rural Nova Scotia, she hadn’t considered housing or urban planning as career options growing up—those paths just weren’t visible. It wasn’t until university that she began connecting the dots between systems thinking, community resilience, and the built environment. Now at CAHDCO, as a Project Coordinator, she brings that same curiosity and drive to her work, finding purpose in work that aligns with her values.
Professional development has played a key role in her journey. Hannah holds her CAPM and often draws on project management training in her day-to-day role. But it’s not just about credentials—it's about intention. “I need to be in work that aligns with my values,” she says. “This sector has an incredible network of people who are just trying to do good—one day at a time.” That sense of community, purpose, and possibility keeps her grounded and growing.
Louis-Phillipe Myre
Louis-Philippe Myre, Executive Director of Interloge and President of ACHAT, entered the housing sector through an unexpected path. With early roots in fine arts and communication, his turning point came when he helped an artists’ cooperative fight real estate speculation—an experience that sparked his passion for cooperative housing and community governance. Over the next decade, he built deep technical and organizational expertise, from advising on energy efficiency to leading member services in the cooperative sector. He describes himself as having “a developer’s personality,” he joined Interloge in 2019 and became General Manager two years later, applying his drive for understanding systems and building solutions.
Professional development has been central to Louis-Philippe’s leadership. When he reached the limits of his natural management abilities, he pursued an MBA and earned his Chartered Administrator designation, which he says contribute to strengthened his credibility in a sector where “best management practices are often unknown.” Committed to ongoing learning, he completes annual continuing education and has taken part in international study tours that broaden his vision for affordable housing. At Interloge, he ensures new employees gain in months the structural understanding that once took him years, and he advises newcomers to master both technical skills and the values that guide community housing. “This is work with meaning, with purpose,” he says, “I’m using my talents to serve society, to build something better, so at the end of the day, I can look at myself in the mirror and be proud for my children.”
Mwarigha’s Journey into Housing
Mwarigha’s career in housing spans urban and social planning policy, community real estate operations & asset management, and Executive/Senior leadership. Mwarigha spent his post University years as a Program Director at the Toronto Social Planning Council working on transformative approaches to Ontario's social service delivery system. However, his direct work with people was deepened at the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation with a focus on casework, advocacy, and addressing systemic discrimination in Toronto’s rental market. From there, he joined Toronto Community Housing, as staff lead in the early phases of Regent Park’s revitalization, before moving into community leadership roles in Jane–Finch, Toronto Housing's Seniors housing portfolio and then as General Manager of Peel Housing Corporation, overseeing one of the largest social housing portfolios in the country. Today, as Vice President of Housing Growth, Development, and Asset Sustainability at WoodGreen, he is leading one of Toronto's largest purpose built rental building retrofit at a cost of over $40M. The first phase of an ambitious portfolio-wide green building modernization project completed in 2022 earned an award from the Canada Green Build Council for being Canada’s first Investment-Ready Retrofit Portfolio Project - essentially by reinvesting energy savings into modernization of building systems, proving that retrofits can achieve green goals, and be both affordable and financially sustainable. In addition, he is charged with leading the growth of the organization’s housing stock from 1,700 to 5,000 units by 2030 through multiple strategies - new development, acquisitions and private/non-profit partnership.
Professional development has been central to sustaining this breadth of work. With a foundation in urban planning, Mwarigha has built on his education through targeted training and global learning. At Peel, he completed a Harvard executive certificate in financial stewardship, equipping him to manage a $100M enterprise with confidence. He has also drawn on international study tours through Housing Partnership Canada—visiting peers in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa—to expand his perspective on what’s possible. Conferences and sector networks remain vital learning spaces, offering opportunities to bridge technical knowledge with the people-centered values that ground his career. He credits his omnipresent and ever growing openness to learning for his growth in both implementation ideas and affordable housing strategic IQ.
What keeps Mwarigha in affordable housing, despite frequent invitations to join the private sector, is simple: integrity and impact. For him, success means using his skills and partnerships to rebalance the housing market—leveraging development to create affordability, sustainability, and dignity. “Why else would I do this?” he reflects. “The outcome has to be equity and opportunity for the people we serve.”
Pamela Hine
Pamela Hine’s career in housing began as a clerk typist with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). What began as an entry-level job quickly evolved into a lifelong vocation as Pamela volunteered for extra tasks and immersed herself in the organization. Her career deepened significantly during her time with the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and later in Nunavut, where housing’s connection to First Nation, Inuit, and Metis sovereignty, infrastructure, and wellbeing came into sharper focus. “It went from a job to a career when you really understood what housing really meant,” Pamela reflects, capturing the pivotal moment housing became her passion.
Professional development played a key role throughout Pamela’s journey, even as formal training options in housing were scarce during the early stages of her career. She pursued the Urban Land Economics diploma from UBC by correspondence—mailing assignments back and forth long before online learning existed. Later, she enrolled in the Chartered Institute of Housing program in the UK, determined to assess it herself before recommending it to others in Canada. Pamela also credits mentorship and networks as formative and continue this commitment through her participation as a mentor in the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA). “If it wasn't for my mentor... that was the key piece, right? Someone to call when you were struggling... or say, hey, you should really connect with this person over here.”
Pamela’s commitment to professional growth extended beyond courses. She maintained her connection to housing even when her formal government roles shifted into other portfolios like education or infrastructure, volunteering with organizations like Habitat for Humanity Canada and CHRA’s Board of Directors. This multi-dimensional lens helped her advocate for housing as a foundational issue intertwined with social and economic well-being. She now encourages emerging professionals to explore structured programs like the CIH Canada designation, CHRA’s mentorship program, and sector events or conferences to build both skills and community. For Pamela, the key to a sustainable career in housing lies in moving from job to passion—and then helping others do the same.
Steven Drysdale: A Life Immersed in Housing
Steven is of Jamaican, Indigenous, and European heritage and has spent over ten years working in the non-profit housing sector. He began his career in maintenance and tenant relations and, over time, advanced into leadership—now serving as Director of Development at Namerind Housing Corporation. Along the way, he has been working toward his Bachelor of Business Administration, completed management coaching, and undertaken executive training through Harvard Business School Online.
More than anything, he has learned from the people he’s worked with—especially the mentors who’ve guided him and shared their knowledge. Among them, Robert Byers, CEO of Namerind Housing Corporation, has been an especially influential mentor, providing guidance and helping Steven build valuable connections and networks across the housing sector. Other mentors along the way have also shared their wisdom and experience, shaping Steven’s leadership style and approach to collaboration. These relationships have guided how he approaches his work: with a focus on listening, teamwork, and finding practical solutions that help people.
Steven’s multicultural background and connection to Indigenous housing keep him motivated to contribute to projects that make housing more inclusive, supportive, and sustainable. To him, housing isn’t just about buildings—it’s about creating stability, dignity, and a sense of community. “I’ve been immersed in, and enamoured with, what we do here my whole life,” says Steven Drysdale, reflecting on his unique journey into affordable housing. With his mother serving as Director of Operations at Namerind Housing Corporation, Steven’s first introduction to working in the sector—at just seven years old—involved sealing envelopes in the office. From there, he moved into maintenance, tenant relations, and operations, gaining a cross-departmental understanding that now informs his strategic leadership as Director of Development. This rare, holistic perspective has deepened his belief that affordable housing is not just about shelter, but about dignity, community, and opportunity.
Professional development has played a central role in Steven’s growth. He completed a leadership and management course through Harvard Business School Online to help transition into his current role and and continues to pursue his degree in Business Administration. Namerind’s organizational culture fosters staff learning at every level, offering leadership development, mentorship opportunities, and a dedicated professional development budget. For Steven, working in housing isn’t just a job—it’s a calling, made sustainable by an organization that invests in its people as deeply as it invests in its communities.”
Sarah Button’s Journey into Housing
Sarah Button is the Executive Director of Centretown Citizens Ottawa Operation and is a Member of the Canadian Institute for Planners, and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Sarah Button’s path into housing wasn’t linear—but it was always intentional. With a background in communications and architecture, she found herself drawn not to buildings themselves, but to the systems and communities they serve. A pivotal internship with Rooftops Canada in the Philippines sparked her interest in affordable housing. From there, she worked with CCOC on landmark projects like Beaver Barracks, pursued a planning degree in the UK, and stayed connected through volunteerism, board service, and sector events—even when formal jobs in housing were scarce.
Professional development has been central to Sarah’s trajectory. She’s participated in everything from the CHRA Emerging Professionals Program to planning accreditation in two countries, anti-racism training, and the Women’s Impact Alliance leadership program—with its executive coaching and global peer learning. These experiences, along with her systems mindset and persistence, prepared her to lead. As she puts it: “to work in housing, you’ve got to love complicated problems, and you’ve got to believe solutions are possible.” That belief continues to guide her work at the intersection of policy, planning, and community housing.
Hannah Ehler’s Journey into Housing
Originally from Nova Scotia, Hannah holds a self-designed degree in community planning from Mount Allison University, and has a diverse background in food security, co-operative/social enterprise development, and communications. She has board and committee experience on provincial and national levels. Hannah held the housing file during her time in student politics, and later secured funding from Evergreen Canada to educate youth about tenants' rights. Prior to Cahdco, she worked in federal politics on infrastructure and finance files. Hannah considers herself an affordable housing developer and educator, supporting numerous retrofit and new-build housing projects in Ottawa, and manages a national initiative investigating how to scale non-profit and private partnerships. Outside of work, Hannah is a volunteer Red Cross emergency responder in Ottawa. She is almost always spending time with other people, and loves public speaking, reading and staying active.
Hannah Ehler’s career in housing is still emerging, but her commitment to the sector is already clear. Originally from rural Nova Scotia, she hadn’t considered housing or urban planning as career options growing up—those paths just weren’t visible. It wasn’t until university that she began connecting the dots between systems thinking, community resilience, and the built environment. Now at CAHDCO, as a Project Coordinator, she brings that same curiosity and drive to her work, finding purpose in work that aligns with her values.
Professional development has played a key role in her journey. Hannah holds her CAPM and often draws on project management training in her day-to-day role. But it’s not just about credentials—it's about intention. “I need to be in work that aligns with my values,” she says. “This sector has an incredible network of people who are just trying to do good—one day at a time.” That sense of community, purpose, and possibility keeps her grounded and growing.
Mwarigha’s Journey into Housing
Mwarigha’s career in housing spans urban and social planning policy, community real estate operations & asset management, and Executive/Senior leadership. Mwarigha spent his post University years as a Program Director at the Toronto Social Planning Council working on transformative approaches to Ontario's social service delivery system. However, his direct work with people was deepened at the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation with a focus on casework, advocacy, and addressing systemic discrimination in Toronto’s rental market. From there, he joined Toronto Community Housing, as staff lead in the early phases of Regent Park’s revitalization, before moving into community leadership roles in Jane–Finch, Toronto Housing's Seniors housing portfolio and then as General Manager of Peel Housing Corporation, overseeing one of the largest social housing portfolios in the country. Today, as Vice President of Housing Growth, Development, and Asset Sustainability at WoodGreen, he is leading one of Toronto's largest purpose built rental building retrofit at a cost of over $40M. The first phase of an ambitious portfolio-wide green building modernization project completed in 2022 earned an award from the Canada Green Build Council for being Canada’s first Investment-Ready Retrofit Portfolio Project - essentially by reinvesting energy savings into modernization of building systems, proving that retrofits can achieve green goals, and be both affordable and financially sustainable. In addition, he is charged with leading the growth of the organization’s housing stock from 1,700 to 5,000 units by 2030 through multiple strategies - new development, acquisitions and private/non-profit partnership.
Professional development has been central to sustaining this breadth of work. With a foundation in urban planning, Mwarigha has built on his education through targeted training and global learning. At Peel, he completed a Harvard executive certificate in financial stewardship, equipping him to manage a $100M enterprise with confidence. He has also drawn on international study tours through Housing Partnership Canada—visiting peers in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa—to expand his perspective on what’s possible. Conferences and sector networks remain vital learning spaces, offering opportunities to bridge technical knowledge with the people-centered values that ground his career. He credits his omnipresent and ever growing openness to learning for his growth in both implementation ideas and affordable housing strategic IQ.
What keeps Mwarigha in affordable housing, despite frequent invitations to join the private sector, is simple: integrity and impact. For him, success means using his skills and partnerships to rebalance the housing market—leveraging development to create affordability, sustainability, and dignity. “Why else would I do this?” he reflects. “The outcome has to be equity and opportunity for the people we serve.”
Steven Drysdale: A Life Immersed in Housing
Steven is of Jamaican, Indigenous, and European heritage and has spent over ten years working in the non-profit housing sector. He began his career in maintenance and tenant relations and, over time, advanced into leadership—now serving as Director of Development at Namerind Housing Corporation. Along the way, he has been working toward his Bachelor of Business Administration, completed management coaching, and undertaken executive training through Harvard Business School Online.
More than anything, he has learned from the people he’s worked with—especially the mentors who’ve guided him and shared their knowledge. Among them, Robert Byers, CEO of Namerind Housing Corporation, has been an especially influential mentor, providing guidance and helping Steven build valuable connections and networks across the housing sector. Other mentors along the way have also shared their wisdom and experience, shaping Steven’s leadership style and approach to collaboration. These relationships have guided how he approaches his work: with a focus on listening, teamwork, and finding practical solutions that help people.
Steven’s multicultural background and connection to Indigenous housing keep him motivated to contribute to projects that make housing more inclusive, supportive, and sustainable. To him, housing isn’t just about buildings—it’s about creating stability, dignity, and a sense of community. “I’ve been immersed in, and enamoured with, what we do here my whole life,” says Steven Drysdale, reflecting on his unique journey into affordable housing. With his mother serving as Director of Operations at Namerind Housing Corporation, Steven’s first introduction to working in the sector—at just seven years old—involved sealing envelopes in the office. From there, he moved into maintenance, tenant relations, and operations, gaining a cross-departmental understanding that now informs his strategic leadership as Director of Development. This rare, holistic perspective has deepened his belief that affordable housing is not just about shelter, but about dignity, community, and opportunity.
Professional development has played a central role in Steven’s growth. He completed a leadership and management course through Harvard Business School Online to help transition into his current role and and continues to pursue his degree in Business Administration. Namerind’s organizational culture fosters staff learning at every level, offering leadership development, mentorship opportunities, and a dedicated professional development budget. For Steven, working in housing isn’t just a job—it’s a calling, made sustainable by an organization that invests in its people as deeply as it invests in its communities.”