Joy is the founder of Circle Community LandTrust. She learned the value of scattered houses as the resident of two scattered-unit co-ops and Manager of Innstead Co-operative. She is a former development consultant to new non-profit and co-op housing Boards, Communications Manager for the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association and, since 2001, has completed over 150 projects as a consultant to government, co-op and non-profit housing sector organizations and over 20 non-profit, co-op and supportive housing providers.
Lauren Blumas is the Director of Corporate and Legal at Victoria Park Community Homes. Driven by a passion for affordable housing, Lauren is responsible for advancing a 250+ unit affordable housing development on the Hamilton Mountain in partnership with Hamilton East Kiwanis Non-Profit. She also leads the overall corporate risk mitigation strategy and is a representative on the Region of Waterloo’s Provider Advisory Committee and Housing Partnership Canada Research Working Group. Lauren obtained a JD from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2013, and previously practiced at Iler Campbell LLP, focusing on affordable housing providers and other non-profit and charitable entities. Lauren volunteers with Journey Home Hospice, assisting with end-of-life care for individuals experiencing homelessness. Lauren has also served on the Board of Directors at the West End Food Co-op and Trinity Square Café.
Tom is the Executive Director of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto, serving 50,000 residents in 170 co-ops throughout the GTA. He founded the Diversity Scholarship Program which has awarded over $1 Million to students living in co-op housing, as well as Naismith Housing Co-operative, CoLandCo and the Tenants Non-Profit Redevelopment Land Trusts -- all vehicles designed to hold property and keep it affordable -- providing over 4,000 units housing over 10,000 people. Tom is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, 2013.
Angus is the General Manager of Wigwamen Incorporated, Ontario's largest urban Aboriginal housing provider and winner of the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association's 2016 Award for Excellence. Since 1998 Angus has overseen the management of Wigwamen's 813 affordable housing units, including 214 scattered unit houses and a new 145-unit apartment building on Toronto's former Pan Am site. He is a also member of the City of Toronto's Aboriginal Affairs Committee, Past-Treasurer, Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council, and as a development consultant from 1982 - 1996 helped create 24 non-profit and co-op housing projects providing over 800 homes.
Heather is the CEO of Options for Homes, Canada's largest developer of affordable ownership housing. Since 1995, Option's innovative financial model has enabled 6,500 low- and moderate-income families, including 3,100 in the GTA, to become homeowners. Before coming to Toronto, Heather was the Principal of the Vancouver-based consultancy Urban Fabric Group, Co-founder and CEO of green energy consultants reSource Rethinking Building, Chair of the VanCity Community Foundation and Chair, Tradeworks Training Society, a non-profit providing trades training to people in Vancouver's downtown eastside.
