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The Gentle Density Leaders Summit is an essential gathering for forward-thinkers dedicated to unlocking the potential of gentle density housing in British Columbia and beyond. Don’t miss your opportunity to engage, connect, and collaborate with fellow visionaries who are reshaping the future of our communities by thinking BIG about building small.

Here’s what’s in store:
  • Dynamic Speakers: Hear from and chat with engaging, forward-thinking change leaders who will share insights and inspire fresh approaches to gentle density housing solutions. Check them all out below!
  • Breaking Down Silos: Connect meaningfully with planners, architects, builders, and key interest holders to foster a dynamic environment where ideas flow across sectors.
  • Actionable Insights & Engagement: Dive into collaborative breakout sessions with thought leaders in new home construction, positioning your organization at the forefront of housing innovation through hands-on problem-solving.
  • Direct Policy Engagement: Engage with policymakers and like-minded professionals to understand and influence the future of gentle density housing.
  • Honouring Champions: We will be presenting a person, team, or organization the Community Catalyst Award. Small Housing’s annual award that celebrates champions of gentle density. Know someone who you think is deserving? Find out more in the Awards tab.
We can’t wait to see you!
Session details, including speakers, topics, and times, are subject to change.
or to register for this event.
Tuesday, February 25
 

8:00am PST

Registration
Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:00am - 8:45am PST
Arras Banquet & Events
Thanks to Vancity for sponsoring our Welcome Table!
Partners / Sponsors
avatar for Vancity

Vancity

Vancity
Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:00am - 8:45am PST
Arras Banquet & Events
  Meal / Break

8:05am PST

Breakfast
Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:05am - 8:45am PST
Arras Banquet & Events
Our thanks to BC Real Estate Association
Partners / Sponsors
avatar for BC Real Estate Association
Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:05am - 8:45am PST
Arras Banquet & Events
  Meal / Break

8:45am PST

Opening and Welcome
Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:45am - 9:00am PST
Arras Banquet & Events
Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:45am - 9:00am PST
Arras Banquet & Events
  Ceremony

9:00am PST

Greetings from Small Housing Executive Lead, Dan Winer
Tuesday February 25, 2025 9:00am - 9:20am PST
Arras Banquet & Events
Speakers
avatar for Dan Winer

Dan Winer

Executive Lead, Small Housing BC
Tuesday February 25, 2025 9:00am - 9:20am PST
Arras Banquet & Events
  Session

9:20am PST

BC Builds and the Power of Partnerships
Tuesday February 25, 2025 9:20am - 10:20am PST
Arras Banquet & Events
Progress is being made to identify underused land across BC, provide low-cost financing, and speed up development times to deliver rental homes quickly. This is thanks to partnerships between BC Builds at BC Housing and local governments, First Nations, non-profits, and sector stakeholders. During a fireside chat Lisa will dive into the challenges, successes, and benefits of a new way of working together to accelerate housing development during BC Builds' first year in business.
Speakers
avatar for Lisa Helps

Lisa Helps

Executive Lead, BC Builds
Lisa is currently working as Executive Lead BC Builds Project Origination and Process Innovation, a new housing program that uses public land, low-cost financing, and other innovative tools to get more housing built more quickly for working people in B.C. Previously she was the Housing... Read More →
Tuesday February 25, 2025 9:20am - 10:20am PST
Arras Banquet & Events
  Session

10:20am PST

Coffee Break
Tuesday February 25, 2025 10:20am - 10:40am PST
Arras Banquet & Events
Partners / Sponsors
avatar for Building Officials' Association of BC
Tuesday February 25, 2025 10:20am - 10:40am PST
Arras Banquet & Events
  Meal / Break

10:40am PST

Innovations from the Housing Accelerator Fund
Tuesday February 25, 2025 10:40am - 11:30am PST
Arras Banquet & Events
In 2023, the Government of Canada launched a $4 billion Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) to incentivize local governments to implement structural and lasting reforms to increase housing supply. As an incentive program for municipalities and Indigenous governments, HAF aims to modernize planning practices, legalize housing, remove barriers, and streamline development approvals. The program not only aims to boost housing supply, but the right kind of housing supply – offering funding top ups for transit-oriented development, missing middle, multi-unit housing and non-market affordable housing. Gentle density is an integral part of the program. This session will explore the rich learnings that have taken place via HAF thus far, specifically on gentle density.  Highlighting the local context, we will have some municipal representatives share their experience with HAF, how they were able to create change, and the resulting outcomes they have seen thus far.  
Speakers
avatar for Cleo Corbett

Cleo Corbett

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Cleo Corbett, MCIP, RPP - Having grown up in Co-op Housing and spent parts of her childhood in different parts of Africa, Cleo has a unique perspective on what 'home' means. Her educational background from Vancouver Island University and Simon Fraser University and her 20 years of... Read More →
Tuesday February 25, 2025 10:40am - 11:30am PST
Arras Banquet & Events
  Session

11:30am PST

TBC -- Pitch your session!
Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm PST
Arras Banquet & Events
Interested in presenting at the Gentle Density Leaders Summit?

This year's theme is "Thinking Big, Building Small". We're looking for dynamic presentations that offer and/or can generate BIG ideas about dismantling barriers and driving innovation to build more small housing. If you have a session that:

  • Challenges the status quo
  • Offers cross-sector collaboration
  • Explores innovation in construction, finance, permitting
  • Provides scalability, replicability

Then please complete the presentation submission form to share your presentation proposal.

Speakers
avatar for Are YOU our next speaker?

Are YOU our next speaker?

Click to find out more!
Thank you for your interest in presenting at the Gentle Density Leaders Summit, which will be held in Vancouver on February 25, 2025.  This year's theme is "Thinking Big, Building Small". We're looking for dynamic presentations that offer and/or can generate BIG ideas about dismantling... Read More →
Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm PST
Arras Banquet & Events
  Session To Be Confirmed, TO BE CONFIRMED

12:15pm PST

Lunch -- Time to SSMUHz the Exhibitors
Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:15pm - 1:15pm PST
Arras Banquet & Events
Enjoy a delicious lunch, sponsored generously by Bell Alliance LLP.

Remember to SSMUHzzz the exhibitors to win a prize!
Partners / Sponsors
avatar for Bell Alliance LLP
Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:15pm - 1:15pm PST
Arras Banquet & Events
  Meal / Break

1:15pm PST

Who Pays for Growth?
Tuesday February 25, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm PST
Arras Banquet & Events
As municipalities across BC work to encourage more housing, rising development charges and fees have become a significant barrier to new construction. While these fees are intended to fund the infrastructure required for a growing population, some argue they place an unfair burden on future residents to cover amenities that benefit everyone. So, how do we support the expansion of our cities in a way that is fair and equitable? Who pays for growth?
Join us for the debut screening of About Here’s latest video, followed by a Q&A with Uytae Lee.
Speakers
avatar for Uytae Lee

Uytae Lee

About Here
Uytae Lee produces videos that educate and engage the public on urban planning issues. He is the founder of ‘About Here’, a creative studio dedicated to helping people understand their cities better. In addition to his video work, Uytae is an adjunct professor at the UBC School... Read More →
Tuesday February 25, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm PST
Arras Banquet & Events
  Session

2:15pm PST

Streamlining Utilities for GDH
Tuesday February 25, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm PST
Arras Banquet & Events
Tuesday February 25, 2025 2:15pm - 3:15pm PST
Arras Banquet & Events
  Session

3:15pm PST

Coffee Break
Tuesday February 25, 2025 3:15pm - 3:30pm PST
Arras Banquet & Events
Partners / Sponsors
avatar for Building Officials' Association of BC
Tuesday February 25, 2025 3:15pm - 3:30pm PST
Arras Banquet & Events
  Meal / Break

3:30pm PST

TBC -- Pitch your session!
Tuesday February 25, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm PST
Arras Banquet & Events
Interested in presenting at the Gentle Density Leaders Summit?

This year's theme is "Thinking Big, Building Small". We're looking for dynamic presentations that offer and/or can generate BIG ideas about dismantling barriers and driving innovation to build more small housing. If you have a session that:

  • Challenges the status quo
  • Offers cross-sector collaboration
  • Explores innovation in construction, finance, permitting
  • Provides scalability, replicability
Then please complete the presentation submission form to share your presentation proposal.

Speakers
avatar for Are YOU our next speaker?

Are YOU our next speaker?

Click to find out more!
Thank you for your interest in presenting at the Gentle Density Leaders Summit, which will be held in Vancouver on February 25, 2025.  This year's theme is "Thinking Big, Building Small". We're looking for dynamic presentations that offer and/or can generate BIG ideas about dismantling... Read More →
Tuesday February 25, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm PST
Arras Banquet & Events
  Session To Be Confirmed, TO BE CONFIRMED

4:15pm PST

Closing Remarks
Tuesday February 25, 2025 4:15pm - 4:45pm PST
Arras Banquet & Events
Tuesday February 25, 2025 4:15pm - 4:45pm PST
Arras Banquet & Events
  Ceremony

5:00pm PST

Building Connections reception
Tuesday February 25, 2025 5:00pm - 7:00pm PST
Arras Banquet & Events
Join us for light canapes and refreshments while you continue conversations with fellow delegates, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors.
Tuesday February 25, 2025 5:00pm - 7:00pm PST
Arras Banquet & Events
 
2025 Gentle Density Leaders Summit
From CA$355.95
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