OMSSA Speakers Series
OMSSA is pleased to announce the return of our Speakers Series webinars for 2024. Building on our successful webinars in 2023, OMSSA will bring in guest speakers to discuss topics and issues you want to hear more about in the human services sectors. These webinars will be hosted by the Association.
Our next webinar is coming up on July 17th, and more information can be found below. We will host webinars that cover the three sectors within human services: Children's Services, Employment and Income, and Housing and Homelessness. More information on our remaining webinars will be shared later in the year.
There is no cost to attend this webinar, but registration is required. Please click on the registration link associated with each webinar to complete the process. Please note: Speakers and sessions are subject to change. Members who have questions can contact OMSSA at communications@omssa.com.
A Look Ahead at Maytree's Annual Welfare in Canada Report
July 17, 2024
1:00PM to 2:00PM EST
The annual Welfare in Canada report enumerates and examines the total welfare incomes of example households receiving social assistance in a given year and details some key features of social assistance programs, in all 13 provincial and territorial jurisdictions in Canada. As the only publicly available resource that compiles and analyses this data, Welfare in Canada is the primary source for evaluating Canada’s progress on fulfilling the human right to an adequate standard of living for households receiving social assistance.
Welfare in Canada was established by the Caledon Institute of Social Policy in 2012 to maintain and build on longitudinal data previously published by the National Council of Welfare in its Welfare Incomes reports. In 2018, Maytree assumed responsibility for updating the series and has added additional data and analysis over time.
Please note: the Welfare in Canada report is expected to be released at the end of July. This webinar offers a preview of the upcoming report.
Image courtesy of Maytree.
Moderator: Stu Beumer, Director of Ontario Works, City of Hamilton
Jennefer Laidley
Maytree Fellow
Jennefer Laidley has focused on poverty- and income security-related advocacy and research for more than 20 years, whether supporting and learning from people living in poverty, speaking to government officials and legislative committees, or writing and publishing policy papers, advocacy resources, and public education materials.
As the researcher and lead author of Maytree’s annual Welfare in Canada report since 2020, Jennefer has contributed her deep knowledge of social assistance systems and expertise in research, data analysis, and policy advocacy to this unique and important publication. Prior to joining Maytree, she was Policy Analyst at the Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) in Toronto, where for twelve years she led policy analysis and development, strategic communications, and government, network, and media relations, focused on improving social assistance and reducing poverty in Ontario. She has also served as political staff to members of the House of Commons, the BC Legislature, and Toronto City Council, worked with non-profit service providers and networks to develop their governance and strategic planning capacity, and served on numerous non-profit boards.
As a Maytree fellow, Jennefer will focus on helping Maytree develop a strategy and materials to disseminate learning about the Welfare in Canada data set and its implications for people living in poverty, assist Maytree in its advocacy efforts with the public, government, and media, and provide advice and support to advance Maytree’s income security advocacy priorities.
Jennefer’s academic work in urban planning and development culminated in the publication of two edited collections on the development of the Toronto waterfront and urban waterfronts around the world. She currently serves on the Board of the Gabriola Housing Society, which aims to build that Gulf Island’s first multi-family affordable housing project, leads data collection and analysis on the social determinants of health in the Gabriola Health Data Report series, and volunteers with local organizations in various capacities.
Mohy Tabbara
Senior Policy Advisor
Mohy leads Maytree’s income security policy file. His work uses a human rights lens to focus on reducing the rate and depth of poverty and transforming Canada’s social safety net. He co-authors the Welfare in Canada report, and authors the Social Assistance Summaries report. Before joining Maytree, Mohy was a Researcher at the Institute for Research on Public Policy where he worked on several policy issues, including income security, criminal justice reform, and institution building. Mohy holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Toronto and an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from McGill University.
A Review of Homelessness Encampments Across Canada
February 29, 2024
1:00PM to 2:00PM
Canada’s Federal Housing Advocate is a unique human rights accountability mechanism established to advance the right to adequate housing in Canada and monitor the National Housing Strategy. Located within the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the Advocate works to amplify the voices of people experiencing inadequate housing and homelessness and hold governments to account on their human rights obligations. In this session, we will introduce the right to housing and the Advocate’s mandate. The Session will include a brief overview of the Advocate’s mandate and discuss the Advocate’s final report and recommendations resulting from her national review of encampments, which has been be released on February 13, 2024.
Registration for this
webinar is now closed.
Moderator: Kelly Goz, Manager (A), Homelessness Special Projects, Housing Hub, City of Windsor
Jessica Losier
Data Research Analyst, Office of the Federal Housing AdvocateJessica Losier is a data research analyst with the Office of the Federal Housing Advocate, where she works to help the Advocate fulfill her duties tied to receiving and analyzing submissions regarding systemic housing issues. Her previous experience and research focused on international policy and human rights, more specifically related to refugees and asylum seekers.
Ruby Bissett
Data Research Analyst, Office of the Federal Housing AdvocateRuby Bissett is a Research Analyst at the Office of the Federal Housing Advocate, where she works to help the Advocate fulfill their duties tied to receiving and analysing submissions regarding systemic housing issues. She has a background in social work and public policy, having previously worked with youth experiencing homelessness.
Ian Hamilton
Senior Advisor, Office of the Federal Housing AdvocateIan joined the Office of the Federal Housing Advocate at the Canadian Human Rights Commission as a Senior Policy Advisor in November 2020. He served as Executive Director of Equitas from January 2004 to June 2020. He first joined the organization in 1997. Before coming to Equitas, Ian worked for the Coordinating Committee of Human Rights Organizations of Thailand for 16 months in Bangkok, assisting their campaign for the establishment of a National Human Rights Commission. From 1992-1995, he worked in a number of positions, including Asia Program Officer, at the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development (Rights and Democracy) in Montreal.
Emily Paradis
Senior Advisor, Office of the Federal Housing AdvocateEmily Paradis has more than 30 years' experience as an activist, front-line worker, researcher, educator, and advocate on issues of homelessness, housing, and human rights. Dr. Paradis is Senior Policy Advisor with the Office of the Federal Housing Advocate.
Catherine McKenney
Special Advisor, Engagement, Office of the Federal Housing AdvocateCatherine (they/them) is the co-founder of CitySHAPES a national nonprofit organization working to make Cities better for everyone - and a consultant working with others who share these common goals. Catherine cares deeply about equity through affordable housing & ending homelessness, climate action, transit & active transportation, trees & greenspace, and how we build our cities so everyone can thrive in them. Catherine is a former Ottawa city Councillor. They worked at the City in senior roles prior to becoming elected in 2014.
Resources
Upholding dignity and human rights: the Federal Housing Advocate's review of homeless encampments
Federal Housing Advocate's Observational Report - British Columbia
Catherine (they/them) is the co-founder of CitySHAPES a national nonprofit organization working to make Cities better for everyone - and a consultant working with others who share these common goals. Catherine cares deeply about equity through affordable housing & ending homelessness, climate action, transit & active transportation, trees & greenspace, and how we build our cities so everyone can thrive in them. Catherine is a former Ottawa city Councillor. They worked at the City in senior roles prior to becoming elected in 2014.
2023 Speakers Series
Implementing CWELCC in Ontario (July 13, 2023)
Session Description and Resources
This webinar will explore the current implementation of the Canada-Wide Early Learning & Child Care Program (CWELCC). Attendees will hear our guest speakers share their insights on the implementation of CWELCC in Ontario. Please see our invited speakers and presenters.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Satinder Klair, Director, Children's Services, Regional Municipality of Niagara
- Dr. Gordon Cleveland, Consultant Economist, President of Cleveland Consulting: Early Childhood Education and Care Inc.
- Beth Deazeley, LL.B., Registrar and CEO, College of Early Childhood Educators
- Kim Hiscott, RECE, Executive Director, Andrew Fleck Children's Services
Resources
Member Housing and Homelessness Initiatives Discussion (August 18, 2023)
This session will bring together OMSSA Members to discuss the initiatives they've designed to address the current challenges in housing and homelessness. We'll hear from a spectrum of Members on, but not limited to, the following issues:
- How has homelessness changed since the pandemic, as well as in the last year?
- How has the Waterloo encampment decision changed the approach to homelessness in your area?
- What work are you doing to connect housing and health?
Please see our invited speakers and presenters.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Al Fletcher, Manager, Investment in Affordable Housing/Neighbourhood Development at the City of Hamilton
- Abigail Bond, Executive Director of the Housing Secretariat, City of Toronto
- Nicole Cortese, Manager of Homelessness Operations, Regional Municipality of Niagara
- Lisa McIntosh, Director of Income Employment and Homelessness, Regional Municipality of Durham
- Tyler Venable, Manager, Housing Services, District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board
Continuing the Local Municipal Champion Conversation (August 24, 2023)
Building on our conversation at OMSSA's 2023 Exchange Conference, four of this year's Local Municipal Champion award recipients will tell the story of the programs that were developed for their communities, with particular emphasis on the successes they have seen and the challenges they have overcome. They will also answer the many questions attendees had as part of the discussion.
Please see our invited speakers and presenters.
Speakers:
- Moderator: Brian Marks, Chief Administrative Officer, Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board
- Kelly Goz, Coordinator, Housing Administration & Development, City of Windsor
- Kristine Haines-Chiarello, Manager (A), Employment and Social Services Central, Community and Social Services, City of Ottawa
- Ian Hanney, Supervisor, Homelessness Prevention and Social Planning, County of Lambton
- Whitney Kitchen, Coordinator, Housing Administration & Development, City of Windsor
- Jennifer Lible, Manager, Social Assistance Programs, District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board