Northern and Aboriginal Housing Forum and Tradeshow tackles northern housing issues head on.
Winnipeg, MB – Frontiers Foundation is hosting the Northern and Aboriginal Housing Forum and Tradeshow. From February 20-23, 2012 approximately 400 participants from Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta will meet at the Canad Inn Polo Park in Winnipeg to increase awareness and build partnerships for improving their northern housing.
The forum has four content streams: Northern Housing Technology, Northern Housing Management, Forestry, and Employment and Training in the Forestry and Construction Trades. These will run through the plenary and workshop sessions as well as the Trade Show. The conference is sponsored by Aboriginal Forestry Initiative, Manitoba Aboriginal and Northern Affairs, Manitoba Hydro, Manitoba Housing and Community Development, and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The conference will attract community leadership, and program managers from housing, employment and training, income security, economic development, post secondary training and the finance and construction sectors.
Presenters from across Canada will highlight how housing can be made more durable, energy efficient, and cost effective, often using local materials. There will also be a focus on community development and capacity building highlighting producing of local lumber, alternative framing styles, new training programs, home ownership, development of housing authorities and unit maintenance plans.
The government of Manitoba acknowledges the need for improved northern housing as a key area for investment in its Northern Development Strategy.
In many northern communities there is a drastic housing shortage. The northern climate is tough on existing houses and mould is a common problem in many houses. Crowded, inadequate living conditions are unhealthy and contribute to illness and social stress. Revitalizing the housing stock will create jobs, increase local training prospects, improve health conditions and serve as the basis for further local economic development. --Northern Development Strategy, 2001
Sadly, the issues raised above have only grown since 2001. Communities, government and the corporate and non-profit sectors must work together to build partnerships that can get more results with existing and invested resources…building the people to build the community.
Date of Release: January 15, 2012
Contact:
Laurel D. Gardiner, Director
Frontiers Foundation Inc., Manitoba Division
209-72 Donald Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C 1L7
Phone: (204) 221-5209
Fax: (204) 415-9822
Cell: (204) 981-0112
Email: director@frontiersmb.ca
