Shane Pointe is a proud member of the Musqueam and Coast Salish people, and a highly respected ceremonial traditional speaker and cultural educator. Pointe has served as an Aboriginal Support Worker and Trial Support Coordinator for the Indian Residential School Survivors Society, Native Alcohol and Drug Awareness Program worker and with the Longhouse Leadership Program at the First Nations House of Learning (UBC).
Dr. Point is the Knowledge Keeper for the BC Assembly of First Nation Chiefs. She served a term (2015-2018) as the Chancellor for the University of the Fraser Valley. She has a Doctor of Education from Simon Fraser University, a Master in Education from the University of Portland, a Post Baccalaureate from SFU, and a Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia. She also has an Honorary Doctorate in Education from the University of Victoria. She is a Patron of the First Nation House at the University of Victoria. Dr. Point is the recipient of numerous awards including the Paul Harris Fellow, Order of Chilliwack, BC Aboriginal Tourism Award, Seattle Art Museum: Recognition for work in First Nation Language & Culture, and University of the Fraser Valley: the Betty Urqhart Community Service Award.
Jill Atkey is the CEO of BC Non-Profit Housing Association, where she leads a team that passionately supports the community housing sector. She has been involved in the not-for-profit sector for over 20 years, focusing over the last decade on research, policy and advocacy on housing and homelessness. Most recently, Jill led the development of the Canadian REntal Housing Index, and a 10-year strategy for solving British Columbia's housing affordability and homelessness crisis. Jill also leads the strategy for building the community housing sector's capacity through education, policy, research and direct supports, and works with government partners at every level to ensure a safe, secure and affordable home for everyone. She is a Director with Encasa Financial Inc., the Community Housing Transformation Centre and CIH Canada. In 2019, Jill was appointed to the Canada-BC Expert Panel on the Future of Housing Supply and Affordability. She is a Chartered Member of CIH Canada and has an MA from the School of Community and Regional Planning at UBC. @jfatkey
Thom Armstrong has more than 30 years of experience in the co-operative housing movement. He is also the CEO of COHO Management Services Society and the Community Land Trust, the real estate development arm of CHF BC. Thom is motivated by his conviction that the Community Land Trust is uniquely positioned among a very diverse group of housing stakeholders in BC to develop and steward affordable housing assets for generations to come. He also serves as president of Encasa Financial Inc., a social purpose mutual fund company. @thomjarmstrong
Margaret Pfoh is Tsimshian, a member of the Lax Kw’alaams Band and a descendent from the Eagle Clan of the Gitga'at First Nation. She joined the non-profit housing sector more than 27 years ago and is the CEO of the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA). Margaret’s career is built on her dedication to serve and support the Indigenous Peoples of British Columbia and she currently serves on the CHRA Indigenous Housing Advisory Caucus and the CHRA Board of Directors as the Vice President. Her devotion to Indigenous communities expands far beyond the provincial housing sector; she actively represents the urban Indigenous voice at both national and international levels by addressing and advancing housing rights for all Indigenous Peoples. AHMA is the first housing authority of its kind in Canada and only second in the world. In 2019 Margaret led AHMA to partner with the government of British Columbia to create the historic Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund (IHF). This monumental initiative made BC the first province in Canada to offer provincial funding to all Indigenous Peoples living both on-reserve and in Urban, Rural and Northern regions. @MPfoh