Special Events

“On the house” doc film night

Thursday, November 3, 7-9 p.m.

Enjoy a FREE documentary night to start off your Conference weekend! Join your peers for a night of great film and discussion. We’ll be watching a selection of short films about affordable housing and homelessness and finishing with a group discussion. This event is FREE to all conference delegates and their guests.

If you have a film you’d like to suggest, please email Lisa Timoshenko at lisa.timoshenko@onpha.org.

Opening Plenary

Friday, November 4, 10-11:30 a.m.

Sponsored by

The conference officially kicks off at the Opening Plenary! Hear an overview of ONPHA’s work from Board President Meg McCallum and join us in welcoming the Honourable Chris Ballard, minister of housing, who will provide delegates with updates from the Province.

We will also announce and celebrate the recipients of the 2016 Kathleen Blinkhorn Aboriginal Student Scholarship and the Award for Excellence. Our scholarship, sponsored by Union Gas, is awarded annually to five Aboriginal students living in non-profit housing, to assist with their post-secondary education. The Award for Excellence, sponsored by Prentice Yates & Clark, Chartered Professional Accountants, honours a non-profit housing organization that responds to tenant and/or community needs with imagination and insight.

As our opening keynote, we are excited to welcome Richard C. Gentry, president and CEO of the San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC).

With nearly 44 years of experience in affordable housing and community development, Mr. Gentry leads an agency with more than 275 employees, an annual budget of $325 million, more than 3,000 SDHC-owned/ managed housing units, and 15,000 low-income families that receive federal rental assistance.

As an affordable housing developer, investor and lender, SDHC has directed more than $1 billion in loans and bond financing since 1981 to help create more than 16,000 affordable housing units. In addition, Mr. Gentry committed SDHC as one of only 39 federal “Moving to Work” agencies, out of 3,400 public housing authorities nationwide, which provides SDHC the flexibility to implement new programs to provide housing assistance in the city of San Diego.

Mr. Gentry was also the visionary in developing HOUSING FIRST – SAN DIEGO, SDHC’s three-year Homelessness Action Plan (2014-17), which includes The 1,000 Homeless Veterans Initiative to provide housing opportunities for a thousand homeless Veterans within one year (March 2017).

Opening reception

Friday, November 4, 5-6 p.m.

Relax after the first day of the Conference and catch up with new and old friends at the Opening Reception. Enjoy live entertainment, free hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar as you mix and mingle.

Networking Events

Friday, November 4, 7-11 p.m.

New in 2016 – enjoy a night out on the town with your peers! We have organized group activities at discounted rates so you can enjoy your Friday night in Toronto. Start and end times plus costs vary so pick the activity that best fits your schedule and budget.

Sharks After Dark | 7 p.m.

Get lost in the magical underwater world of Ripley’s Aquarium, which hosts over 16,000 aquatic animals and North America’s longest underwater viewing tunnel. The night begins at 7 p.m. and you are welcome to stay until closing time at 11 p.m. Cost: $22.48 + HST.

Young professionals event | 7 p.m.

Grab some grub and drinks with fellow emerging professionals in the non-profit housing sector, a casual and fun way to connect with your peers. Food and drink available for purchase at venue.

Second City | 7:30 p.m.

A classic Toronto hot spot! Enjoy an improv comedy show on the famous Second City mainstage, which has hosted such comedic celebrities as Dan Ackroyd, Martin Short, Gilda Radner and more! You’re in for a night of laughter. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $26 + HST. Dinner and drinks are available at an additional charge at the venue.

Dinner at O.Noir | 8:15–10 p.m.

Experience a culinary journey like no other at O.Noir, the “eat-in-the-dark” restaurant. This unique restaurant seats and serves patrons completely in the “dark” to not only provide them with a culinary adventure but also a greater understanding of what it’s like to be blind. You will be served a delicious two-course or threecourse meal by a member of O.Noir’s visually-impaired wait staff and without sight, your other senses will be amplified to turn food into a whole new experience! We have made a reservation at 8:15 p.m. – reserve now, seats are limited! Cost: $38-$46 + HST (gratuity included). Drinks are an additional charge and can be purchased at the venue.

2016 ONPHA Gala

Saturday, November 5, 7-9 pm

Gala reception | 6–7 p.m.

Join us for drinks and merriment before the 2016 Gala – our night of celebration! Walk down the red carpet, enjoy live entertainment and get silly in our photo booth sponsored by Coinamatic.

ONPHA Gala | 7–9 p.m.

Let's celebrate together! The ONPHA Gala is the mustattend event of the conference, featuring a delicious three-course meal as well as lively entertainment. Join your peers for an evening of fun and toast the 2016 ONPHA award winners who have made an outstanding contribution to the non-profit housing sector.

Closing Keynote

Sunday, November 6, 10-11 a.m. pm

We are happy to welcome Neil Pasricha, happiness expert and bestselling author of The Book of Awesome as our 2016 closing keynote!

A Harvard MBA, New York Times bestselling author, award-winning blogger, and one of the most popular TED speakers in the world, Neil Pasricha is “a pied piper of happiness”. With infectious enthusiasm, heartfelt authenticity, and a “what works” authority, Pasricha connects with audiences and challenges them to elevate expectations of themselves and commit to the habit of creating happiness every day.

Pasricha travels all over the globe sharing messages on happiness to non-profits, Fortune 500 companies, and schools. In the past few years, he has spoken to over 200,000 people at hundreds of events, making him one of the world's most sought-after speakers.

His first book, The Book of Awesome, about appreciating small pleasures, is a runaway #1 international bestseller with millions shipped, and his new book, The Happiness Equation: Want Nothing + Do Anything = Have Everything, is also an international bestseller.

Pasricha delivers a blend of positive psychology trends, strategic frameworks, and contagious passion for workplace happiness.