The Annual Louis L. Odette Family Lecture

Premier's Senior Advisor on Ending Chronic Homelessness in the Province of Manitoba
Tessa Blaikie Whitecloud has worked in the homeless-serving sector since 2013. She is the former executive director of 1JustCity and served as CEO of Siloam Mission from 2021-2024. In January 2025, Whitecloud was named to her role in the premier’s office in Manitoba where she coordinates the province-wide strategy to house people directly out of encampments, working towards a goal of ending chronic homelessness. She believes homelessness doesn’t need to exist in our city, our province, or our country.

Councillor, City of Toronto​
Alejandra Bravo was elected as the city councillor for Ward 9—Davenport in 2022 and is currently Chair of the city’s Economic and Community Development Committee. She is also a member of the Executive Committee and the Toronto Board of Health. Alejandra has a 25-year history of leadership with civil society organizations, including the Broadbent Institute and Maytree. An adult educator and facilitator by profession, Alejandra helps communities understand and influence government decisions that impact them.

President, Maytree Foundation
Elizabeth McIsaac is leading Maytree’s work to advance economic and social rights in Canada. She previously served as Maytree’s director of policy and was the executive director of Maytree’s Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC). In 2012, McIsaac established and led Mowat NFP at the Mowat Centre, University of Toronto, where she conducted research on challenges facing the non-profit sector. She currently serves as Chair of Making the Shift: A Youth Homelessness Social Innovation Lab at York University, and Chair of the City of Toronto’s Housing Rights Advisory Committee.

Director, MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s Hospital
Dr. Stephen Hwang is one of the world’s most renowned researchers in homelessness, housing, and health. His groundbreaking research changed the conversation about homelessness and precarious housing in Canada—and raised awareness that these health crises are preventable. In addition to serving as director of MAP, Dr. Hwang is the Canada Research Chair in Homelessness, Housing and Health, an internal medicine physician at St. Michael’s Hospital, and a professor at the University of Toronto.