About
The Annual Louis L. Odette Family Lecture, sponsored by a family of generous philanthropists, was launched in 2015 to raise awareness of the global homelessness crisis, uncover innovative solutions, and bring engaged Canadians together to influence and inspire change.

Event Details
Join us for a timely discussion of homelessness, housing, and health in an increasingly challenging political climate. Keynote speaker Dr. Margot Kushel will present evidence on the causes and solutions to homelessness, explain why Housing First advocates have lost control of the political narrative, and show how to frame the issue as both an urgent health crisis and a solvable problem.
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Nov. 19-20, 2026
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11:00 - 12:30 A.M.
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Hybrid
YWCA Toronto, 87 Elm Street Toronto, ON M5G 0A8
Join us for a timely discussion of homelessness, housing, and health in an increasingly challenging political climate. Keynote speaker Dr. Margot Kushel will present evidence on the causes and solutions to homelessness, explain why Housing First advocates have lost control of the political narrative, and show how to frame the issue as both an urgent health crisis and a solvable problem.
RegisterKeynote Speaker

Dr. Margot Kushel
Director, Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative
Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
Dr. Margot Kushel is a physician and internationally recognized researcher whose work has had an enormous impact on programs and policies to prevent and end homelessness and reduce its health impacts.
Moderator

Dr. Stephen Hwang
Canada Research Chair in Homelessness, Housing, and Health
Scientist, St. Michael's Hospital MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions
Dr. Stephen Hwang is a world-renowned researcher in homelessness, housing, and health. He currently co-leads a Toronto-based initiative to permanently house people living on the street and in encampments.
Past Lectures

Annual Louis L. Odette Family Lecture 2023
Indigenous experts discuss the ties between housing, health and healing among First Nation communities.
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Nov. 02, 2023
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9:00 - 11:30 P.M.
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Hybrid
Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Victoria Street, Toronto

Annual Louis L. Odette Family Lecture 2024
Communities across Canada are grappling with a homelessness crisis and a dire shortage of affordable housing. Mandy Chapman Semple will share lessons learned from an innovative person-centred strategy that reduced homelessness in Houston by 60 percent over four years. A panel of experts will then discuss what we can apply from Houston’s experience to achieve a meaningful reduction in homelessness in Toronto. Please join us for this insightful evening.
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Nov. 13-14, 2024
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11:00 - 12:30 A.M.
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Hybrid
YWCA Toronto, 87 Elm Street Toronto, ON M5G 0A8

Annual Louis L. Odette Family Lecture 2025
It’s time to shift the conversation—from managing homelessness to ending it. Tessa Blaikie Whitecloud will share insights from Manitoba’s bold new strategy to end chronic homelessness by 2031. Our panel of experts will then discuss how Toronto can adopt a housing-first approach to help people transition from encampments to supportive housing. Join us for a powerful discussion on one of the most urgent health and human rights issues of our time.
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Nov. 6-7, 2025
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11:00 - 12:30 A.M.
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Hybrid
YWCA Toronto, 87 Elm Street Toronto, ON M5G 0A8

Annual Louis L. Odette Family Lecture 2023
Indigenous experts discuss the ties between housing, health and healing among First Nation communities.
-
Nov. 02, 2023
-
9:00 - 11:30 P.M.
-
Hybrid
Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Victoria Street, Toronto

Annual Louis L. Odette Family Lecture 2024
Communities across Canada are grappling with a homelessness crisis and a dire shortage of affordable housing. Mandy Chapman Semple will share lessons learned from an innovative person-centred strategy that reduced homelessness in Houston by 60 percent over four years. A panel of experts will then discuss what we can apply from Houston’s experience to achieve a meaningful reduction in homelessness in Toronto. Please join us for this insightful evening.
-
Nov. 13-14, 2024
-
11:00 - 12:30 A.M.
-
Hybrid
YWCA Toronto, 87 Elm Street Toronto, ON M5G 0A8

Annual Louis L. Odette Family Lecture 2025
It’s time to shift the conversation—from managing homelessness to ending it. Tessa Blaikie Whitecloud will share insights from Manitoba’s bold new strategy to end chronic homelessness by 2031. Our panel of experts will then discuss how Toronto can adopt a housing-first approach to help people transition from encampments to supportive housing. Join us for a powerful discussion on one of the most urgent health and human rights issues of our time.
-
Nov. 6-7, 2025
-
11:00 - 12:30 A.M.
-
Hybrid
YWCA Toronto, 87 Elm Street Toronto, ON M5G 0A8
Get in Touch
Want to learn more? We’d love to talk with you.
| Telephone: 416 864 5000 | Email: [email protected] |
