Event: Will poverty end with us?
June 6 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at University of Toronto, Mississauga.
About the event
The Peel Poverty Reduction Committee, in partnership with the University of Toronto Mississauga, is excited to host "Will Poverty End with Us? A Call to Collective Action." This one-day summit will explore the current state of poverty in Peel and engage in meaningful solutions-focused discussions focused on building a better future for all.
As the second largest region in the GTA, Peel continues to be a diverse, growing, and prosperous region to live in. However, for 111,925 (7.8%) of the population, making ends meet is a continuous struggle. The increase in precarious and unstable employment, changes in the types of jobs available, rise of low-income neighbourhoods, long wait lists for many services, and the inflated cost of living all contribute to the complex, changing nature of poverty in Peel.
We are happy to have you join us to be a part of this dialogue to hear insights and perspectives from regional and community leaders and those with lived and living experience of poverty to help us better understand and tackle the complex and multidimensional issue of poverty in Peel.
Over the course of the day, we hope to broaden participants understanding of the current state of poverty in Peel region through the sharing of Peel-specific research, policies, and the voices of lived experience and youth. Breakout activities will allow attendees to discuss collective action and recommendations for poverty reduction in Peel related to Housing, Income Security, Employment and Food Security.
Learning objectives:
- Increased understanding and awareness of the current state of poverty in Peel.
- Increased engagement of community stakeholders to identify opportunities for collective action.
Learnings and recommendations from this event will be disseminated to all attendees to inform poverty reduction efforts and, we hope, inspire changes that will positively impact the lives of those living in poverty in our community.
Other information
Location: The University of Toronto, Mississauga Campus
3359 Mississauga Road N, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6
University of Toronto, Mississauga maps and directions.
Parking is pay and display at the parking stations indicated on the map. Find parking rates.
Main event building: Go to the Kaneff Centre Rotunda for registration and sign-in.
Registration and sign-in opens at 8:00 a.m. The event will officially start at 9:00 a.m. Be sure to arrive before 9:00 a.m. to ensure the event can start on time.
Access a map of the university campus and event location.
Visit the speakers page for more details.
Sign-in and networking - 8 to 9 a.m.
Location: Kaneff Centre Rotunda
Welcome and Land Acknowledgement - 9 to 9:05 a.m.
Location: Kaneff Centre Rotunda
- Jason Hastings, Director of Social Development, Planning and Partnerships, Peel Region
Traditional opening ceremony by Elder Dorothy Peters - 9:05 to 9:35 a.m.
Lived Experience Vignette: Fay-Anne McRae - 9:35 to 9:40 a.m.
Location: Kaneff Centre Rotunda
Keynote speaker - 9:40 to 10:05 a.m.
Location: Kaneff Centre Rotunda
- Paul Taylor, Co-CEO and Principal Consultant, Evenings and Weekends consulting
Panel discussion Rapid Changes, Rising Poverty - 10:05 to 11:05 a.m.
Location: Kaneff Centre Rotunda
Lived Experience Vignette: Nickeita Jones: 11:05 to 11:10 a.m.
Location: Kaneff Centre Rotunda
Breakout panel sessions 11:20 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
Lunch and poster fair presentations: 12:20 to 1:45 p.m.
Collective Action Activity: 1:45 to 3:05 p.m.
Lived Experience Vignette: Doris Cooper: 3:15 to 3:20 p.m.
Location: Kaneff Centre Rotunda
Closing remarks: 3:20 to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Kaneff Centre Rotunda
- Daniele Zanotti, President and CEO, United Way Greater Toronto
This panel session brings together different perspectives on the current state of poverty in Peel and will explore opportunities for positive impact and change. Attendees will learn about the intersectional nature of poverty and how both community organizations and the Peel Region are responding to current challenges and future opportunities.
- Angela Carter, Executive Director, Roots Community Services
- Carol Reist, Executive Director, The Dam
- Judith McWhinney, Regional Economist, Peel Region
- Sean Baird, Commissioner of Human Services, Peel Region
The breakout sessions will delve deeper into the areas of housing, food security, income security and employment. Attendees will have an opportunity to learn more about the work that organizations are undertaking to address current challenges within the four key focus areas and hear from youth and individuals with lived experience.
Housing
Location: Kaneff Centre Rotunda
Panelists:
- Aileen Baird, Director of Housing Services, Peel Region
- Dagma Koyi, Founder and Executive Director, Restoration and Empowerment for Social Transition (REST) Centre
- Nat Kaminski, Member of Lived Experience Roundtable, Peel Poverty Reduction Committee
- Ted Brown, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Regeneration Brampton
Food security
Location: Davis Building DV1142
Panelists:
- Janet Dankwa, Member of Lived Experience Roundtable, Peel Poverty Reduction Committee
- Meghan Nicholls, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), The Mississauga Food Bank
- Morgan Sage, Food Policy Coordinator, York Region Food Network
- Sherri Hanley, Director of Policy and Community Action, Community Food Centres Canada
- Talia Bronstein, VP of Research and Advocacy, Daily Bread Food Bank
Income security
Location Davis Building DV3140
Panelists:
- Anne Coleman, Program Manager, Ontario Living Wage Network
- Jabari Lindsay, Director of Income and Social Supports, Region of Peel
- Myat Naing, Youth Advisor, Research Opportunities Program (UTM)
- Norma English, Director of Legal Services/Staff Lawyer, North Peel and Dufferin Community Legal Services
Employment
Location: CCT Building 3150
Panelists:
- Nakiema Palmer, Director of Early Years and Child Care Services, Region of Peel
- Rebecca Bekele, Youth Advisor, Research Opportunities Program (UTM)
- Salima Tejani, Senior Contract Manager, WCG Services
- Sue Sadler, Senior Vice President of Services and Program Innovation, ACCES Employment
This interactive session will build on the learnings from the morning sessions and lay the groundwork for a collective call to action. Attendees will work together to identify potential system-level changes, policy changes, advocacy efforts and innovative approaches that could have a positive impact on poverty in Peel.
- Housing (Location: Kaneff Centre Rotunda)
- Food Security (Location: Davis Building DV1142)
- Income Security (Location: Davis Building DV3140)
- Employment (Location: CCT Building 3150)
