WELCOME
Eastern Ontario is growing, and we need to be ready. Over the next 25 years, our region is projected to experience the fastest population growth in the province, expanding by more than 35% by 2051—outpacing even the GTA.
The 2025 Eastern Ontario Housing Summit presented by Enbridge Gas, is about building homes and communities for a sustainable future. To meet this demand the right mix of housing types, tenures, and price points need to be met all while ensuring the backbone of growth: roads, bridges, water systems, and smart land-use policies. Without this foundation, housing strategies cannot succeed.
This Summit brings together leaders, innovators, and changemakers to share insights, collaborate, and turn challenges into solutions. Through engaging sessions and collaborative discussions, you’ll gain the insights and strategies to build smarter, faster, and more sustainably while tackling the interconnected challenges of affordability, sustainability, infrastructure, and economic impact.
AGENDA & SPEAKERS
Pierre Dufresne
VP, Land Development, Cavanagh Communities
Pierre Dufresne is Senior Vice-President of Cavanagh Communities and is also the current President of the Lanark Leeds Home Builders Association. Pierre is also a Past President of both the Greater Ottawa and Ontario Homebuilders Associations. As a representative of the housing industry and for housing affordability Pierre has always advocated for the importance of the role of all levels of the Homebuilders Association. Prior to joining Cavanagh Communities Pierre worked at Tartan Homes for 30 years where he gained extensive experience in Planning, Housing Policy and Land Development. Pierre is from Montreal where he grew up and enjoys skiing in the winter, golfing in the summer and attending jamband festivals year-long.
Robert Kavcic
Senior Economist, BMO Capital Markets
Robert has been with BMO Capital Markets since 2006. He plays a key role in analyzing economic, fiscal and real estate trends in Canada. Robert regularly contributes to various department publications, is a frequent commentator on economic and financial trends in the media, and a regular advisor on economic issues to Canadian policymakers.
Before joining BMO, Robert worked in the Research department at the Bank of Canada. Robert holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Western Ontario, and a Master’s degree in Economics from Carleton University.
Mike Moffat
Senior Director, Smart Prosperity Institute
Dr. Mike Moffatt is the Senior Director of Policy and Innovation at the Smart Prosperity Institute and an Assistant Professor in the Business, Economics and Public Policy group at Ivey Business School, Western University. Mike’s research at SPI focuses on the intersection of regional economic development, building child-friendly, climate-friendly housing and communities, and clean innovation. In 2017, Mike was the Chief Innovation Fellow for the Government of Canada, advising Deputy Ministers on innovation policy and emerging trends.
He has also previously held the titles of Director (Interim) of the Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management, Directory of Policy at Canada 2020, and Chief Economist for the Mowat Centre at the University of Toronto. Mike has worked with politicians and policymakers of all political stripes in several countries to craft more effective public policy. From 2013 to 2015, Mike served as an economic advisor to Liberal leader Justin Trudeau. Mike holds a Ph.D. in Management Science from Ivey Business School and an M.A. in Economics from the University of Rochester. Outside of his clean economy work at SPI, Mike is a disability-rights activist.
URSULA MELINZ
Partner in the Municipal, Land Development & Expropriation group at Soloway Wright LLP.
Ursula advises and represents a full range of clients including home builder associations, developers, businesses, and individual landowners. She assists clients in all aspects of land development from site-specific development approvals to pursuing broad policy changes such as whole scale re-writes of official plans and zoning by-laws or commenting on provincial legislation and policy changes.
She has extensive experience in the development approval process including strata severances, subdivision approvals or high-rise developments. Ursula also has extensive experience in development charge matters, development agreements, dedications or levies (such as parkland dedication), cost sharing agreements and landowner development groups as well as expropriation matters.
Ursula is an experienced litigator regularly appearing before municipal committees and representing clients before the Ontario Land Tribunal and Provincial Courts.
PHILIP OSTERHOUT
Partner in the Municipal, Land Development & Expropriation group at Soloway Wright LLP.
Philip is a partner in Soloway Wright’s Municipal, Land Development & Expropriation Group, where he regularly represents developers, businesses, homeowners and municipalities navigating land use regulations and a full range of development approvals.
Phil enjoys collaborating with his clients and their consultants on all manner of Planning Act applications, development agreements, conservation authority matters, development charge issues, heritage matters, and expropriations.
Much of his practice includes appeals before the Ontario Land Tribunal (formerly the Ontario Municipal Board & the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal). He also represents his clients before municipal councils and committees, as well as the Ontario Court of Justice and the Ontario Divisional Court.
Breakout Session:
From Housing Targets to Real Options: Building the Right Mix of Homes
It isn’t just about the number of new homes—it’s about creating a mix that truly reflects the needs of your community. From single-detached homes to townhomes, apartments, and secondary suites, and from rental to ownership, market to deeply affordable, your residents need options that work for them today and tomorrow.
Be ready to bring these insights back home to encourage and enable a diverse range of housing types, tenures, and price points in your community.
Moderator: Sabine Matheson, Principal, StrategyCorp
Panelists:
Alyssa Stack, Sales and Marketing Manager, Patten Homes
Christian Szpilfogel, Chief Investment Officer, The Aliferous Group
Preeti Prabhu, Senior Director of Public Policy, Government and Stakeholder Relations, United Way East Ontario
Rosaline Hill, Principal Architect & Senior Planner, RJH Architecture + Planning
Breakout Session:
Building for Growth: Getting the Infrastructure Your Community Needs
Homes alone won’t sustain growth – your community also needs the right backbone. Roads, bridges, water systems, land-use policies – if infrastructure can’t keep up, housing plans stall.
This session puts you in the room with experts driving innovative projects across Eastern Ontario. You’ll walk away with actionable insights to build smarter, faster, and more sustainably. If you’re planning for growth, you can’t afford to miss this.
Moderator: Pierre Dufresne
VP, Land Development, Cavanagh Communities
Panelists:
Justin Bromberg, CEO, Frontenac Municipal Services
Michael Skinner, CEO, Miranda Water Industries Inc.
Tim Chadder, Associate and Senior Consultant, J.L. Richards & Associates
15:15 PM - 16:00 PM
Plenary Session & Closing Remarks:
- Miyoko Oikawa, Director, Training & Strategic Initiatives
- Scott Andison, Chief Executive Officer, OHBA
- MPP Graydon Smith, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Special Video Address)
- Kevin Lee, Chief Executive Officer, CHBA
- MP Scott Aitchison, Parry Sound-Muskoka
