Housing Research Award Recipients Recognized for Shaping the Future of Housing in Canada
Press Release
November 22, 2018
The Government of Canada through the CMHC Housing Research Awards program under the National Housing Strategy (NHS) is proud to recognize three Canadian researchers for their world-class housing research initiatives which are helping to shape the future of housing in Canada. The three award recipients were announced during this week’s National Housing Conference, which is being hosted by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). A travel bursary was also awarded to a post-secondary student for research to be carried out in a remote area.
Through this NHS initiative, the Government is committed to supporting research on housing needs and conditions in order to help more Canadians access housing that meets their needs and that they can afford.
The following recipients have each earned monetary awards for impactful housing research.
- Dr. Linda Larcombe of the University of Manitoba’s Department of Internal Medicine received CMHC President’s Medal for Outstanding Housing Research ($15,000) for the research project ‘Sekuwe (My House)’. Mr. Evan Yassie of the Sayisai Dene First Nation was also recognized as key contributor to this housing research project. This first annual award was presented for research excellence on a theme chosen by CMHC’s President and CEO, Evan Siddall: social inclusion.
- Dr. Catherine Leviten-Reid, an Associate Professor in the MBA Community Economic Development program at Cape Breton University received the Gold Roof Award for Housing Research Excellence ($10,000) for her work entitled ‘Understanding Rental Housing in a Smaller Community’. This award recognizes researchers who have made an outstanding contribution to one of the NHS priority areas.
- Dr. Paul Kershaw, a professor at University of British Columbia’s (UBC) School of Population and Public Health, received the Gold Roof Award for Knowledge to Action ($10,000) for his ‘Generation Squeeze’ project. This award recognizes innovative initiatives that have successfully transferred new housing knowledge to practical, real-world applications that are benefitting Canadians.
An additional recipient was also awarded a travel bursary.
- Bradley Farrish, a post-secondary student at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, received the North Star Travel Award for Northern or Remote Research (up to $5,000). This travel award is presented to researchers conducting research or fieldwork in northern or remote parts of Canada, focusing on one of the NHS priority areas.
An inaugural ceremony took place on Wednesday, November 21, to recognize the CMHC Housing Research Awards recipients and to celebrate their accomplishments.
From left to right : Adam Vaughan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development; Evan Yassie, Sayisi Dene First Nation, Manitoba; Dr. Linda Larcombe of the University of Manitoba’s Department of Internal Medicine; Dr. Catherine Leviten-Reid, an Associate Professor in the MBA Community Economic Development program at Cape Breton University; Dr. Paul Kershaw, professor at University of British Columbia’s (UBC) School of Population and Public Health; Evan Siddall, CMHC’s President and CEO; Michel Tremblay, CMHC’s Senior Vice-President, Policy and Research
Quote:
““The Housing Research Awards recognizes and promotes excellence and innovation in research, and also creates a better understanding of housing needs and solutions that help Canadians access housing that meets their needs and that they can afford. Finding ways to help solve Canada’s housing challenges is an essential step in creating the caring, inclusive and prosperous society we strive to be. Congratulations to all Housing Research Award recipients and also to all of those who submitted their work to the awards program.””
– The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Children, Families and Social Development and the Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Quick facts
- The CMHC Housing Research Awards highlight achievements in research, research training, knowledge mobilization and outreach activities.
- The CMHC Housing Research Awards build on and sustain Canada’s research-based knowledge culture across all fields, including social sciences and humanities, health and technology.
- The Housing Research Awards program provides monetary awards for impactful housing research as well as a travel award to support research activities in Northern or remote areas.
- There are four awards that are provided annually:
- CMHC President’s Medal for Outstanding Housing Research ($15,000)
- Gold Roof Award for Housing Research Excellence ($10,000)
- Gold Roof Award for Knowledge to Action ($10,000)
- North Star Travel Award for Northern or Remote Research (up to $5,000)
- The deadline for submitting applications was August 24th, 2018.
- The NHS includes $241 million over 10 years to support research on housing needs and conditions, the housing finance system, market stability and housing sector innovation.
- The NHS is an ambitious 10-year, $40-billion plan that will reduce or eliminate 530,000 families from housing need across Canada, create 100,000 new housing units, as well as repair and renew more than 300,000 housing units and reduce chronic homelessness by 50 per cent.
Associated links:
As Canada’s authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. For more information, please follow us on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
Find out more about the National Housing Strategy.
Media contacts:
Valérie Glazer
Office of Minister Duclos
819-654-5546 (bureau / work)
613-220-1841 (cellulaire / cellular)
valerie.glazer@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Audrey-Anne Coulombe
Media Relations, CMHC
613-748-2573
acoulomb@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
Backgrounder :
| Award | Project Title/Description | Recipients/Project Location |
| President’s Medal for Outstanding Housing Research | Sekuwe (My House), Dene First Nations’ Perspectives on Healthy Homes The story of the project’s inclusive design process and examples of culturally appropriate housing have been complied in a book entitled “Sekuwe” – or My House. The university of Manitoba partnered with the Northlands Denesuline First Nation, the Sayisi Dene First Nation and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs to develop culturally appropriate housing designs that will support better physical and mental health in Dene communities across the North. The research team was led by Dr. Linda Larcombe of the University of Manitoba’s Department of Internal Medicine. |
Dr. Linda Larcombe University of Manitoba, Department of Internal Medicine ManitobaMr. Evan Yassie Sayisi Dene First Nation ManitobaProject location: North West Territories (NWT) |
| Gold Roof Award for Housing Research Excellence | Understanding Rental Housing in a Smaller Community While her research was local, by shedding light on key contributors to housing insecurity in rural and smaller urban centres, Dr. Catherine Leviten Reid’s research will be useful to small communities across the country. |
Dr. Catherine Leviten-Reid Cape Breton University Nova Scotia |
| Gold Roof Award for Knowledge to Action | Generation Squeeze The Generation Squeeze research project reveals the growing gap between home prices and young people’s earnings is eroding their standard of living, even as our country’s gross domestic product grows. |
Dr. Paul Kershaw University of British Columbia British Columbia |
| North Star Travel Award for Northern or Remote Research | Bradley Farrish is working on his thesis at Dalhousie University and will receive financial support from CMHC to travel to Aklavik, a remote community in the Mackenzie Delta, where he will observe the modern Inuvialuit way of life. His goal is to develop a proposal that would see elements of Inuvialuit cultural memory embedded in the design of housing, promoting well-being by creating direct links to the past. | Bradley Farrish Dalhousie University Nova ScotiaProject location: North West Territories (NWT) |
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