On June 17 and 18, the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR), in partnership with Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO), co-hosted a two-day virtual Housing Law Conference that brought together more than 1,000 housing professionals, advocates, legal practitioners, and community service providers from across Ontario.
The conference addressed the growing demand for accessible and practical legal education on housing rights. Through engaging plenary sessions and interactive workshops, participants deepened their understanding of key topics, including tenant rights, the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA), Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) processes, human rights, and emerging legal and policy issues affecting renters across the province.
CCHR played a key role in planning and delivering the conference. Ayesha Adamjee, Manager of Education and Community Initiatives, and Brightson Okenwa, Senior Legal Education Specialist, served on the conference planning committee, helping to develop a program that reflected the realities faced by tenants and the professionals who support them.
Ayesha moderated the opening plenary, Tenant Rights 101 and Residential Tenancies Act Coverage, providing participants with a strong foundation in Ontario’s residential tenancy laws. On the second day, Brightson moderated the plenary panel, Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma, which explored the emotional impact of frontline housing advocacy and highlighted strategies for supporting the well-being and resilience of professionals working in the sector.
Later that day, Ayesha and Brightson co-facilitated the session on Remedies at the Landlord and Tenant Board and Beyond, sharing practical guidance on the legal remedies available to tenants and discussing strategies for advancing housing rights through the LTB.
The conference also showcased the expertise of CCHR’s Legal Services team. Julie Matheson, Lawyer, presented on Gender-Based Violence and Housing, examining the intersection of housing insecurity and gender-based violence and the legal protections available to survivors. Ademofe Oye-Adeniran, Legal Services Team Lead, as a speaker, led a session on The Landlord and Tenant Board Process, providing participants with practical guidance on filing applications, navigating hearings, and understanding the tribunal process.
The response from participants was overwhelmingly positive. CLEO reported nearly 990 unique online attendees, with many organizations participating as teams, bringing total attendance to well over 1,000 participants.
The conference demonstrated the strength of collaboration in advancing housing justice. By bringing together legal experts, advocates, and community organizations, CCHR and CLEO created an engaging learning environment that strengthened knowledge, fostered collaboration, and reinforced a shared commitment to protecting the right to housing.
CCHR extends its sincere thanks to CLEO, the conference planning committee, the speakers, moderators, and everyone who participated in making the conference a success. We look forward to continuing our partnership to expand access to housing rights education and support those working every day to advance the right to adequate housing.