Relèven is partnering with 5468796 Architecture Inc. and Scatliff + Miller +Murray in the Shared Ground applied research initiative to develop more affordable housing on social purpose infrastructure in Winnipeg.
Together, we provide social purpose organizations with the knowledge and tools they need to determine if their land and building assets can support an affordable housing development
8 april 2025 Panelists
Panel 1 / Sacred Spaces to Community Places: Unlocking the Potential of Faith Properties
Dave Harder is Director of Placemaking at Relèven. He works with parish churches reimagining a sustainable mission, neighbourhood engagement and long-term financial sustainability. Dave has over 20 years of church planting, pastoral and executive leadership experience in the religious nonprofit arena. He loves his city, Ottawa, and can be found curating conversations at local coffee shops, scheming new social initiatives that seek human flourishing or engaging the deeper spiritual longings of his neighbours.
Adam Gerhard is a chair of the space planning team at St. Mary's Road United Church, charged with reimagining how we can have community and ministry impact through our space. Adam has been involved in the United Church since his youth. He has provided leadership in his local congregation, including serving as Chair of the board and as a member of worship and planning teams, and through regional and national committees. In his day job, Adam is the Chief Information Officer at Red River College Polytechnic, providing senior leadership to the institution in information technology, information security, project delivery, and institutional analysis.
Daniel Lussier is CEO of Réseau Compassion Network, where he guides high-level strategies and collaborates with leaders across 16 organizations to shape long-term impact. Passionate about compassion, service, and becoming a better human, Daniel sees his role as a privilege. He finds inspiration in the people around him and meaning in the slow, transformative work they do. On weekends, Daniel seeks stillness by the lake, spiritual reflection, and avoids adrenaline—ever since a memorable bungee-jump realization.
Rev. Lesley Harrison is the full-time intercultural minister at Knox United Church in Winnipeg. With over 25 years of experience in pastoral and program ministry in Saskatchewan and Nicaragua, she is passionate about listening deeply and helping the church respond faithfully to community needs. Lesley works with Knox staff and leadership to nurture discipleship, guide strategic planning, and build connections with the neighbourhood. Her ministry reflects a deep commitment to justice, compassion, and community development.
Hakim Ghulam is Board Chair of the Manitoba Islamic Association. He is a Canadian CPA and Chartered Accountant from England and Wales, a respected entrepreneur, and deeply committed to community service. This commitment is evident through his active engagement in volunteer roles with the Manitoba Islamic Association (MIA). Since relocating to Winnipeg with his family, Hakim has consistently contributed to the MIA. Notably, he has delivered khutbahs/sermons for several years, led funeral prayers, and overseen the Quran education program. Hakim brings with him a wealth of diversified professional experience and skills, having served on the boards of schools and other non-profit organizations across Canada.
Kalen Taylor is the Executive Director of Purpose Construction, a Winnipeg-based social enterprise that combines affordable housing development with inclusive trades training and employment. Under Kalen’s leadership, the organization completes over $2.5 million in housing repairs annually and builds new homes in Winnipeg’s North End. A committed social entrepreneur, Kalen also co-founded Aki Energy and Aki Foods, leading impactful projects in renewable energy and food security with First Nations communities. Their work focuses on equity, sustainability, and community transformation.
panel 2/ Funding the Future: Investing in Housing Opportunities on Faith Properties
Christopher Trotman is Fund Manager and Director of Communications at Relèven. He leads Relèven’s national partnerships, and works to support communication with Relèven’s stakeholders and partners. He has over a decade of experience in corporate communications leading the development and execution of strategies across a range of industries. Christopher is actively involved in support organizations in the Black non-profit ecosystem across Canada and is committed to creating healthier communities through his consulting work with community organizations.
Megan Tate is Vice President of Community Impact at The Winnipeg Foundation, where she leads the team responsible for all responsive and strategic grant-making, as well as community programs. Since joining The Foundation in 1999 Megan has held roles in Communications, Donor Services and Youth Engagement. In addition, she currently serves as Chair of the Board for Environment Funders Canada.
Graham Singh is Relèven’s founder and CEO. For the past 20 years, he has specialized in working with closed churches, including as a Priest in the Anglican Church in England and Canada. He is a regular speaker and author in areas of urbanism, social finance, heritage, adaptive re-use of churches and social purpose real estate. Graham has studied at the University of Western Ontario, St Mellitus College (Cambridge University / Ridley Hall), the London School of Economics, Asbury Theological Seminary and the Saïd Business School at Oxford University.
Harnet Weldihiwet is the Acting Director of the Housing Delivery Branch at Manitoba Housing, within the Department of Housing, Addictions, and Homelessness. She leads the development and administration of funding programs that support creating and rehabilitating affordable and social housing across Manitoba, with a strong focus on addressing chronic homelessness. With a background spanning government, non-profit, finance, and real estate sectors, Harnet is deeply committed to equity and meaningful community partnerships. Her work involves close collaboration with all levels of government (federal, Indigenous, and municipal), non-profit organizations, and other stakeholders to advance inclusive, community-driven housing solutions for low- and moderate-income Manitobans.
Rochelle Squires is the Chief Executive Officer of CentreVenture Development Corp., the City of Winnipeg’s arm’s-length downtown development agency. A former Manitoba cabinet minister and MLA for Riel, Squires brings extensive experience in public service and urban development. Passionate about revitalizing Winnipeg’s core, she is focused on transforming underutilized land—such as vacant buildings and surface parking lots—into vibrant, livable spaces. Her leadership is driven by a commitment to building new housing, supporting local economies, and making downtown a dynamic place to live, work, and thrive.
Lissie Rappaport is a Registered Professional Planner and Manager of the Housing Accelerator Fund at the City of Winnipeg. She is a skilled city planner, bringing over a decade of experience in non-profits and community development to her current role. She is honoured and humbled to be leading a collaborative team in the Housing Accelerator Fund Office at the City, implementing both structural change and accelerating affordable housing construction. Lissie is a strategic thinker, applies a flair of creativity to her work, and is excited about addressing solutions to complex problems.
Panel 3 / From Steeples to Streetscapes: Navigating Opportunities and Obstacles in Faith Property Redevelopment
Johanna Hurme is co-founder and Managing Partner of 5468796 Architecture, a Winnipeg-based firm recognized internationally for its innovative design work. Originally from Finland, she immigrated to Canada in 1996 and earned her Bachelor of Environmental Design and Master of Architecture from the University of Manitoba. Known for her editorial vision and conceptual leadership, Johanna has led award-winning projects like youCUBE and Migrating Landscapes. An advocate for design excellence and community engagement, she also lectures globally and has spearheaded numerous public initiatives and design programs, including Design Quarter Winnipeg and Table for 12 + 1200.
Elise Finnigan is a Registered Professional Planner with the City of Winnipeg, currently serving as an Affordable Housing Concierge with the Housing Accelerator Fund Team. She has over a decade of experience with the City, primarily as a District Planner. Before returning to Winnipeg, Elise worked on one of Europe’s largest urban regeneration projects in Ballymun, Dublin. She also brings a strong background in community development and arts education in Winnipeg and Vancouver. Elise is a co-founder of Art City, a nationally recognized community art centre in West Broadway. She holds a Master’s in Planning from the University of British Columbia, where she was awarded a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) scholarship for her research on affordable housing. Elise is a proud citizen of the Red River Métis.
Jeremy Read is the Chief Executive Officer of the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation (UWCRC) and UWCRC 2.0 Inc., with over two decades of senior executive experience. He oversees strategic planning, property development and management, business operations, and community partnerships. Formerly Chief of Staff to the Premier of Manitoba and Senior Executive Officer at UWinnipeg, Jeremy has played key roles in public policy, strategic communications, and capital project development. He recently co-authored a piece on the UWCRC model for the Engaged Scholar Journal. Committed to community well-being, Jeremy has volunteered in literacy, outreach, education, and social service initiatives.
Johanna Chabluk is a Development Officer at CentreVenture Development Corporation, Winnipeg’s arm’s-length agency dedicated to downtown revitalization. In this role, she works closely with stakeholders to identify and implement projects that promote economic development and enhance quality of life in the city’s core. CentreVenture fosters public-private partnerships, supports new retail, entertainment, housing, and commercial ventures, and guides investment in public spaces and underutilized properties. Johanna holds a Master of City Planning from the University of Manitoba and serves as a member of the City of Winnipeg’s Urban Design Advisory Committee, bringing her expertise in planning, policy, and development to help shape a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable downtown for future generations.
Rina Ricci is the heritage planner with the City of Winnipeg. Her role includes leading owners of buildings and resources through the designation process. She also administers heritage permits, which allow an owner to alter the protected elements of a heritage building with the ultimate goal of conserving its heritage value. She also administers grant programs for heritage conservation and is involved in long-range city-wide heritage planning. Rina is a registered architect in the Province of Manitoba and is the current president of the Manitoba Association of Architects. She is a member of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals with an expertise in buildings.
Steve Boulton is Vice President at Longboat Development Corporation, bringing a wealth of experience in architecture and real estate. He holds an MBA focused on Real Estate and is a licensed architect. Steve serves as Chair of the Winnipeg Urban Design Advisory Committee and is a member of the Urban Development Institute's Infill Committee. He also contributes to the Engagement Committee for the Associates at the Asper School of Business and actively supports the Department of City Planning at the University of Manitoba. Steve's expertise lies in team building, stakeholder management, financial analysis, and project delivery, with a focus on creating value within asset management and enhancing built environments.
