BC Innovation Coalition - Housing Affordability: Exploring Cost per Square Foot
An applied discussion on BC’s housing affordability challenges — bringing industry, government, and Indigenous leaders together to address cost, speed, supply, and policy through real-world collaboration.
*Full agenda below
What we’re up to -
The BC Innovation Coalition is a cross-sector alliance focused on complex BC-based problems. Our first priority is housing affordability.
We’re convening leaders from housing, construction, infrastructure, engineering, architecture, finance, government (CMHC, HIC, NRC, etc.), and Indigenous Nations to explore where alignment can create measurable impact.
This private, catered session, in collaboration with Build Canada, will highlight how each sector is uniquely affected, where barriers exist and what’s creating friction. Together, we’ll align stakeholders around the interconnected challenges of cost, speed, supply, and policy.
The session will feature a panel moderated by Dr. Rishi Gupta (UVic / CAMTEC), with Chris Quigley (Aryze Developments), Nic Green (Parametric Properties), Rick Welch (Fort Modular), and David Berry (Axiom Builders) — each bringing grounded experience from across the development and delivery of housing.
By the end of the session, we aim to define the problem set to inform pilot opportunities and policy collaboration in the months ahead.
Agenda - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Obk6MXnonUhz0o1JZcDuIb9T1qpcVZ1a/view?usp=drive_link
Where this work will lead -
Following this first session, the coalition will be shaping next steps. Options on the table could include:
Creating a detailed breakdown of all the factors behind the overall cost per square foot of low and mid-rise developments.
Pilot projects with potential government partnership - working with government to test alternative processes and demonstrate outcomes
Challenge models - a competition where teams propose solutions, with funding for the winning team to be implemented on real projects
Funding pathways - collaborating with CMHC and HICC to reduce bottlenecks and speed access to funds
These aren’t prescriptions; we want this event to allow everyone to contribute and help to define the most impactful directions for the coalition.
We look forward to the perspectives you’ll bring — and to translating shared insight into practical next steps.
Hosts -
Henk Oudman – Quicksilver
Aaron Nelson – Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
Amber Simpson - Green Entrepreneur
Dr. Rishi Gupta – UVic / CAMTEC
Bhavik Chauhan – Bonsai Growth Solutions
Keiver Tremblay – Platform Calgary / Elastic Energy
Chris Fernando – Slate Strategies / CRDC Materials
*The views and opinions expressed by the panellists are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of their respective organizations.
**Photos and video will be taken during this event for documentation and promotional purposes by the BC Innovation Coalition and Build Canada. If you prefer not to be recorded, please let an event organizer know upon arrival.