SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue reactivates Burnaby residents on affordable housing

In a move that may be without precedent in Canada, the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue and the City of Burnaby have reactivated a previous Mayor’s Task Force on Community Housing to ask an important question: How is the city doing so far? 

The City of Burnaby approached SFU to reconvene the residents, community reps and council members, who had participated in the 2019 Task Force, to review the City’s progress on the Task Force’s recommendations.

"The Burnaby housing dialogue is unique in Canada in three ways," says Shauna Sylvester, executive director of the SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue and facilitator of the Task Force. "First, it started with the needs of the people of Burnaby, rather than looking at housing forms or building types. Second, it married the resident consultation process with the Task Force deliberations, and, third, it brought back together all of the key players to evaluate progress 18 months later.”

A group of residents that participated in the initial 2019 engagement process reassembled in February of this year, and then the Task Force reunited in March. SFU will summarize the feedback from these groups for presentation to City Council this spring.

Improving policy in Burnaby

Since the Task Force delivered its recommendations, Burnaby has moved rapidly to implement policy and actions which are already improving people’s lives.

“This process has been transformative for Burnaby,” said Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley. “It’s replaced the winners-and-losers dynamic that often dominates debate about difficult issues with an open dialogue where everyone’s voices are heard and valued, and people are willing to make the trade-offs necessary to benefit our entire community.”

“I’m so very proud our Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue team is engaging the community on such a critical topic like housing,” says SFU President Joy Johnson. “SFU is grateful to work with residents and community partners on projects that result in impactful change.”

Learn more:  
Your Voice. Your Home. – one of the most robust community engagement processes in Burnaby’s history,  that provided input into the Task Force’s work.

Centre for Dialogue consulting services – offering stakeholder and public engagement and facilitation services