Established in 2016, the Affordable Housing Champion Award recognizes an individual or organization that has made a transformative contribution to affordable housing.
Purpose
To recognizes an individual or organization that has made a transformative contribution to the affordable housing sector in BC.
Eligibility
The nominee:
- may be a person or organization
- may be outside of the non-profit housing sector
- may be located anywhere in Canada but their impact must have significantly contributed to affordable housing in BC
- may be a BCNPHA member (Non-Profit Housing Society or Associate), or a non-member
Award Criteria
The nominee must:
- demonstrate commitment and serve as a role model
- be an advocate, ambassador and/or champion of affordable housing
- have taken actions and shown transformative change in affordable housing, including policy and advocacy with tangible results
- have strongly advocated on behalf of the non-profit housing sector
- have taken initiative and displayed leadership
- have a new way in developing unique solutions to housing issues in the province/region
- passionately promote the principles of the affordable housing sector
- have attempted to achieve sustainable solutions to affordable housing challenges
Nomination Process
The BCNPHA Awards Committee nominates individuals or organizations for this award and chooses the recipient.
Recipients will be notified by September 2025.
2024 Award Recipient: Gregor Craigie
Gregor Craigie is the author of Our Crumbling Foundation, published in 2024, as well as a veteran CBC journalist and host of the Victoria-based radio show, On the Island. In Our Crumbling Foundation, Gregor offers a deep exploration of Canada’s ongoing housing crisis. The book shares innovative housing solutions from cities around the world—like Tokyo, Berlin, and Helsinki—where governments and communities have tackled similar challenges with creativity and determination. Craigie combines these global perspectives with a call for urgent, multi-faceted action at all levels of government.
Previous Recipients
- 2023 – Together We Stand!!
- 2022 – Khelsilem, Squamish Nation Council Chairperson
- 2021 – Katherine McParland, in memoriam
- 2020 – Dr. Bonnie Henry
- 2019 – Mayor Lisa Helps, City of Victoria
- 2018 – Marpole Students for Modular Housing
- 2017 – Generation Squeeze
- 2016 – Frances Bula