Transforming at-risk faith spaces into vibrant civic hubs
| | | | Sacred Places, Civic Value: Reimagining Faith Buildings for Community Resilience Thursday, May 29 | 12 p.m. ET | Live Zoom Webinar | | | | | | Bringing New Life to Local Hubs Across Canada, thousands of faith-built spaces—many of which have become vital community hubs—are at risk of closure. With nearly one-third of Canada’s 27,000 faith properties facing an uncertain future, communities stand to lose critical civic assets used for childcare, cultural events, food programs, newcomer services, and more. The Canadian Urban Institute will soon release a new report exploring how faith buildings can be preserved and reimagined as essential resilience infrastructure. Ahead of the release, join us for a discussion on strategies to safeguard and repurpose faith spaces for long-term community benefit. Drawing on expert consultations and global best practices, the report will outline actionable models for shared governance, adaptive reuse, and cross-sector partnerships between faith communities, municipalities, and other key stakeholders. This conversation will examine the challenges and opportunities ahead, the urgent need for collaboration, and the potential to transform underused faith properties into vibrant, multi-use community anchors. Whether you're a faith leader, policymaker, planner, housing advocate, or simply care about the future of community infrastructure in Canada, we invite you to be part of this important dialogue—and help shape the future of these vital local spaces.
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| | Executive Director | Anglican Diocese of Islands and Inlets Brendon Neilson serves as the Executive Director of the Anglican Diocese of Islands and Inlets, located on the ancestral territories of the Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth, and Kwakwaka'wakw peoples, and based in Victoria, BC. He holds a PhD in theology and brings a diverse professional background that includes experience in municipal government and consulting. He has been with the diocese since 2018. As a senior generalist, Brendon contributes across many areas of diocesan life, with a primary focus on the current and future use of diocesan land holdings. His work includes leading several redevelopment initiatives that explore how church-owned properties can serve communities in new ways while supporting long-term financial sustainability. The most notable of these is the master plan and rezoning application for Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Victoria. |
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| | Director of Research | Relèven Mike Wood Daly works with congregations, communities, and partner organizations to uncover information that fuels imagination. Mike has over 35 years of pastoral, community development, teaching, and research experience in the religious and community non-profit sectors. Mike holds a Doctor of Ministry from McMaster University and previously served as Research Associate and Degree Administrator for the Toronto School of Theology's Doctor of Ministry Program. He is also the author of the recent book, "God Doesn’t Live Here Anymore: Decline and Resilience in the Canadian Church." |
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| | Senior Program Director | Ralph W. Voorhees Center for Civic Engagement Nadia A. Mian is the Senior Program Director at the Ralph W. Voorhees Center for Civic Engagement and a Lecturer at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. She holds a Ph.D. from The New School and a Master’s in Environmental Studies, specializing in urban planning, from York University in Toronto. Nadia’s research focuses on faith-based property development, particularly how religious institutions are advocating for land use and zoning reforms to support affordable housing. She is currently building a national database of faith-based affordable housing projects and serves as a Research Fellow at Villanova University, where she is studying density bonuses for such developments in Seattle, Washington. Her work has been published in The Conversation, Shelterforce, and Planning Magazine. Nadia’s broader interests include placemaking, historic preservation, and environmental sustainability. Deeply engaged in community development, she serves on the Environmental Commission in Hanover Township, New Jersey, and sits on the Board of Directors for The Mark Cares, a nonprofit based in Montclair, NJ. |
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| | Principal | Niagara Consulting Group Rick Reinhard is principal of Niagara Consulting Group, where he focuses on the reuse and redevelopment of houses of worship, as well as broader economic development initiatives. For more than three decades, Rick has led economic development organizations in five cities across the U.S. and the U.K., and previously served as Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Buffalo. More recently, Rick held senior leadership roles within the United Methodist Church, including serving as Chief Administrative Officer of the General Board of Church and Society—its social justice agency—and leading A Future With Hope, where he worked on real estate and COVID-19–related initiatives for the church. Rick has also taught city planning and urban policy at seven major research universities. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the College of William and Mary, a Master of Business and Public Management from Rice University, and was a Loeb Fellow at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. |
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| Can't make it? Watch the recording! | | For anyone unable to attend live, be sure to watch the recording on our CityTalk website! Recordings are posted within a week of the event. | | | |
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| | | Copyright © 2024 Canadian Urban Institute |
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