January 31, 2:45PM
SHOWPLACE PERFORMANCE CENTRE – 290 George St N, Peterborough
Following the screening of Linda Schuyler and Will Bowes’ Home, hear from local experts and advocates about solutions for addressing the housing crisis in our community.
Featuring City Councillor – Alex Bierk, United Way Community Impact Officer – Elisha Rubacha, One City Outreach Worker – Jenni Frenke, One City Peer Outreach Volunteer – Jeff Bertrand, and Canada Research Chair in Community-Partnered Social Justice – Naomi Nichols.
This discussion led by Linda Schuyler is not to be missed!
PANELISTS
Alex Bierk is an artist and community advocate. His drive for creating meaningful change is evident in his art and his role as a City Councillor for Ward 3 in downtown Peterborough, where he lives and works. Drawing from his lived experience with addiction, he strives to enact positive change in his community.
Elisha Rubacha is a passionate storyteller, artist, and advocate. As the Community Impact Officer with United Way Peterborough & District, she coordinated the 2024 Point-in-Time Count, a survey of 343 people living unhoused in Peterborough. Having lived in poverty herself, Elisha has been a vocal supporter of a basic income guarantee for nearly a decade, and believes that everyone deserves a life free from financial struggle.
Jeff Bertrand is the Peer Outreach Volunteer at One City Peterborough and works daily as a key member of the outreach team. He is chronically unhoused, has worked in Ontario and Alberta and spends his free time supporting his peers experiencing homelessness in Peterborough.
Jenni Frenke is a local advocate and community organizer from Cobourg who journeyed alongside residents at Camp 413 during their time living at Brookside. She currently works at One City Peterborough as a Street Outreach Worker supporting folks living rough with survival gear, food, harm reduction and service navigation.
Linda Schuyler, producer of the documentary Home, is CEO of Skystone Media Inc. Dedicated to the art of storytelling, Linda has been an independent producer, entrepreneur, and mentor for over forty years. She is best known for work that breaks stereotypes, and encourages communications. She is the executive producer and co-creator of over 500 episodes of the internationally recognized, multi-award winning Degrassi television franchise.
Naomi Nichols is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Canada Research Chair in Community-Partnered Social Justice at Trent University, where she also founded and directs the Research for Social Change Lab. She has been involved in research about youth homelessness since 2007.
Will Bowes is a Canadian Screen Award-winning Director, Actor and Singer/Songwriter. The Toronto-based artist has extensive film and television experience, behind the camera and in front of it – and is also an acclaimed musician. He is the director and cinematographer of Home.