ENDING HOMELESSNESS TOGETHER 2025 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:


Mitch Bourbonniere

Mitch struggles every day to keep his adult son housed and protected. Mitch raised his little boy as a single father. 25 years ago Mitch’s son developed psychosis as a teenager. Other than those times that he has been a missing person , Mitch has had daily contact with his son which has included navigating hospitalizations, homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, bouts of self harm, conflict with police, and terrorization by drug dealers. Sometimes Mitch feels like he can’t help his son enough and in order to cope , pours his energy into those facing similar circumstances in the  community. Mitch sponsors regular community Main Street walks and has been able to help start or support other community walks throughout the city, including having been a founding member of the Bear Clan, the Mama Bear Clan, OPK Manitoba, and NdinaweMac Our relatives home. Mitch actively looks for Missing Persons, regularly visits encampments, and was able to go into the river to rescue a young woman who was attempting to end her life.


Monday, December 1st

9:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Melody Barr

Assistant Director, Housing and Community Development Department City of Houston

Melody Barr serves as the Assistant Director of Public Services and Economic Development for the City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department. With nearly 20 years of public service, Melody is a key leader in managing and aligning local, state, and federal funding to support low- and moderate-income Houstonians, particularly individuals and families experiencing homelessness, housing instability, and/or recovering from disaster.

Melody oversees a diverse portfolio of public services and housing programs, which includes 18 different federal, state, and local funding streams. Under her leadership, Melody has helped manage $310 million to serve Houston’s most vulnerable communities.

A recognized expert in system change and rapid rehousing, Melody has played an integral role in reshaping Houston’s homeless response system in partnership with local funders and agencies. Since 2015, she has also been instrumental in disaster recovery efforts, helping families transition from shelter to permanent housing following hurricanes and other disasters.

Among her many accolades, Melody co-led the design and launch of the nationally recognized Houston-Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which delivered more than $300 million in rental aid to over 80,000 households during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In her current role, her division currently oversees over 65 non-profit agreements, including homelessness, HIV/AIDS housing, out of school time care, and workforce development training programs. The Economic Development program supported 165 small businesses.

A lifelong Houstonian, Melody holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Houston–Downtown and a Master of Arts in Organizational Management. She is also a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum.

Beyond her professional work, Melody is an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts, her church, and community-based organizations where she can make a lasting impact.

Connect with Melody on LinkedIn: Melody Barr


Tuesday, December 2nd

2:45 pm - 3:45 pm

Clara Hughes

Mental Health Advocate | Six-Time Olympic Medalist

Connection fuels Clara Hughes. Whether on the Olympic stage, hiking long-distance trails around the world, within the stillness on the healing path, or speaking in front of thousands of people, deep connection with place, space, self, and others is her ultimate focus. In her intimate keynotes, Hughes explores the power of movement to change lives. She candidly shares her experience living with depression to inspire audiences to face their fears, find their voice, and become the champions they’re meant to be.

Hughes is the only athlete in Olympic history to win multiple medals in both summer and winter Games, representing Canada in both speed skating and cycling. In addition, she served as Team Canada’s flag-bearer at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.

As the founding spokesperson for Bell Let’s Talk, a campaign designed to end the stigma attached to mental illness, Hughes helped jumpstart the conversation on mental health in Canada. She believes in the power of story to enact change and that each person has one to share. The opportunity to share her own has taught her how to listen deeply to others. Allowing another to be seen, heard, and believed is a powerful space she brings to every event. This connection has been made countless times after her poignant talks.

Over the course of her distinguished career, Hughes has won countless awards and accolades.She was awarded the International Olympic Committee’s Sport and Community Trophy, honoured with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, and named a member of the Order of Manitoba and an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2022, she was named an Olympian for Life in recognition of her making the world a better place by promoting the Olympic Values at every stage of her life.

In her effort to lead a life in motion, Hughes has completed the “Triple Crown” of long-distance hiking — the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Appalachian Trail — and continues to this day, to find deep meaning in outdoor adventure pursuits. Hughes shares her powerful story in her bestselling memoir, Open Heart, Open Mind.


Wednesday, December 3rd

9:15 am - 10:00 am

ENDING HOMELESSNESS TOGETHER 2025 PLENARY SESSION LEADERS:


Frances Sinclair-Kaspick: Frances Sinclair-Kaspick, a proud Cree woman from Peguis First Nation (Treaty 1), is an author, advocate, and founder of Red Rainbow Women. Born without hands and with small feet. At 14 yrs of age became a CONGENITAL amputee. She learned to walk using prosthetics and now writes and speaks on Indigenous disABILITY inclusion, empowerment, and resilience through storytelling and community advocacy.

Christian Swan

Boozhoo Indinawemaagan,  my name is Christian Swan of Lake Manitoba FN 271.

In early 2022 of March I was informed that I was going to lose my leg due to gangrene that set in. So with that being said I lost everything that I had and became homeless in the blink of an eye. Due to the circumstances I worked along side of my doctor to request a letter in support of filing for housing as this was my concern at that present time.  I was dealing with mental health as Covid19 was just ending and lots of the programs and services were put on hold but some how I kept learn about diabetes as I educated myself of the services that were out there to assist a person that was an amputate and learned about the war amps,  Easter seals, along with other places that assisted with those types of support. In lite of everything I would share my story of the processes and door opened in unexpected ways to raise awareness of where to turn.  So this brings me to all of you's that are going through similar circumstances and that's part of my story.

Miigwetch Indinawemaagan 

Harley Barthelette


ENDING HOMELESSNESS TOGETHER 2025 MASTER OF CEREMONIES:


Lisa Meeches,

C.M., O.M., and an incredible Anishinaabe Kwe from Treaty 1

Founder and Executive Producer, Eagle Vision


Lisa Meeches is a remarkable figure and a devoted mentor to the next generation of storytellers. Her contributions to the television and film industry, both in her home province, Canada, and on the international stage, have been nothing short of groundbreaking, earning her numerous awards and accolades.

As a producer, Lisa has been at the helm of award-winning projects that have not only entertained but also enlightened audiences. Her work has furthered the cause of First Nation and Indigenous storytelling and shed light on some of the most critical issues facing our nation.

But Lisa's impact doesn't stop there. She has developed and hosted programs that beautifully showcase our First Nations stories of resilience, giving voice to narratives that deserve recognition and understanding.

Beyond the screen, Lisa Meeches is actively engaged with community and national organizations. She serves as the executive director of the Manito Ahbee Festival, a cultural celebration that holds deep significance, and she is a proud founding partner of Eagle Vision INC., where she continues to shape the future of Indigenous storytelling.

Lisa Meeches is a remarkable figure and a devoted mentor to the next generation of storytellers. Her contributions to the television and film industry, both in her home province, Canada, and on the international stage, have been nothing short of groundbreaking, earning her numerous awards and accolades.

As a producer, Lisa has been at the helm of award-winning projects that have not only entertained but also enlightened audiences. Her work has furthered the cause of First Nation and Indigenous storytelling and shed light on some of the most critical issues facing our nation.

But Lisa's impact doesn't stop there. She has developed and hosted programs that beautifully showcase our First Nations stories of resilience, giving voice to narratives that deserve recognition and understanding.

Beyond the screen, Lisa Meeches is actively engaged with community and national organizations. She serves as the executive director of the Manito Ahbee Festival, a cultural celebration that holds deep significance, and she is a proud founding partner of Eagle Vision INC., where she continues to shape the future of Indigenous storytelling.

ENDING HOMELESSNESS TOGETHER 2025 MUSICIAN AND STORYTELLER:


Blain Constant


Blain Constant is an Indigenous Motivational Speaker and Business Owner. He has triumphed over addiction and homelessness to become a symbol of hope and resilience. With his captivating tale of Recovery and Resilience, Blain travels across North America, engaging audiences with his fiddle and motivational talks.

Blain’s personal journey is a testament to the power of determination and self-discovery. After struggling with addiction for over a decade, he found himself homeless on the streets of Winnipeg for four challenging years. However, Blain made the courageous decision to embrace sobriety, and he has profoundly maintained it for the past 10 years, offering valuable insights along the way.

Blain fearlessly confronts the harsh realities of addiction in his presentations, providing an honest glimpse into it’s consequences. But he goes beyond that, sharing the invaluable lessons he has learned on his path to recovery. His aim is to motivate, inspire and empower all who have the opportunity to hear him speak.