Board of Directors

Melissa brings dynamism, flexibility and focus from nearly 20 years of experience in end-to-end delivery of multi-family and mixed-use buildings in Canada. With an education in architecture, Melissa’s technical knowledge is balanced by the entrepreneurial mindset required to actualize social purpose real estate development opportunities.

With a strong vision, Melissa works with inter-disciplinary teams to translate the dreams into a viable business case. Projects advance by building relationships with finance, counsel, design consultants and regulators. Clear, timely reporting keeps decision-makers well informed as changes arise. Her analysis helps the team evaluate risk to confidently move forward. Managing expectations, priorities and variances over multi-year development projects requires discipline, organization and teamwork.

When not at her desk, you will find Melissa biking through the City, kayaking on the Outaouais or off-grid camping in the beautiful Canadian wilderness.

Andrea Adams has 25 years of experience developing and managing affordable housing. She has managed the operations of St. Clare’s, a charitable organization working in solidarity with its tenants staff and partnering agencies, to develop and operate high quality housing with appropriate supports for people who have experienced homelessness.

In addition to developing and operating housing, St. Clare’s has been active in assisting other community groups achieve their housing and community-building goals. As the Executive Director, Andrea has guided St. Clare’s towards an operating model that uses a skilled, in-house approach to low cost, high quality operations and maintenance practices that are responsive to the needs of its tenants, and to ensure healthy, viable housing in perpetuity.

Bill Bryck is a business and real estate executive with over 30 years of experience leading successful organizations in real estate development and achieving strong operational and financial growth. Previously appointed President & CEO of BUILD TORONTO, Bill was responsible for the overall leadership and management of the company, with a mandate to generate value and City-Building results through the strategic utilization of City real estate. Bill was also the President & CEO of Parc Downsview Park Inc. (PDP), a federal Crown corporation charged with developing the former Canadian Forces Base Toronto into a unique urban recreational green space. Prior to PDP, Bill was the Acting Vice Principal of Operations and Finance at Queen’s University, overseeing the operating budget and various capital programs. Bill was also the President of CB Richard Ellis Management Services, where he founded and provided leadership and strategic direction for a portfolio that grew to over 4,000 locations and 38 million square feet, delivering facility, property and project management services. Before that, Bill was President of O&Y Enterprise Commercial, Vice President of Finance of Enterprise Property Group and Controller at Markborough Properties Limited. Bill holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University and is a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Brooks is passionate about building stronger communities in which everyone can be successful and find meaningful opportunity for their families, neighbours and fellow citizens.

Brooks is currently Manager of Economic Development Policy at Amazon. In this role, he is responsible for engaging with government and economic development organizations to expand Amazon’s presence and leading all Amazon’s economic development initiatives Canada-wide.

Prior to joining Amazon, Brooks was Director of Government Relations and Policy for the Real Property Association of Canada (REALPAC) where he was responsible for management of REALPAC’s national public affairs and policy practice for Canada’s senior-most real estate, development and capital markets industry group. Brooks also held a senior position in the Office of the Mayor of Toronto and has worked on a myriad of political and non-profit campaigns at both the regional and national levels.

Brooks holds an Honours’ B.A. from Queen’s University, with a concentration in politics and history and served as a member of the Queen’s University Senate while completing his studies. Further to his work with CAHS, Brooks is also a Board Director for Habitat for Humanity GTA.

Emily Paradis (she/they) brings more than 30 years’ experience in policy, advocacy, research, and front-line work on issues of housing and homelessness. Emily’s areas of focus include human rights in housing; participatory research and policy; homelessness among women, gender-diverse persons, and families; preservation of low-barrier affordable housing; and federal and municipal policies on housing and homelessness.

A long-time resident of downtown west Toronto, Emily has served on the Board of West Neighbourhood House (2013-2024, President 2021-23), as a founding member and co-Chair of Build a Better Bloor Dufferin, and as a member of the Steering Committees of Right to Housing in Toronto and the National Right to Housing Network.

Dr. Paradis is currently Senior Policy Advisor to the Federal Housing Advocate at the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and has a been fellow with Maytree, an instructor in the Urban Studies Program at University of Toronto, and a collaborator with the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness. As an independent consultant, Emily has conducted research and evaluation with partners including Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust, Sistering, Social Planning Toronto, and the City of Toronto.