Ed is an experienced business professional with a strong track record of conceiving, creating, launching, and developing all sizes and types of businesses. He has had forty years of experience spanning construction, renovation, landscaping, renewable energy, off-grid living, systems design, manufacturing, B2B services, computer technologies, programming, marketing, sales, admin, and relationship building. His experience in managing social programs, has taught him how to utilize new technologies to meet a project’s needs.
Known as a strong leader and being a generalist, he has worked to develop relationships with people who are specialists in every field. It is these relationships that allow projects to come together quickly and pivot to address any challenges that may arise.
To date, all his business activities have been profit-motivated, but he has chosen to use his lifetime of experience to develop the Tiny Town Association as a social enterprise. The scope and magnitude of the need for affordable housing, drove him to imagine a new housing model that could be forever affordable while designing a plan that enables the homeless to reintegrate into society.
Chad is an ideation activist. His passion for community building and seeing social and cultural change has led him to join the TTA team.
He’s spent the last 30 years of his life in some form of creative communications as a speaker, musician, producer, and designer. He’s now the Creative Director of Rhubarb Media, a design studio started in Barrie in 2006 and is the “Tummler” at Simcoe County’s first rural coworking space, called Canopy Coworking. Chad has helped create spaces for freelancers, startups and other digital nomads since 2009 (Previously The Creative Space).
Chad’s passion is to help others do what makes them come alive. He has a strong desire to see social change in local communities and through his work Rhubarb Media and Coworking has mentored hundreds of startups and helped numerous social organizations thrive.
Nelson is a minimalist, with a big heart.
For the past 25 years, he has been working for the Federal Government under Health Canada. He became a licensed Paramedic following a traumatic event in his life, and now helps people in need or distress. In 1980, Terry Fox, as he was passing through the village where Nelson lived, Nelson had the opportunity to meet Terry. This life changing event launched his volunteering passion, first in school and now with various organizations and charities.
He was introduced to the tiny house movement while on a business trip in 1997 and this concept of minimalist living in a tiny home captured his attention. Nelson began researching tiny homes, travelling to places around the world, gathering and sharing what he learned with others. Over the years, the movement has evolved as new organizations were formed and various events were hosted, many he attended in various capacities. In 2022, while attending the first Tiny Home Show in Ancaster Ontario, Nelson was introduced to the Tiny Town Association and learned of their mission.
Living in Ottawa, Canada’s sixth largest city, he is reminded daily what happens when housing isn’t a right, and people can’t afford the housing that is available. Nelson began using his knowledge of tiny homes to educate the public and various government officials, on the merits of tiny homes as affordable housing. Learning that the Tiny Town Association is working to build affordable tiny home communities, he joined as a volunteer in January 2023, bringing his passion for change in housing.
Being fully bilingual (English and French), Nelson is happy to connect with you in the language of your choice.
Richard is a Land Development Professional.
High performing professional with 20+ years of experience in real estate development, construction, entrepreneurship and start-ups. Known for exceptional people skills, adaptability to any environment, resourcefulness, and finding collaborative & innovative solutions to complex problems. Believes in showing up and going the extra mile. Accept the challenge, learn from failure and embrace the unknown.
Bianca Metz
Sustainable Living Specialist
Tiny Home Consultant
TTA Advisor
The Giving Tree Consulting
Tiny Home Show
Bianca, the founder of The Giving Tree Consulting and Tiny Homes Ontario, lives with her husband and seven-year-old son in their 240-square-foot Tiny Home on 6 acres in Southern Ontario. Her passions are minimalism, simplistic living, permaculture and affordable housing! Having downsized with her family almost 4 years ago, she has dedicated her business, The Giving Tree, to research and advocacy related to tiny homes as affordable housing options for Ontarians.
As Director of Sustainable Spaces Inc, Lead Tiny Home Consultant for The Giving Tree and a co-producer of the Tiny Home Show, she is a trailblazer in advocating for tiny homes throughout Ontario. Most notably, she works with municipalities across the province to establish legal solutions for tenant home tiny homes.
The Giving Tree Family guides individuals and families towards environmentally sustainable affordable housing solutions. She provide clients with realistic solutions by designing a life rooted in sustainability, to improve quality of life while reducing financial burdens and environmental footprint.
I’ve been a television host and producer for over 20 years. My strength lies in connecting with people on a very personal level. I worked on a local lifestyle show for 11 years before I moved to BT Montreal, where I covered news, sports, entertainment, food, fashion, health and wellness, celebrities, charity events and local stories. I returned as host of Daytime Ottawa in 2022 and took over as producer in 2024.
I am a professional motivational speaker. You can view my powerful and emotional TEDx Talk on YouTube.
Brandon is the Co-Founder & CEO of Community Builders, a Barrie-based Non-Profit Social Enterprise construction company that provides employment, training and housing opportunities for underserved populations.
Community Builders (CB) is the leading Not-for-Profit Construction based Social Enterprise in Simcoe County and Greater Sudbury.
Our mission is to create affordable housing, meaningful employment and healthy communities. One of the ways we do this is through our Trades and Diversity Training Program that provides people with barriers to employment with paid construction and life skills training designed to propel them forward into meaningful and well paying careers in the trades.
Tapestry Community Capital is on a mission to make investing directly in your community the norm. For over a decade, they’ve been helping social purpose organizations in Canada raise funding through community bonds, an innovative social finance tool. To date, they’ve helped raise over $120 million in community bonds from more than 4,000 community investors, supporting 62 impactful projects in sectors such as affordable housing, sustainable energy, and more. Their clients include leading social enterprises like the Centre for Social Innovation, SolarShare, SKETCH Working Arts, and Earth Day Canada.
They believe that community bonds offer a unique opportunity for organizations to raise funding on their own terms, while also fostering deep and meaningful engagement with their communities. That’s why they partner with organizations every step of the way to plan, raise, and administer community bonds. And they’re not stopping there – they’re actively working to grow the market for community investment and make it a go-to solution for financing projects with impact. In fall 2020, Tapestry was selected as a winner of the Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation’s (CMHC) Housing Supply Challenge to grow investment in affordable housing and advance their technological infrastructure. They invite all to join them in building a future where everyone invests directly in their community for impact.
Craig Brennan’s journey to becoming a respected figure in the world of business consulting began with a relentless passion for solving complex challenges. His deep-rooted belief in the power of strategy, innovation, and collaboration has been the driving force behind his career’s remarkable trajectory.
Throughout his career, Craig has partnered with a diverse range of clients, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, to develop strategic solutions that fuel success. He is renowned for his ability to see opportunities where others see obstacles, providing a fresh perspective that inspires transformation.
As the CEO of Brennan Consulting Services, Craig leads a dedicated team of experts who share his commitment to excellence. Under his guidance, the company has consistently delivered outstanding results, earning a reputation for being a trusted advisor to businesses seeking growth and evolution.
When he’s not immersed in the world of business, Craig enjoys mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs and sharing his insights through thought leadership articles and speaking engagements. His unwavering dedication to client success and his ability to navigate the ever-evolving business landscape make Craig Brennan a dynamic leader in the field of consulting.