Within Reach Workshop

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What is truly within reach if we align leadership, systems, and action?

The Within Reach Workshop is an action-oriented civic leadership framework designed to move ambitious ideas from discussion to implementation. At Canada Builds Modern, leaders from across the housing system will come together to identify what is truly within reach, and the practical actions, partnerships, and shifts needed to accelerate housing delivery across Canada.

Developed by The Keesmaat Group, the methodology has helped catalyze major city-building initiatives internationally. In Oslo, a Within Reach Workshop with political leaders helped build momentum for the city’s now globally recognized car-free downtown transformation. In Melbourne, the process contributed to the advancement of “dynamic fairways” — transit-priority streets designed to rebalance mobility and public space. In Helsingborg, Sweden, the workshop led directly to the design and implementation of an affordable housing development intended to support war-displaced Ukrainians in Ukraine.

Understand the System

Meaningful change starts with understanding how the system works. Participants explore how institutions, policy, capital, leadership, and culture interact, and identify the barriers and opportunities that can either stall progress or create momentum.

Identify you Sphere of Influence

Every participant occupies a different position within the housing system. The workshop helps leaders map their own sphere of influence, identify the levers available to them, and define what they specifically can do to help unlock change.

Align Leadership & Action

Complex challenges cannot be solved by any one organization or sector. By bringing together leaders from government, development, manufacturing, finance, housing, Indigenous organizations, and civil society, the workshop creates space to align priorities, build new partnerships, and identify opportunities for coordinated action.

Move from Ideas to Implementation

The Within Reach methodology has helped catalyze ambitious city-building initiatives internationally. At Canada Builds Modern, participants will apply the same action-oriented approach to Canadian housing, leaving with clearer strategies, stronger partnerships, and actionable pathways to advance systems transformation.